It was in '43 that KU's famed Iron Five of Charlie Black, Otto Schnellbacher, Ray Evans and Armand Dixon won the Big Six title, posted a 22-6 record but unfortunately got no chance to compete for the NCAA title. World War II duty caused a wide pre-tourney dispersal of a squad that many considered quite capable of winning the national crown. Wyoming eventually claimed the college championship. KU played its final game, at home, on March 6, beating Kansas State 47-30. The next morning coach Phog Allen took six of his players to Fort Leavenworth for induction into the military. Earlier, Charlie Black had left for Army Air Corps pilot training. Soon the entire roster was decimated by wartime duty.   

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One of the sorriest denials of KU’s potential came in 1942-43 due to a rather dominant glitch called World War II. KU featured a starting five of Charlie Black, Otto Schnellbacher, Ray Evans, Capt. John Buescher and Armand Dixon. By the time Wyoming won the title from on March 30, most of Phog Allen’s brilliant Jayhawks had dispersed to the four winds for military service. For example, Kansas ended its 22-6 season by beating Kansas State here March 5; the next day Phog personally escorted six of his men to Fort Leavenworth for Army induction.

Don’t tell me that KU unit wouldn’t have beaten the Oklahoma, Texas and Georgetown teams Wyoming did. Win one for those guys, Jayhawks, along with other KU kin who deserved far better than fate delivered.  Mayer  March 24, 2007

By Bill Mayer, Journal-World contributing editor