Evening star., 1953-12-07
Cage Season Norma
As Kentucky Rodrs
And Hoosiers Fret
BY the Assoeioted Press


aura of normalcy today because
Kentucky was back in action
after being suspended a year by
the Southeastern Conference
and Branch McCracken, coach
of Indiana's MEGA champions,
has expressed dissatisfaction
with his team.
Meanwhile, the raves over
Bevo Francis and his Rio Grande
College team, which on occasion
reached a fever pitch, have SUBJ
sided a bit, although two pro
stars are sold on the 6-foot-9
star of the little Ohio school.
Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman
of the Boston Celtics watched
Bevo score Al points as Rio
Grande beat Providence, 89-87,
Saturday. Francis perform
ance tied a Boston Garden rec
ord set by Johnny O'Brien of
Seattle U.
What a beautiful touch that
fellow has," Cousy said, and
Sharman added:
"HiS coordination and move
ments are great. I like the way
he handles himself physically
smooth and fast"
Wildcats Underline Threat.
Adolph Rupp's Kentucky team
spent most of last year practic-
ing for the current campaign
with the avoWed intention of
winning the national title and
showing no mercy in the process.
The Wildcats looked like they
might make good their threat
in their opener Saturday when
they massacred Temple, $3.50,
behind the 51-point scoring of
Cliff Hagen. their 1951-52 ALL
America. This represented a
Kentucky record for one-game
point production by one player.
eve didn't play nearly as we'll
as we are capable" Rupp said.
We'll need four or five games
to get the feel of competition
again."
He added that the players
expected to do better Extensively,
b'E that they were nervous. A
standing room only crowd of
$4,000 fans welcomed the Wild
cats back.
Kentucky plays only one game
this week, against Xavier of
Ohio in Cincinnati.
HOOSierS Have Trouble.
McCracken's pessimism over
Indiana well may be justified.
The Hoosiers had their troubles
licking Cincinnati, 1866, after
holding a one-point margin at
the half.
The coach sadly proclaimed
that the club has "a long way
to go" if it is going to repeat
as Big Ten and NCAA titlist.
It was the oath time in row
Indiana has won its opening
game. although Cincinnati led,
1929. in the third quarter.
The Hoosiers won't have a
chance to relax tonight. They
play Kansas State, one of the
three teams to defeat them last
season. Kansas State opened its
campaign with a 70-A1 victory
over Denver.
In other games involving Big
Ten teams. Illinois beat Okla
homa, 1851; Ohio State
swamped Butler, 99-78; Iowa had
to scramble to tor Washington
of st. Louis, 51-45; Michigan
topped Pitt, 1859; Michigan
State whipped Creighton. 1851;
Northwestern beat Western
Michigan, 69-53; Purdue licked
Wabash, 71-61; and Minnesota
doWned Nebraska, 1864.
Averages A Points.
AS for Francis and Rio Grande,
they have played four games and
won two after running up 40
game winning streak. Bevo has
hit for 176 points in the four
games for an average of A points
per game.
When Rio Grande came to
Madison Square Garden for a
game with Adelphi of Garden
City, N. Y. $4,000 spectators
turned out for a look at Bevo.
Adelphi won and although Bevo
scored 80 points, he did not live
up to expectations.
1t was agreed that he had a
good eye, but that was about all
on the credit side of the ledger
He was awkward, although he
said he wasn't nervous, and did
nothing on defense. However.
Rio Grande edged Providence
after bowling to Villanova, 1892.
The general impression was that
Rio Grande is a good, small
college team, but still very much
in the small college class.
HuSkieS Bow Again.
Washington, third in the final
Associated Press poll last year,
looks like it is going to have a
tough time. The HuSkies bowed
to Stanford Saturday for the
second straight day.
Oregon State appears ready to
put in a strong claim for the
Northern Division title in the
Pacific Coast Conference with
7-foot-3 Wade Haibrook supply
ing most of the power. The
Beavers defeated Hawaii, $3.50
with Halbrook scoring 20 points
Trades