1973–74 Carolina Cougars season

The 1973–74 Carolina Cougars season was the 5th and final season of the Cougars in the American Basketball Association. Billy Cunningham (who had been named the MVP the previous season), Dennis Wuycik, and Mike Lewis were hobbled by injuries through the season, which meant the team struggled to gain much ground in the Division, though they finished consistently enough to qualify for a playoff spot for the 2nd straight season. The Cougars finished 2nd in points scored, with 110.5 per game, but 6th in points allowed with 107.0 per game. The team was 26–16 by the midpoint of the season (with a seven-game winning streak in the middle of it), while going 21–21 for the second half of the season. The biggest losing streak by the team was 6, done near the end of the season, but by that point they had clinched the third spot in the playoffs, finishing 19 games above Virginia, who they beat in their final regular season game at home, 99–91. Once again, the Cougars faced the Kentucky Colonels in the playoffs, but once again the Colonels prevailed, this time in a First Round sweep. This turned out to be the final game the Cougars played. Owner Tedd Munchak sold the team after the season ended to a group of New York businessmen, which included Harry Weltman, Donald Schupak, Ozzie Silna and Daniel Silna for $1.5 million. The team subsequently moved to St. Louis to become the Spirits of St. Louis, playing for two seasons.[1]

1973–74 Carolina Cougars season
Head coachLarry Brown
ArenaGreensboro Coliseum
Charlotte Coliseum
Dorton Arena
Results
Record47–37 (.560)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in the Eastern Division Semifinals

Roster

Final standings

Eastern Division
TeamWL%GB
New York Nets5529.655-
Kentucky Colonels5331.6312
Carolina Cougars4737.5608
Virginia Squires2856.33327
Memphis Tams2163.25034

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals[2]

GameDateLocationScoreRecordAttendance
1April 1Kentucky102–1180–16,749
2April 5Greensboro (Carolina)96–990–28,638
3April 6Charlotte (Carolina)110–1200–33,724
4April 8Kentucky119–1280–45,243

Cougars lose series, 4–0

Awards and honors

1974 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 30, 1974)

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References
  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CAR/1974_games.html
  2. "1973-74 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
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