1969–70 Carolina Cougars season

The 1969–70 Carolina Cougars season was the 1st season of the Cougars in the ABA. Late in the spring of 1969, the Houston Mavericks had been bought by the Southern Sports Corporation (headed by James C. Gardner) for $350,000. After the season finished, the team moved to North Carolina, which at the time had no professional teams. The Cougars played in three areas in the state: Greensboro, Charlotte, and Raleigh, making this the first regional franchise in the ABA. The first game of the Cougars was on October 8, 1969, when the Cougars played the Dallas Chaparrals at Greensboro Coliseum, with Carolina winning 108–97. The team finished 3rd in the six team Eastern Division. While they finished last in average points scored per game (106.8), they were 1st in points allowed per game (107). In the Playoffs, the Cougars faced off against the Indiana Pacers (with Game 3 being played in Charlotte and Game 4 played in Raleigh), but the Cougars lost the series in four games.

1969–70 Carolina Cougars season
Head coachBones McKinney
ArenaGreensboro Coliseum
Charlotte Coliseum
Dorton Arena
Results
Record42–42 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 3rd
Playoff finishLost in Division Semifinals
1970–71 >

During the regular season, the Cougars played 20 games in Greensboro, 14 in Charlotte, and 8 in Raleigh; in the playoffs, the team played once in Charlotte, and once in Raleigh.

Roster

edit

Final standings

edit

Eastern Division

edit
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Indiana Pacers * 59 25 .702 -
Kentucky Colonels * 45 39 .536 14.0
Carolina Cougars * 42 42 .500 17.0
New York Nets * 39 45 .464 20.0
Pittsburgh Pipers 29 55 .345 30.0
Miami Floridians 23 61 .274 36.0

Playoffs

edit

Eastern Division Semifinals vs Carolina Cougars[1]

Game Date Location Result Record Attendance
1 April 18 Indiana 105–123 0–1 6,123
2 April 19 Indiana 98–103 0–2 6,341
3 April 22 Carolina 98–103 0–3 3,381
4 April 24 Carolina 106–110 0–4 5,211

Cougars lose series, 4–0

Awards, records, and honors

edit

1970 ABA All-Star Game played on January 24, 1970

References

edit
  1. ^ "Remember the ABA: 1969-70 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results".