The belabored Colorado basketball team dutifully did its part Wednesday to help Kansas University win at least a share of another conference title. The Jayhawks are grateful. But they’re not nearly as delighted with this season’s 2-0 mark against CU as were the 1952 NCAA and Olympic champions.

Some of those ’52 winners are due here this weekend, and they’ll recall a very special favor Colorado granted 55 years ago. Without CU’s help, the luck of the draw could have kept one of KU’s greatest teams at home during the NCAA Tournament.

Phog Allen’s 1952 dandies took a 13-0 record to Manhattan on Jan. 26, and Kansas State walloped the Jayhawks, 81-64. K-State had lost to Kentucky in the ’51 NCAA title game; Dick Knostman and Co. intended to get back in ’52. Their prestige rose as Kansas went to Oklahoma A&M on Jan. 30 and lost, 49-45. Fortunately, A&M wasn’t in the Big Seven so that didn’t cut into KU’s league record. However, the Jayhawks were reeling. Suddenly, K-State was the probable league entry. Only one team per conference went to The Big Dance.

Phog had aide Dick Harp develop a new pressing, harassing defense. The stage was set for KU’s beating of K-State just to tie for the league championship on March 7 in Lawrence. Yet a tie would have been settled by a drawing from a hat (no playoff), and KU would have had a 50-50 chance to miss out.

Enter CU, a Bebe Lee team with stars like Art Bunte. Let’s be grateful for the greed of K-State coach Jack Gardner. Black Jack let his Wildcats create a humiliating 92-40 romp past CU at Manhattan on Feb. 2. The Buffs quietly muttered, “We’re not done!”

K-State went to Boulder on Feb. 23 with the league lead. Lee took his Buffs up into a mountain retreat for an epiphany the night before, and CU won, 67-57, delighted it had dropped State into a tie with Kansas. (Bebe Lee and Phog Allen liked each other; Bebe was pleased to help Old Doc).

It was showdown time for an NCAA bid when K-State came here and KU swung a 78-61 wallop. Ironically, KU had to beat Colorado on March 10 at Boulder to seal the deal, and it did, 72-55.

Bebe Lee said he hated to lose, but was gratified by the revenge. So it was off to the races for Kansas, while Kansas State stayed home with what might have been the second-best team in America. Kentucky and Illinois entered the tournament rated ahead of KU, but the Jayhawks were dedicated to validating Phog’s 1948 prediction of an NCAA title and Olympic junket.

That old bastard death will prevent Dean Kelley, John Keller, Jerry Alberts and Wes Johnson from returning this weekend. Others, such as B.H. Born, don’t have the health required for a trip. But there’ll be eight or nine eagles aloft from that glorious era, including Dean Smith. I hope they all are treated with the class and dignity they deserve. Please, be decent!

Phog was noted for his huge squads. The ’51-52 practices began with 35 on the roster. By tournament time, the final 17 were Jerry Alberts, B.H. Born, Larry Davenport, Everett Dye, Bill Heitholt, Charlie Hoag, Bill Hougland, Wes Johnson, John Keller, Allen Kelley, Dean Kelley, Bob Kenney, Bill Lienhard, Clyde Lovellete, Dean Smith, LaVannes Squires and Dean Wells.

Of that gang, 13 were from Kansas high schools. Imagine that today. So let’s give them all a warm, rich Kansas welcome Saturday.