Evening star., 1955-01-03
|keniuckYHeads
|TIlreeUnbeaien
Teams
Bic ] Ell Race Gets
Ii High Gear Tonight
After Upset of IIliui


b ihs Assseis,sd pssss
NOW that a-curricular holi-.
day tournaments are out of the
way. college basketball sets down
to the serious business Of con-
ference races this week
For most Of the schools, the
30-odd tournaments that dotted
the Nation for the last two weeks
served merely as Warmups. They
are interested more Id league
titles and the resultant bids to
the NCAA and National Invita-
ton Tournaments In March.
So starting tonight, its q
brand-new season. Only three
major teams are undefeated-
Kentucky. Auburn and Dart
mouth. During the last week. no
fewer than 10 met their match.
Kentucky May Go Unbeaten.
Kentucky has looked SO good
winning seven In Q row that its
hard To see how any other club
IS going to beat Adolph Rupp's
wildcats. Both Auburn and
Dartmouth probably viii taste
defeat along the route. Auburn.
ii fact. must play Kentucky In
Lexington February as.
The always interesting Big
Ten race moves into high gear
tonight with four games
Indiana VS.. Michigan, Wiscon-
sin VS.. Iowa. Chic State VS..
Michigan State and Northwest
ern vs.. Minnesota. Wisconsin
and Illinois got the Jump on
the rest Of the league last SAT-
urday and that one ended in
an upset, the Badgers winning.
I7g-64.
But the Iliini and Iowa still
rank as the teams to beat. II
Wisconsin can get by Iowa to-.
night, then the Badgers also
will bear watching.
Here is q rundown on how
the other major races shape up:
Atlantic Coast North Caro-
lima State seems far and away
the best. despite dropping q
91-78 decision to Villanova SAT-
urday--its first defeat Of the
season after IL victories. The
game was States fourth In six
days and the players were
weary.
Southeastern- Kentucky, who
else? This could be the best
Wildcat team. This year, Rtpp
probably viii bring his boys To-
theaNCAA tournament. He re-
fused last season because Of
the ineligibility Of some of his
stars.
Biz Seven The race opens to-
morrow and could develop into
q wide open fight. Missouri. with
Il 7-2 mark, has been most im-
pressive Id flon-league games.
But Colorado and Iowa State
also might have something to
say. Ss
Coach Sparky Stalcup's Tigers
won the Big Seven Tournament
with comparative ease last week.
There's d ink element con-
nected with q tournament title,
however. Only one champion,
Kansas Ii 1888. went on to win
the conference crown.
Another factor against Mis-
souri, is the fact that the Tigers
FIRST conference opponent Will
be the Kansas Jayhawis at
Lawrence. Kan, tomorrow night.
Missouri hasn't won over KAN
sas at Lawrence since 1048. IN
fact Kansas hasn't been beaten
In its auditorium In the last 3s
outings.
Coach Phog Allen Of Kansas
has his problems, too. He's
loaded with superior sophomore
talent, but the team lacks big,
rugged stabilizer such as Clyde
Lovellette or B. II. Born who
carried the Jayhawk load the
last i've seasons.
Three Big Seven games are
scheduled tomorrow. In addi-
ton to Kansas Missouri, Iowa
State win meet Nebraska at Linz
coin and Oklahoma and Kansas
State win play at Manhattan.
Southefn-T This one has been
going for the last week. but the
fav0rite. George washington, has
been busy playing In three tours
nafnents. So the Colonials do not
show In the standings yet. Rich-
.mond, q high-scoring crew
should wind up o strong second.
George Washington meets RICH.
fnond head on Saturday.
Missouri VaIIey-This looks