The Week (jan. 15-21)

And then there was the State University at Buffalo, whose 6-18 record of last season seemed positively sparkling compared to its 0-9 start this time. But the Bulls ended their misery by beating Geneseo State 69-63.

1. NORTH CAROLINA (14-2)
2. TEMPLE (13-1)
3. GEORGETOWN (14-2)

MIDWEST

With all of the Big Eight teams sporting 1-1 conference records at the start of the week, Nebraska Coach Joe Cipriano said, "Some of us are tied for first place and some of us are tied for last place." When the second week of conference play ended, three teams—Missouri, Iowa State and Oklahoma—were on top with 3-1 records.

Missouri's youthful Tigers began the week with a 58-55 upset at Kansas. Trying to stress how young his team is, Missouri Coach Norm Stewart said, "This was the first time our players took a bus trip all season and, heck, they liked it." The Tigers also got a bang out of the play of 6'7" Curtis Berry, who three weeks ago moved from forward to center after 6'10" Lex Drum had knee surgery. Berry, who was matched up against 7'1" Paul Mokeski, had 20 rebounds and 20 points. In an attempt to be philosophical about the loss, Kansas Coach Ted Owens said, "If you keep struggling, there's blue sky somewhere." But Owens may well have felt like Chicken Little after a visit to Kansas State. The Wildcats set a school record by shooting 70% from the floor while winning 96-69. Two Wildcats bombarded the nets, Steve Soldner scoring 28 points and Rolando Blackman 27.

Kansas was not the only Big Eight squad not living up to expectations. Nebraska was drubbed 76-60 at Missouri, where the Tigers shot 63%. Missouri, which had been last in the Big Eight tournament in December, thus earned a share of the conference lead. The Big Eight's other surprise team, Oklahoma, won twice at home, 72-64 over Colorado and 64-59 over Oklahoma State.

Iowa State also won a pair of home games as Andrew Parker settled down and brought his point production up. For most of the week, Parker heeded Coach Lynn Nance's advice to "pass more, because if they are doubling up on you somebody has to be open" and to be more cautious about his shot selection. But with 18 seconds left and three Colorado players crowding him, Parker fired away. His shot went in and gave the Cyclones a 60-59 win. Against Oklahoma State, Parker popped in 32 points as Iowa State won 72-70.

Indiana State's one-two punch of Larry Bird and Carl Nicks kept the Sycamores unbeaten and atop the Missouri Valley Conference. Vital, too, were a pair of free throws by Bob Heaton that put the Sycamores in front 71-69 with 17 seconds to go against New Mexico State. Bird then stole the ball and Nicks sealed the 73-69 victory with a layup. Bird had 24 points, Nicks 20. At Wichita State, Bird got 31 and Nicks 19 as Indiana State prevailed 94-84. Then it was on to Creighton, where Nicks scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half and Bird 20 of his 29 after the intermission in State's 90-80 triumph.

Second-place Drake lost 84-75 at New Mexico State, beat Wichita State 114-109 in overtime at home and won 93-84 at West Texas State. Wichita State got 28 points from Bob Trogele, 26 from Steve Kalocinski and 25 from Richard Williams, but Drake had five players in double figures, led by Chad Nelson with 27 points.

Texas Tech was knocked out of a share of first place in the Southwest Conference when Southern Methodist pulled off a 69-65 shocker. Guiding the Mustangs was Guard Billy Allen, who had 11 points and 10 assists after spending most of the day in bed with the flu. Tied for first were Texas and Texas A&M. The Longhorns won 94-81 at Rice and, in a non-league game, beat Southern Cal 87-68. "It looks like we're getting our act together," was the accurate assessment of Tyrone Branyan, who had 25 points against USC.