Evening star., 1952-01-21
Major Contests Mark
Showdown Period in
College Basketball
By the Associated Press

IOIlege DdSke1DdIl
BY the Asseeioted Press
NEW YORK. Jan. 21.-The
whirlwind college basketball races
slow to a snairs pace this week.
an annual situation caused by
mid-year exams-but' some games
on tap could decide the eventual
conference winners.
Also, some of the unbeatens-
there are only five left-get into
action against foes that are capa-
BILE of smashing their streaks.
The unbeaten teams at the ira
ditional halfway point in the
campaign are Kansas (13-0,
Iowa Q2-0), Illinois (11-0), tDu-
quesne d1-0) and st. Bonaven-
ture 600.
Iowa goes right at it tonight
against Indiana, a team that has
come along fast in recent weeks.
The Hawkeyes are leading the
Big Ten with five, victories to
four for the Illini, and another
win against Indiana would keep
them in front at least another
week. - - tFs'' a"s "a
Race Between Illinois,. Iowa.
Illinois, does not have a league
game this week. DePaul lis the
only team. on the nlini slate. The
league race has settled to q battle
between Iowa and Illinois and
very possibly, may not be settled
until they meet.
Kansas, the No. team in the
country in the Associated Press
poll, faces q real rugged assign
ment against Kansas State Satur-
day night. and the result might
determine the winner Of the big
seven. And If you think Phog
Aliens Jayhawks should win it,
just take a look at last years
record-State won both league
games the two played.
About $4,000 will. watch the
contest which is in the nature of
a return engagement. Kansas
managed to hang "a 90-88 over
time defeat on State in the finals
of the Big Seven tournament last
month Both have: 80 marks in
the league. Here again. it's
strictly two-team race.
Florida Stubborn Contender.
Duquesne has the week off and
st. Bonaventure goes against
Youngstown Saturday night, a
team that should be no problem.
The No. 8 team in the Nation,
Kentucky, should have no trouble
in two games this week. ,tonight's
setto against Georgia Tech and
Alabama Saturday night. Ado1ph
Rupp's Wildcats are in first place
in the Southeastern Conference
with a 40 mark, but they're
having trouble shaking Florida
with a 5-1 record.
Actually, Florida has q better
overall slate than Kentucky, t1av-
ing lost only one game all year to
two for the Wildcats.
In the Southern Conference,
too, the undisputed leader, North
Carolina. State. can't get rid Of
runnerup West Virginia. The
Wolfpack is TO in the league,
and West Virginia 6-1. The lat
ter. just like Florida, has a better
overall record than the leader,
|11-1 to It's. Unless George Wash
ington or North Carolina spurts
suddenly. there is little hope of
any team overtaking the two
pacesetters. -
Showdown Game Slated.
In the Missouri Valley there's
"a showdown due Saturday involv-
ing the defending champion, Ok,
lahoma A6sM, and st. Louis, the
fifth-ranked team in the country.
The Billikens ought to be favored
on the poll. but the Aggies have
won the crown the last two, years
by taking the. big ones. They
have one more meeting scheduled
for March 6 and BY that time
they both should be far ahead
|of the field.
Penn and Cornell are. running
|one-two in the Ivy League. which
lis Just about what they were sup
posed TO do. while in the South
west Conference. Texas Christian
with an overall record of 14-1,
|one Of the best in the country, is
riding along at the head of the
class with a 40 mark. This one
also is going very much ccording
Ito preseason forecasts.
Any of three teams might grab
Iof the Skyline title. Brigham
Young is the leader with SO,
but Utah e5-11 and Wyoming
(3-lo are in the running. WASH
Iineton is the updisputed ruler Of
the Pacific Coast Northern Diyi-
sion with I'll, while California.
which beat UCLA twice over the
week end. TOOK over III the south