Evening star., 1954-12-23
|kenfuckyBeiie
Than Last Year
New 0rleons LoyoIo
Stops Illini Streuk;
Utah Michigan Bow
BY NJ. Assoeiassd D Pres.

BY the Assoeiussd Press
Kentucky was ready to cele-
brate Christmas in peace today,
but several other top-ranked
teams, including Illinois and
George Washington. can't say
the same after another wave Of
major upsets on the college bas-
ketbaI courts. The Illini and
four other Big Ten teams lost to
outsiders last night in the con-
ference's worst pasting in long
time.
Coach AdoIph Rupp's Ken
tuckians bolstered their claims to
the No. / ranking last night by
easily defeating LaSalle. 63-54.
in the finals Of the Kentucky
Invitational tournament. It was
the 30th straight victory and 128
in q row on. the home court at
Lexington for the Ruppmen. La
Sale Coach Ken Loeffier said the
Wildcats were better than the
unbeaten Kentucky club which
won Is games last season.
This team has better bal
ance." Loeff1er said. 1T has
great speed. great rebounding,
and great floor work. Last year
we could concentrate on stop
ping Hagan tAll-America Cliff
Hagan). but you don't concen-
trate on one man with this out
fit. You gang up on one man
and somebody else will kill YOU"
Rupp Not Convinced.
Rupp smilingly listened to
Loeffier's appraisal, but he
wasn't ready to agree-no yet.
II will stick by what / have
said over and over" he unused.
Last seasons Kentucky team is
the best college team that was
ever assembled in my books. It's
nice to hear them say this one
is better. and maybe it is, but
it has played just five games.
Our team last year won Is and
nobody was able to stop it. This
team has its job cut out"
This was the second year In a
row that Kentucky has beaten
LaSalle in the Lexington tourna-
ment--last year it was by 1880.
Last night Kentucky quickly took
a 20-5 lead. and there was never
much doubt about the outcome.
Billy Evans got 20 points and
Bob Burrow 18 for Kentucky,
while LaSalle's Tom Cola scored
20.
Loyola Stops Illini.
San F'rancisco's surprising
Dons rocked George Washington,
1857, in the finals Of the ALI
College tournament at Oklahoma
City, and highly touted Illinois
was blasted, 1906. by Loyola Of
New Orleans. In the consolation
game at Lexington, Southern
California upset Utah, 54-52,
after the Utes once led by is
points.
The results were rough on the
top-ranked teams, for the AP
poll this week had Utah No. 2.
Illinois No. 8, LaSalle No. 4, and
George Washington No. 8.
Illinois suffered its first defeat
after winning six games. but its
tussle with Loyola was close until
the final minutes. Eddie Calvin
scored % points for Loyola. while
Paul Judson had one less for the
Illini.
Loyola's victory was dedicated
to Bobby Hanberg. assistant
coach who starred on its team
last season. Hanberg was killed
in an automobile accident, earlier
in the day at Liberty. Tex. AS
Loyola went ahead to stay with
6 minutes left, one of the play
ers on the bench shouted en-
couragement with: Remember.
we're playing this one for Han
berg"
Breather Until Journeys.
Basketball takes a breather
with scattered games tonight,
then a rest until after Christ
mas when a heavy schedule of
tournaments will run into the
new year. Kentucky, however.
won't be in any of them. The
Wildcats play st. Louis Decem-
ber 80 and meet Temple Janu-
airy / before swinging into the
Southeastern Conference race.
San Francisco also heads home
to meet San Diego State Decen1-
ber %.
George Washington plays in
the Dixie Classic. Loyola of New
orleans in the Sugar Bowl and
Southern California in the Dixie
Classic all next week.
Bradley, which also plays in