1972-73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1972–73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team won another National Championship for UCLA by beating the Memphis Tigers
, 87–66 in the Final Four
. In the NCAA Championship, Bill Walton led UCLA to an 87–66 win over Memphis State in which he made 21 of 22 field goal attempts and scored 44 points. Some regard this as the greatest ever offensive performance in American college basketball
. The Bruins set a new NCAA record of winning 89 games and losing 1 during a three-year span.
Memphis Tigers basketball
The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Memphis in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The Tigers compete in Conference USA, in which they have won six regular season and four conference tournament championships. As of 2011, the Tigers have the 29th highest...
, 87–66 in the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. In the NCAA Championship, Bill Walton led UCLA to an 87–66 win over Memphis State in which he made 21 of 22 field goal attempts and scored 44 points. Some regard this as the greatest ever offensive performance in American college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
. The Bruins set a new NCAA record of winning 89 games and losing 1 during a three-year span.
Starting lineup
| Position | Player | Class |
|---|---|---|
| F | Larry Farmer | Sr. |
| F | Keith Wilkes | Jr. |
| C | Bill Walton Bill Walton William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while... |
Jr. |
| G | Larry Hollyfield | Sr. |
| G | Greg Lee Greg Lee (basketball) Gregory Scott Lee is a retired American basketball player. He won two NCAA championships at UCLA, then played two seasons of professional basketball: one in the original American Basketball Association and one in the National Basketball Association.Lee, a 6'3 guard from Reseda High School in... |
Jr. |
Players
- Vice Carson
- Casey Corliss
- Tommy Curtis
- Ralph DrollingerRalph DrollingerRalph Kim Drollinger is an American clergyman and retired professional basketball player. He was a 7'2" and 250 lb center and played collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles...
- Larry FarmerLarry Farmer (basketball coach)Larry Farmer is an American college basketball coach currently an assistant coach for the Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team. He was the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles from 1981 to 1984, guiding them to a 61–23 record. In 1985, Farmer became the head coach for...
- Gary Franklin
- Larry Hollyfield
- Greg LeeGreg Lee (basketball)Gregory Scott Lee is a retired American basketball player. He won two NCAA championships at UCLA, then played two seasons of professional basketball: one in the original American Basketball Association and one in the National Basketball Association.Lee, a 6'3 guard from Reseda High School in...
- David MeyersDavid Meyers (basketball)David William Meyers is a retired American college basketball forward/center at the University of California, Los Angeles and professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks...
- Swen NaterSwen NaterSwen Eric Nater is a retired Dutch professional basketball player, primarily in the ABA and NBA.-Basketball career:Nater helped John Wooden's UCLA Bruins win two NCAA titles....
- Pete TrgovichPete TrgovichPete Trgovich was an American basketball player.Trgovich was a member of the 1971 East Chicago Washington High School Senators basketball team, which went undefeated and won the Indiana state high school championship...
- Bill WaltonBill WaltonWilliam Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
- Bob Webb
- Keith Wilkes
Schedule and results
| Date | Opponent | Results | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 25 | Wisconsin | W 94–53 | 1–0 |
| Dec. 1 | Bradley | W 73–38 | 2–0 |
| Dec. 2 | Pacific | W 81–48 | 3–0 |
| Dec. 16 | UC SB | W 98–67 | 4–0 |
| Dec. 22 | Pittsburgh | W 89–73 | 5–0 |
| Dec. 23 | Notre Dame | W 82–56 | 6–0 |
| Dec. 29 | Drake | W 85–72 | 7–0 |
| Dec. 30 | Illinois | W 71–64 | 8–0 |
| Jan. 5 | Oregon | W 64–38 | 9–0 |
| Jan. 6 | Oregon St. | W 87–61 | 10–0 |
| Jan. 12 | Stanford | W 82–67 | 11–0 |
| Jan. 13 | California | W 69–50 | 12–0 |
| Jan. 19 | USF | W 92–64 | 13–0 |
| Jan. 20 | Providence | W 101–77 | 14–0 |
| Jan. 25 | Loyola (IL) | W 87–73 | 15–0 |
| Jan. 27 | Notre Dame | W 82–63 | 16–0 |
| Feb. 3 | USC | W 79–56 | 17–0 |
| Feb. 10 | Wash. St. | W 88–50 | 18–0 |
| Feb. 12 | Washington | W 76–67 | 19–0 |
| Feb. 16 | Washington | W 93–62 | 20–0 |
| Feb. 17 | Wash. St. | W 96–64 | 21–0 |
| Feb. 22 | Oregon | W 72–61 | 22–0 |
| Feb. 24 | Oregon St. | W 73–67 | 23–0 |
| Mar. 2 | California | W 90–65 | 24–0 |
| Mar. 3 | Stanford | W 51–45 | 25–0 |
| Mar. 9 | USC | W 76–56 | 26–0 |
| Mar. 15 (Sweet 16) | Arizona St. | W 98–81 | 27–0 |
| Mar. 17 (Elite 8) | USF | W 54–39 | 28–0 |
| Mar. 24 (Final Four) | Indiana | W 70–59 | 29–0 |
| Mar. 26 (Championship) | Memphis | W 87–66 | 30–0 |
Awards and honors
- Bill Walton, James E. Sullivan AwardJames E. Sullivan AwardThe James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union , is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past...
, which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the United States - Bill Walton, USBWA College Player of the YearOscar Robertson TrophyThe Oscar Robertson Trophy is given out annually to outstanding men's college basketball players by the United States Basketball Writers Association . The trophy is considered to be the oldest of its kind and has been given out since 1959...
- Bill Walton, Naismith College Player of the YearNaismith College Player of the YearThe Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
- Bill Walton, Adolph Rupp TrophyAdolph Rupp TrophyThe Adolph F. Rupp Trophy is an award given annually to the top player in men's Division I NCAA basketball. It is considered one of the top awards in college basketball. The recipient of the award is selected by an independent panel consisting of national sportswriters, coaches, and sports...