Evening star., 1951-03-19
Harris Hoping Two Days Of Rest Will Reduce Mats Hospital Lis
Kentucky Co-Fayored
with Oklahoma Aqs
In NCAA PIayoffs
BY The Asseeiofed Press


Kentucky and Oklahoma A. and
M. are strong favorites to wade
through divisional playoffs this
week and meet for the NCAA
championship.
But the road to the title game
at Minneapolis March q appears
much more hazardous for Hank
Iba's deliberate Aggies than for
the Wildcats. who were No. l in
the final Associated Press poll.
This Kentucky team which
Coach Adolph Rupp compares
with his finest productions-and
he has had many-is expected to
breeze through the Eastern elm
nations opening tomorrow night
at Raleigh. N. c., and New York's
Madison Square Garden.
The Aggies, champions of the
fast Missouri Valley Conference
and second ranked nationally, are
figured to have far rougher sail
ing in the Western playoffs at
Kansas City, beginning Wednes-
day night.
Kansas State Threatens.
Two developments during the
last few days radically changed
the complexion Of the tournament
at Kansas City:
/. Kansas State. the Big Seven
titlist. sounded a warning by over
whelming Illinois, the Big Ten
champion. in a warmup game, 9l-
70.
2. Brigham Young. kingpin Of
the Skyline Six. impressed the
basketball world with an impress
sive sweep to the National Invita-
ton championship at Madison
Square Garden.
Brigham Young downed st.
Louis, Seton Hall and Dayton in
order. smashing a red-hot Dayton
team, 62-43. The Cougars think
they can make it grand slam. but
conditions are against them.
Last year when City College
turned the trick for the first time
in history. all games Of both tour
naments were played on CCNY's
home floor at the Garden.
To equal the achievement. Brig
ham Young would have to survive
days Of travel and play on three
floors. Strange gyms, however.
hold no terrors for these Utah lads.
who have never had a home court
all their own.
Cougars Tired But Fiery.
"It's going to be tough because
the boys are mighty tired" said
Coach Stanley Watts. But the
boys are on f1re-they think they
can do it."
Brigham Young showed such
poise and class in the invitation
that fans wondered how the team
ever lost seven games. The
Cougars have a 27-7 record.
In Roland MinSon, a 6-foot
marksnian who covers floor like
a tarpaulin. and jumping Mel
Hutcllins, a tremendous defender.
the Far Westerners have two Of
the best performers to show in the
East.
Brigham Young opens with lit
tie San Jose State at 10:45 pm.
(EST) Wednesday. If the Cougars
get past that one they will meet
the Kansas State-A-izona winner.
That should give them at least
half the answer.
Kentucky Meets Louisville.
Kentucky will open its bid
against Louisville at Raleigh to-
morrow night in the second game
of a double header that also fea-
lures crippled North Carolina
State and Villanova.
Columbia'S unbeaten Ivy League
champions, only major unblem-
ished team in basketball. play IL
linois in New York as part of q
double header also involving st.
Johns and Connecticut. st.
Johns won third place in the IN
vitation by beating Seton Hall in
a double overtime. 70-68.
The schedule:
EASTERN NCAA.
March 20.
At Raleigh, N. C.-1:45 pm. (EST).
North Carolina State (2S-5) vs.. Villanovs
t24-5); $50 PM, Kentucky (2S-2) VS..
Louisville Q9-6).
AT New 'Pork-7:45 pm. tEsD. St.
Johns t24-4l VS.. Connecticut t22-3l; CO.
lumbia (22-0) VS.. Illinois C9-4)
WESTERN NCAA, AT KANSAS CITY.
March 21-e pm. (EST). Kansas State
fo2-3> VS.. Arizona t24-6: 10:45 pm,
Brigham Young t27-7) VS.. San Jose State
March e2-e pm. tEsT). oklahoma
A. and NJ. era VS.. Montana State
t2o-12); l0:A5 PM. Texas A. and N.
Q6-1D VS.. Washington (22-6).