1969–70 Carolina Cougars season

1969–70 Carolina Cougars season
Head coachBones McKinney
Owner(s)James Carson Gardner
ArenaGreensboro Coliseum
Charlotte Coliseum
Dorton Arena
Results
Record42–42 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 3rd
Playoff finishLost in Division Semifinals
RadioWSOC

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.

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

1969–70 Carolina Cougars roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
SF 42 Bill Bunting 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947-08-26 North Carolina
SG 24 Calvin Fowler 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) February 11, 1940 Saint Francis (PA)
SG 33 Steve Kramer 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945-01-01 BYU
PG 23 Gene Littles 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) June 29, 1943 High Point
SF 35 Randolph Mahaffey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) September 28, 1945 Clemson
SG 44 Larry Miller 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1946-04-04 North Carolina
SF 34 Doug Moe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) September 21, 1938 North Carolina
C 52 Rich Niemann 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) July 2, 1946 Saint Louis
C 43 George Peeples 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) October 30, 1943 Iowa
PG 21 Ron Perry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) December 29, 1943 Virginia Tech
C 52 George Sutor 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) September 14, 1943 La Salle
SG 11 Bob Verga 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) September 7, 1945 Duke
F 13 Hank Whitney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1939-04-28 Iowa State
Head coach

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Final standings

Eastern Division

Team 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

1970 playoff game log
Eastern Division Semifinals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 18 @ Indiana L 105–123 Bob Verga (19) Randy Mahaffey (9) Doug Moe (6) Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum
6,123
0–1
2 April 19 @ Indiana L 98–103 Bob Verga (35) Hank Whitney (11) Calvin Fowler (4) Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum
6,341
0–2
3 April 22 Indiana L 106–115 Bob Verga (24) George Peeples (22) Doug Moe (8) Charlotte Coliseum
3,381
0–3
4 April 24 Indiana L 106–110 Bob Verga (30) George Peeples (18) Doug Moe (8) Dorton Arena
5,211
0–4
1968 schedule

Awards, records, and honors

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

References