1972–73 Carolina Cougars season

The 1972–73 Carolina Cougars season was the 4th season of the Cougars in the American Basketball Association. The Cougars finished 2nd in points per game with 115.6 points per game and 5th in points allowed with 110.7 points per game. By the time the season was half over, the team was 28–14, with a season best eleven game winning streak occurring during that span, while they went 29–13 in the second half. The biggest losing streak was 4, which occurred after they had already won over 50 games. They clinched the best record in the Eastern Division after beating the San Diego Conquistadors on March 25, 1973, with their 57th victory, is tied for 9th most by a team in one ABA season. In the playoffs, they beat the New York Nets in five games to go to the Division Finals with a chance to go to the ABA Finals. But the Cougars failed to advance, losing to the Kentucky Colonels in seven games, with the final one in their home court.[1]

1972–73 Carolina Cougars season
Division champions
Head coachLarry Brown
ArenaGreensboro Coliseum
Charlotte Coliseum
Dorton Arena
Results
Record57–27 (.679)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in the Eastern Division Finals
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

During the regular season, the Cougars played 28 games in Greensboro, 13 in Charlotte, and 2 in Raleigh; in the playoffs, the team played 4 games in Greensboro, 2 in Charlotte, and one in Raleigh.

Roster

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Final standings

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Eastern Division

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Team W L % GB
Carolina Cougars 57 27 .679 -
Kentucky Colonels 56 28 .667 1
Virginia Squires 42 42 .500 15
New York Nets 30 54 .357 27
Memphis Tams 24 60 .286 33

Playoffs

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Eastern Division Semifinals[2]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 March 30 Greensboro (Carolina) 104–96 1–0 4,725
2 March 31 Raleigh (Carolina) 111–114 1–1 6,343
3 April 3 New York 101–91 2–1 8,418
4 April 5 New York 112–108 3–1 7,867
5 April 6 Greensboro (Carolina) 136–113 4–1 6,388

Cougars win series, 4–1

Eastern Division Finals vs. Kentucky Colonels

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 11 Charlotte (Carolina) 103–113 0–1 9,165
2 April 14 Greensboro (Carolina) 125–105 1–1 5,103
3 April 16 Kentucky 94–108 1–2 10,422
4 April 18 Kentucky 102–91 2–2 16,238
5 April 20 Greensboro (Carolina) 112–107 3–2 11,988
6 April 21 Kentucky 100–119 3–3 16,892
7 April 24 Charlotte (Carolina) 96–107 3–4 10,231

Cougars lose series, 4–3

Awards and honors

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1973 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on February 6, 1973)

  • Mack Calvin
  • Joe Caldwell
  • Billy Cunningham
  • ABA Most Valuable Player: Billy Cunningham (24.1 points per game, 12 rebounds per game, and 6.3 assists per game)
  • ABA Coach of the Year: Larry Brown
  • ABA Executive of the Year: Carl Scheer
  • All-ABA First Team selection: Billy Cunningham
  • All-ABA Second Team selection: Mack Calvin
  • All-Defensive Team selection: Joe Caldwell
  • All-Rookie Team selection: Dennis Wuycik

References

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  1. ^ "1972-73 Carolina Cougars Schedule and Results".
  2. ^ "1973-74 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
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