1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

Men's collegiate basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in November 1972, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 26, 1973, at St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. The UCLA Bruins won their ninth NCAA national championship with an 87–66 victory over the Memphis State Tigers.

Preseason AP No. 1UCLA[1]
NCAATournament1973
Tournament datesMarch 10 – 26, 1973
National ChampionshipSt. Louis Arena
St. Louis, Missouri
Quick facts –73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season, Preseason AP No. 1 ...
1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1UCLA[1]
NCAA Tournament1973
Tournament datesMarch 10 – 26, 1973
National ChampionshipSt. Louis Arena
St. Louis, Missouri
NCAA ChampionsUCLA
Helms National ChampionsUCLA
Other championsVirginia Tech (NIT)
Player of the Year
(Naismith, Wooden)		Bill Walton, UCLA (Naismith)
Player of the Year
(Helms)		Bill Walton, UCLA
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Rule changes

  • Freshmen became eligible to play on varsity teams.[2] Previously, they had played on separate freshman teams.
  • The free throw on a common foul for the first six personal fouls in a half was eliminated. Instead, the team that was fouled threw the ball in from out of bounds after each such foul.[2]
  • A "flop" — an unnecessary fall to the floor to get a charging call against a player dribbling the ball — was deemed a form of unsportsmanlike conduct.[2]

Season headlines

  • UCLA went undefeated (30–0) for the second straight season and won its seventh NCAA championship in a row, ninth overall, and ninth in 10 seasons. In the Pacific 8 Conference, it also won its seventh of what would ultimately be 13 consecutive conference titles.
  • This was the last season for the NCAA University Division as the subdivision of the NCAA made up of colleges and universities competing at the highest level of college sports, as well as for the NCAA College Division for colleges and universities competing at a lower level. After the season, the NCAA replaced the University Division with Division I and the College Division with Division II for schools awarding limited athletic scholarships and Division III for schools offering no athletic scholarships.[3]
  • The Final Four was played on Saturday and Monday for the first time.[4]
  • The NCAA title game was televised during prime time for the first time. NBC aired the game on March 26, 1973.[4]
  • For the first time, television broadcast rights fees for an NCAA tournament totaled more than $1 million.[4]

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

Main article: 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The Top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.[5]

More information Associated Press, Ranking ...
Associated Press
Ranking Team
1 UCLA
2 Florida State
3 Maryland
4 Minnesota
5 Marquette
6 Long Beach State
7 Southwestern Louisiana
8 NC State
9 Penn
10 Ohio State
11 Memphis State
12 BYU
13 Kentucky
14 Tennessee
15 Houston
16 South Carolina
17 Kansas State
18 Oral Roberts
19 Michigan
20
(tie)		 Louisville
USC
UPI Coaches
Ranking Team
1 UCLA
2 Florida State
3 Maryland
4 Minnesota
5 Marquette
6 Ohio State
7 Kentucky
8 Long Beach State
9 Penn
10 NC State
11 Houston
12 North Carolina
13 Southwestern Louisiana
14 Memphis State
15
(tie)		 BYU
Kansas State
17 USC
18 Providence
19 Oral Roberts
20 UTEP
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Conference membership changes

More information School, Former conference ...
School Former conference New conference
Appalachian State Mountaineers non-University Division Southern Conference
Boston University Terriers University Division independent Yankee Conference
Central Michigan Chippewas non-University Division Mid-American Conference
Charlotte 49ers non-University Division University Division independent
Cleveland State Vikings non-University Division University Division independent
Loyola (LA) Wolf Pack University Division independent None (dropped athletics)
McNeese State Cowboys non-University Division Southland Conference
Northeastern Huskies non-University Division University Division independent
Portland State Vikings non-University Division University Division independent
Samford Bulldogs non-University Division University Division independent
Southern Miss Golden Eagles non-University Division University Division independent
Trinity Tigers Southland Conference University Division independent
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Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner[6]		 Conference
player of the year		 Conference
tournament		 Tournament
venue (City)		 Tournament
winner
Atlantic Coast ConferenceNC StateDavid Thompson, NC State[7]1973 ACC men's basketball tournamentGreensboro Coliseum
(Greensboro, North Carolina)		NC State
Big Eight ConferenceKansas StateLon Kruger, Kansas State[8]No Tournament
Big Sky ConferenceWeber StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Big Ten ConferenceIndianaNone selectedNo Tournament
Ivy LeaguePennNone selectedNo Tournament
Mid-American ConferenceOhioTom Kozelko, Toledo[9]No Tournament
Middle Atlantic ConferenceSaint Joseph's (East); Lafayette (West)Patrick McFarland, Saint Joseph's
& Walt Kocubinski, Lafayette		No Tournament
Missouri Valley ConferenceMemphis StateLarry Kenon, Memphis StateNo Tournament
Ohio Valley ConferenceAustin Peay StateLes Taylor, Murray StateNo Tournament
Pacific 8 ConferenceUCLANone selectedNo Tournament
Pacific Coast Athletic AssociationLong Beach StateEd Ratleff, Long Beach StateNo Tournament
Southeastern ConferenceKentuckyKevin Grevey, Kentucky,
& Wendell Hudson, Alabama[10]		No Tournament
Southern ConferenceDavidsonAron Stewart, Richmond[11]1973 Southern Conference men's basketball tournamentRichmond Coliseum
(Richmond, Virginia)
(Semifinals and Finals)		Furman[12]
Southland ConferenceLouisiana TechMike Green, Louisiana Tech[13]No Tournament
Southwest ConferenceTexas TechMartin Terry, ArkansasNo Tournament
West Coast Athletic ConferenceSan FranciscoBird Averitt, PepperdineNo Tournament
Western Athletic ConferenceArizona StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Yankee ConferenceMassachusettsNone selectedNo Tournament
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Conference standings

More information Conf., Overall ...
1972–73 ACC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 2 NC State †12–0 1.00027–0  1.000
No. 11 North Carolina8–4 .66725–8  .758
No. 8 Maryland7–5 .58323–7  .767
Duke4–8 .33312–14  .462
Virginia4–8 .33313–12  .520
Clemson4–8 .33312–14  .462
Wake Forest3–9 .25012–15  .444
† 1973 ACC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 9 Kansas State12–2 .85723–5  .821
No. 15 Missouri9–5 .64321–6  .778
Colorado9–5 .64313–13  .500
Oklahoma8–6 .57118–8  .692
Iowa State7–7 .50016–10  .615
Nebraska7–7 .5009–17  .346
Kansas4–10 .2868–18  .308
Oklahoma State3–11 .2147–19  .269
Rankings from AP Poll[14]
1972–73 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Weber State13–1 .92920–7  .741
Idaho State10–4 .71418–8  .692
Montana State9–5 .64317–10  .630
Montana7–7 .50013–13  .500
Gonzaga6–8 .42914–12  .538
Boise State5–9 .35711–15  .423
Idaho3–11 .2147–19  .269
Northern Arizona3–11 .2146–20  .231
1972–73 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 6 Indiana11–3 .78622–6  .786
No. 10 Minnesota10–4 .71421–5  .808
Purdue8–6 .57115–9  .625
Illinois8–6 .57114–10  .583
Ohio State8–6 .57114–10  .583
Iowa6–8 .42913–11  .542
Michigan6–8 .42913–11  .542
Michigan State6–8 .42913–11  .542
Wisconsin5–9 .35711–13  .458
Northwestern2–12 .1435–19  .208
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Ivy League men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 18 Pennsylvania12–2 .85721–7  .750
Princeton11–3 .78616–9  .640
Brown10–4 .71414–12  .538
Harvard7–7 .50014–12  .538
Yale6–8 .4299–16  .360
Columbia5–9 .3577–18  .280
Dartmouth4–10 .2866–20  .231
Cornell1–13 .0714–22  .154
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Miami (Ohio)9–2 .81818–9  .667
Toledo7–5 .58315–11  .577
Bowling Green State7–5 .58313–13  .500
Ohio6–5 .54516–10  .615
Kent State5–7 .41710–16  .385
Central Michigan4–6 .40013–13  .500
Western Michigan2–10 .1678–18  .308
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 MAC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
University–Eastern
Saint Joseph's †6–0 1.00022–6  .786
Temple5–1 .83317–10  .630
American4–2 .66721–4  .840
La Salle3–3 .50015–10  .600
Drexel2–4 .33314–7  .667
Hofstra1–5 .1678–16  .333
West Chester0–6 .0005–21  .192
University–Western
Lafayette7–3 .70016–10  .615
Gettysburg6–4 .60014–11  .560
Delaware6–4 .60014–11  .560
Bucknell6–4 .60011–14  .440
Lehigh3–7 .3008–17  .320
Rider2–8 .20012–14  .462
† 1973 MAC men's basketball tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 12 Memphis State12–2 .85724–6  .800
Louisville11–3 .78623–7  .767
Saint Louis10–4 .71419–7  .731
Tulsa10–4 .71418–8  .692
New Mexico State6–8 .42912–14  .462
Wichita State6–8 .42910–16  .385
Drake5–9 .35714–12  .538
Bradley4–10 .28612–14  .462
North Texas State4–10 .2869–16  .360
West Texas State2–12 .1439–17  .346
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 19 Austin Peay State*11–3 .78622–7  .759
Murray State9–5 .64317–8  .680
Morehead State9–5 .64314–11  .560
Tennessee Tech7–7 .50014–11  .560
Eastern Kentucky7–7 .50012–13  .480
Western Kentucky6–8 .42910–16  .385
Middle Tennessee5–9 .35712–13  .480
East Tennessee State2–12 .1439–17  .346
* – Overall record adjusted to 21–5
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Pacific-8 Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 1 UCLA14–0 1.00030–0  1.000
USC9–5 .64318–10  .643
Oregon8–6 .57116–10  .615
Stanford7–7 .50014–11  .560
Washington6–8 .42916–11  .593
Oregon State6–8 .42915–11  .577
California4–10 .28611–15  .423
Washington State2–12 .1436–20  .231
Rankings from AP Poll[15]
1972–73 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Long Beach State*10–2 .83326–3  .897
UC Santa Barbara8–4 .66717–9  .654
San Diego State7–5 .58315–11  .577
Pacific6–6 .50014–12  .538
San Jose State6–6 .50011–14  .440
Cal State Los Angeles4–8 .33311–14  .440
Fresno State1–11 .08310–16  .385
* – Overall record adjusted to 24–2
Rankings from AP Poll[16]
1972–73 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 17 Kentucky14–4 .77820–8  .714
Vanderbilt13–5 .72220–6  .769
Alabama13–5 .72222–8  .733
Tennessee13–5 .72215–9  .625
LSU9–9 .50014–10  .583
Ole Miss8–10 .44414–12  .538
Florida7–11 .38911–15  .423
Georgia5–13 .27810–16  .385
Mississippi State4–14 .22211–15  .423
Auburn4–14 .2226–20  .231
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Davidson9–1 .90018–9  .667
Furman †11–2 .84620–9  .690
East Carolina7–7 .50013–13  .500
The Citadel6–7 .46211–15  .423
William & Mary5–6 .45510–17  .370
Richmond5–9 .3578–16  .333
Appalachian State3–8 .2736–20  .231
VMI3–9 .2506–20  .231
† Southern Conference Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Louisiana Tech†*10–2 .83320–6  .769
McNeese State**10–2 .83321–5  .808
Texas-Arlington***8–4 .66713–13  .500
Lamar****6–6 .50011–13  .458
Arkansas State*****4–8 .3337–17  .292
Abilene Christian******4–8 .3336–20  .231
No. 7 Southwestern Louisiana*******0–12 .00023–3  .885
† Regular-season championship winner
* – Played as non-major program; conference record adjusted to 10–2.
** – Played as non-major program; conference record adjusted to 10–2.
*** – Disputed conference record 6–6.
**** – Disputed conference record 4–8.
***** – Disputed conference record 2–10.
****** – Disputed conference record 2–10.
******* – Disputed record 12–0 conference, 24–5 overall.
Rankings from AP Poll[17]
1972–73 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Texas Tech12–2 .85719–8  .704
Texas A&M9–5 .64317–9  .654
Arkansas9–5 .64316–10  .615
Baylor8–6 .57114–11  .560
Texas7–7 .50013–12  .520
SMU7–7 .50010–15  .400
Rice2–12 .1437–19  .269
TCU2–12 .1434–21  .160
Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 20 San Francisco12–2 .85723–5  .821
Santa Clara11–3 .78619–7  .731
Pepperdine7–7 .50014–11  .560
Loyola (Calif.)7–7 .50010–16  .385
Seattle6–8 .42913–13  .500
UNLV6–8 .42913–15  .464
Nevada5–9 .35710–16  .385
Saint Mary's2–12 .1437–19  .269
Rankings from AP Poll[18]
1972–73 WAC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 16 Arizona State10–4 .71419–9  .679
New Mexico9–5 .64321–6  .778
BYU9–5 .64319–7  .731
Arizona9–5 .64316–10  .615
UTEP6–8 .42916–10  .615
Colorado State5–9 .35713–15  .464
Wyoming4–10 .2869–17  .346
Utah4–10 .2868–19  .296
Rankings from AP Poll[19]
1972–73 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Massachusetts 10–2 .83320–7  .741
Connecticut 9–3 .75015–10  .600
Boston University 7–4 .63615–10  .600
Maine 6–6 .50013–10  .565
Rhode Island 5–6 .4557–18  .280
New Hampshire 2–10 .16711–15  .423
Vermont 2–10 .1677–17  .292
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University Division independents

A total of 72 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, Providence (27–4) and Marquette (27–4) had both the best winning percentage (.871) and the most wins.[20]

More information Conf., Overall ...
1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball independents standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Providence– –27–4  .871
No. 5 Marquette– –27–4  .871
No. 13 Houston– –23–4  .852
No. 14 Syracuse– –24–5  .828
Virginia Tech– –22–5  .815
Jacksonville– –21–6  .778
Oklahoma City– –21–6  .778
Oral Roberts– –21–6  .778
South Carolina– –22–7  .759
Marshall– –20–7  .741
Northeastern– –19–7  .731
St. John's– –19–7  .731
Centenary– –19–8  .704
Florida State– –18–8  .692
Northern Illinois– –17–8  .680
Duquesne– –16–8  .667
Fairfield– –18–9  .667
Cincinnati– –17–9  .654
Denver– –17–9  .654
George Washington– –17–9  .654
Penn State– –15–8  .652
Detroit– –16–9  .640
Hardin–Simmons– –16–9  .640
Indiana State– –16–10  .615
Manhattan– –16–10  .615
Utah State– –16–10  .615
Notre Dame– –18–12  .600
Air Force– –14–10  .583
Creighton– –15–11  .577
Hawaii– –15–11  .577
Rutgers– –15–11  .577
Stetson– –15–11  .577
DePaul– –14–11  .560
South Alabama– –14–11  .560
Trinity (TX)– –14–11  .560
Canisius– –13–11  .542
Butler– –14–12  .538
Charlotte– –14–12  .538
Illinois State– –13–12  .520
Long Island– –13–12  .520
Navy– –13–12  .520
Dayton– –13–13  .500
Fairleigh Dickinson– –13–13  .500
St. Bonaventure– –13–13  .500
Portland State– –12–12  .500
Georgetown– –12–14  .462
Pittsburgh– –12–14  .462
Tulane– –12–14  .462
Army– –11–13  .458
Boston College– –11–14  .440
Colgate– –11–14  .440
Villanova– –11–14  .440
Fordham– –12–16  .429
Southern Illinois– –11–15  .423
West Virginia– –10–15  .400
Cleveland State– –9–14  .391
Ball State– –9–15  .375
Niagara– –9–16  .360
Loyola (IL)– –8–15  .348
Holy Cross– –9–17  .346
Southern Miss– –8–16  .333
St. Francis (NY)– –8–16  .333
Portland– –9–19  .321
Seton Hall– –8–17  .320
Georgia Southern– –8–18  .308
Saint Peter's– –8–18  .308
Georgia Tech– –7–18  .280
Iona– –6–16  .273
Samford– –5–20  .200
Saint Francis (PA)– –5–21  .192
Pan American– –4–22  .154
Xavier– –3–23  .115
Rankings from AP Poll
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Informal championships

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner		 Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5PennTom Ingelsby, Villanova
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Penn finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main articles: 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament and 1973 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game

Final Four

National semifinals National finals
      
E Providence 85
MW Memphis State 98
MW Memphis State 66
W UCLA 87
ME Indiana 59
W UCLA 70 Third place
E Providence 79
ME Indiana 97

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1973 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

Semifinals Finals
    
North Carolina 71
Notre Dame 78
Notre Dame 91
Virginia Tech 92
Virginia Tech 74
Alabama 73 Third place
North Carolina 88
Alabama 69

Awards

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1973 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
More information Player, Position ...
Consensus First Team
Player Position Class Team
Doug Collins G Senior Illinois State
Ernie DiGregorio G Senior Providence
Dwight Lamar G Senior Southwestern Louisiana
Ed Ratleff F Senior Long Beach State
David Thompson G/F Sophomore North Carolina State
Bill Walton C Junior UCLA
Keith Wilkes G/F Junior UCLA
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More information Player, Position ...
Consensus Second Team
Player Position Class Team
Jim Brewer F/C Senior Minnesota
Tom Burleson C Junior North Carolina State
Larry Finch G Senior Memphis State
Kevin Joyce G Senior South Carolina
Tom McMillen F Junior Maryland
Kermit Washington C Senior American
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Major player of the year awards

Major coach of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

More information Team, Former Coach ...
Team Former
Coach		 Interim
Coach		 New
Coach		 Reason
Georgia Tech John Hyder Dwane Morrison
Long Beach State Jerry Tarkanian Lute Olson
Oklahoma City Abe Lemons Paul Hansen
Pan American Sam Williams Abe Lemons
Rhode Island Tom Carmody Jack Kraft
St. John's Frank Mulzoff Lou Carnesecca
Southwestern Louisiana Beryl Shipley None The NCAA shut down the Ragin' Cajun program for the 1973–74 and 1974–75 seasons due to over 100 rules violations.
Temple Harry Litwack Don Casey
UNLV John Bayer Jerry Tarkanian
Villanova Jack Kraft Rollie Massimino
West Texas State Dennis Walling Ron Ekker
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References

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