Basketball's Week

THE EAST

THE TOP THREE:

1. VILLANOVA (14-1)
2. ST. BONAVENTURE (11-2)
3. ST. JOSEPH'S (11-5)

Villanova's Jack Kraft is not a complainer, but occasionally he broods about little things. Such as why his talented Wildcats sometimes have trouble with mediocre foes. Last week Villanova let harmless West Chester stay alarmingly close for a half. Then big Jim Washington, a Bill Russell type, took charge of the backboards, Richie Moore poured in 26 points and the Wildcats won 78-61. Penn also had Villanova wrapped in a tight squeeze for almost 30 minutes before the Cats pulled off four quick steals to put away the game. This time slick-shooting Wally Jones scored 20 points as Villanova took its 10th straight, 72-48.

St. Bonaventure got little Pan American and its glittery pro prospect, 6-foot-9 Lucious Jackson, into cozy Olean Armory and taught them a few things. Fred Crawford scored 36 points, 6-foot-5 Art Wood held Jackson to 17 and the Bonnies won 84-77. ST. JOSEPH'S and PROVIDENCE, two early-season slackers, came on fast. The Hawks, going with their big men now, beat St. John's 72-60. Providence held off Canisius to win 77-74. Three days later against Niagara, the Friars led by two points with seven minutes to play. Then Noel Kinski came off the bench to stir up a fast break. Jim Stone and John Thompson each scored 35 points and Providence ran away with the game, 95-75.

La Salle broke down on the road. The Explorers' defense bent before a 31-point whomping by DUQUESNE, then disintegrated altogether against hot-shooting MIAMI. The Hurricanes' Rick Barry, maneuvering adroitly through and around the big Explorers, slipped in 32 points as Miami won 121-99. In Washington, GEORGETOWN'S Jim Christy eluded La Salle's box-and-one zone, scoring 30 points to lead the Hoyas to an 85-81 win.

Army's best team in years also found the road rocky. After beating Hofstra 64-59 at West Point, the Cadets were ambushed by Duquesne in Pittsburgh and lost 74-68. Then PITT clawed weary Army, 86-64. Duquesne, meanwhile, with stubby Willie Somerset scoring 47 points, beat Xavier 83-76. SYRACUSE had its big guns roaring at home. Led by Dave Bing's 24 points, the Orangemen buried Colgate 117-91.

THE SOUTH

THE TOP THREE:

1. DAVIDSON (15-0)
2. VANDERBILT (13-1)
3. KENTUCKY (14-2)