The Week (feb. 2-8)

MIDWEST

Right smack in the middle of the action, Iowa State Coach Johnny Orr dashed onto the floor almost as if to join his team's fast break. Actually, Orr bolted off the bench to yell at the refs for not calling a foul on Missouri's 6'11" Steve Stipanovich, who had struck 5'9" Lefty Moore of the Cyclones on the head with the ball. Orr drew two technical fouls for his tirade and wound up a 70-56 loser.

Another 5'9" Moore, Nebraska's Jack, is regarded by some Big Eight observers as the niftiest point guard in the conference—quite a compliment considering Darnell Valentine's presence at Kansas. Moore, who's averaging 13.2 points and four assists a game, had 41 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Huskers grabbed a share of first place with a 62-54 defeat of co-leader Oklahoma State.

A packed house of 10,997 waved LOVE YA SHOCKERS towels as Wichita State defeated Drake 79-67 to stay atop the Missouri Valley. To win, the Shockers had to shake off the demoralizing effects of allegations in The Kansas City Times that, among other things, the coaching staff paid for an abortion for the girl friend of one of the players. Wichita State also had to find a way to stop the Bulldogs' 25.7-point-a-game scorer, Lewis Lloyd. Lloyd was finally contained by a 3-2 zone that held him scoreless for the last nine minutes after he'd tossed in 34 points.

Houston's 6'9" Larry Micheaux, upset with his shoddy play the week before, shaved his scalp in hopes that bald would be better. And it was. Unlike Samson, the shorn Micheaux was a tower of power, pouring in 36 points and getting 24 rebounds as the Cougars retained their SWC lead by upending Southern Methodist 79-64 and Texas 75-59. Houston Guard Rob Williams, the top sophomore scorer in the nation with a 25.6 average, scored 61 points in those games.

Preseason favorite Texas A&M found little consolation in a 65-52 win over Texas Tech. The Aggies, who lost one-third of their famed Wall when 6'11" Rudy Woods flunked out at midterm, have a 10-9 overall record.

WEST

"I don't know why, but when Mark Radford doesn't play well, Ray Blume does and vice versa," said Oregon State Coach Ralph Miller of his two prize guards before a pair of Pac-10 games in the Bay Area. And that's precisely how the two continued to perform. During a 69-54 victory at California, Radford played one of his worst games—he scored only eight points—while Blume, despite a bum right ankle, sore right thigh and injured right eye, poured in 26. At Stanford the next night, Blume had eight points in the first half and Radford none as the Beavers gained a narrow 21-17 lead. Following intermission, Blume was held to five points, but Radford scored 21 to lead Oregon State to a 62-57 win.

Thanks to Lafayette Lever, Arizona State narrowly avoided a loss at California. The junior guard sank an 18-foot jumper as the first overtime ended and then scored four points in the second OT to lift the Sun Devils to an 84-81 victory. Back home, Arizona State swept past Washington State 77-63.

For skipping Monday's practice so he could ponder "problems that affected my hustle and desire," UCLA freshman Center Kenny Fields was deprived of his usual starting role four days later against Southern Cal. Fields, his hustle and desire obviously intact, came off the bench to get seven rebounds and sink five of six shots as the Bruins won 76-62.