Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-02-13 | Page 16 | 'Phog' Allen Proposes Larger Casaba Court, Nine Men

I Allen Proposes Proposes Larger Casaba Court Cout Nine Men I LAWRENCE Kan Feb 13 S Give INS INS Give basketball a nine- nine man team and a playing field just a third larger than the present present present pres pres- ent one and the game will draw drawas as large as those that flock to any other major sport This was vas the prediction given today by Dr F. F C C. Allen the games game's original coach The size of the present-day present courts is all that keeps basketball from being a big crowd catcher today Allen AlIen stated If It the playing space was as large as t that hat In 1 some Ome other sports football for Instance then you Ou could look for greater crowds and you could rank basketball bas baa basketball with any major sport T I 1 can see It in the future the time when large auditoriums will house courts feet by 75 feet with nine men playing on a team Then basketball will rank with the best as a crowd catcher catcher- The genial doctor whose Kansas Kansas Kan Kan- sas university teams teana have won 16 Big Six or Missouri Valley co conference basketball titles hUes in the last two decades said the present court measurement of 94 feet by 50 feet Is keeping basketball basketball bas baa attendance down The seating capacity about such a a. a floor Is not great enough to hold the crowds that otherwise would attend basketball games he explained 1 I 1 already have advocated that basketball floors be Increased to no feet by 60 feet and that seven men play on a team Seven men could play on the squad aswell ns as well as five in fact there would be more space for the players with a floor of this dimension than there Is for five men on the present size floor N Nowadays the he Garden and schools like Uke Minnesota with large seating capacities are accustomed accustomed accustomed ac ac- ac- ac to having to spectators In our own conference we have been compelled compelled com corn to turn away hundreds that would watch our teams play Dr Allen Anen said or more seats could have been sold at atthe atthe atthe the N C A A basketball tournament tournament ment meat In Kansas City last year ear I If they had been available Basketball Is ls gaining followers follow follow- ers era by the million he said because because be be- because cause the wide-open wide c character of the game gives spectators a chance to see the ball In every play I