Carolina Cougars
Encyclopedia
Carolina Cougars was a basketball
franchise in the former American Basketball Association
that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks
in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina
in late 1969 after two unsuccessful seasons in Houston
at the Sam Houston Coliseum
. The Cougars' colors were green, blue, and white.
at the Charlotte Coliseum, Greensboro
at the Greensboro Coliseum
, Raleigh
at the Dorton Arena
and Reynolds Coliseum
, and in Winston-Salem
at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
as a regional team. However, the team was based in Greensboro.
Early on, the Carolina Cougars were not especially successful on the court, posting a 42-42 record in the 1969-'70 season, a 34-50 record in '70-'71, and a 35-49 record in '71-'72. Only the '69-'70 Cougars managed to make the ABA playoffs but lost in the Eastern Division Semifinals (first round) to a much stronger Indiana Pacers
team. In spite of this, the Cougars had a good fan following, particularly in Greensboro.
The 1971-72 team was coached by former NBA All-Star Tom Meschery, who had just retired from 10 years of NBA play with the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle Supersonics.
In 1972-1973, the Carolina Cougars hired retired ABA players Larry Brown
and former Cougar Doug Moe
as coaches. The '72-'73 Cougars were fairly talented and featured players Billy Cunningham
, Joe Caldwell
, and Mack Calvin
. All three appeared in the ABA All-Star Game
that season, and Cunningham was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Carolina went on to post a 57-27 record, which was the best in the ABA. The Cougars beat the New York Nets
in their first-round playoff series 4-1, but lost a close series to the Kentucky Colonels
4-3 in the Eastern Division finals. There were many upset and disappointed fans in Greensboro when Cougar Management decided to hold game 7 of the series in Charlotte. Greensboro had developed a rabid fan base which gave great support to the Cougars. Of the 42 scheduled regular season home games, 25 were usually scheduled for Greensboro while only 12 were played in Charlotte. With Cougar management having the choice of city to play game 7, it mystified its Greensboro area fans with the choice to play such a pivotal game on a less familiar court. Game 7 was hotly contested but Kentucky prevailed, much to Cougar fans dismay. Many Cougar fans believed had they won that series, interest in the Cougars would've skyrocketed, and the franchise would've stayed in Carolina.
The 1973-1974 season proved to be the last for the Carolina Cougars in North Carolina
. Due to injuries and internal squabbles, the '73-'74 Cougars posted a 47-37 record but was swept in the Eastern Division semifinals 4-0 by the Kentucky Colonels
. Later in 1974, the Carolina Cougars were moved to Missouri
and became the Spirits of St. Louis
until the ABA-NBA merger
in June 1976. The Spirits of St. Louis were one of only two ABA teams to survive until the very end of the league but not join the NBA; the other was the Kentucky Colonels. (The Virginia Squires
folded after the final ABA regular season ended but before the ABA-NBA merger due to their inability to meet a league-mandated financial assessment after the season ended.) At the time of the ABA-NBA merger the Spirits' owners planned to move the team to Salt Lake City, Utah
to play as the Utah Rockies
.
The Cougars were moderately successful overall and had one of the most loyal fan bases in the NBA. However, it soon became apparent that a "regional" franchise would not be viable in the NBA. Although the Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh axis was beginning an unprecedented period of growth that still continues to this day, neither city was big enough at the time to support an NBA team on its own. Additionally, several persons quoted in the book Loose Balls by Terry Pluto say the added travel expenses incurred by the regional concept contributed to the Cougars' failure.
Professional basketball would return to North Carolina in 1988 when the Charlotte Hornets entered the National Basketball Association
, but the Hornets would eventually move to New Orleans in 2002. The NBA returned to Charlotte two years later when the Charlotte Bobcats
began their inaugural NBA season in 2004-2005
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
franchise in the former American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks
Houston Mavericks
The Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. They played in the upstart league's first two seasons, from 1967 to 1969. Their home arena was the Sam Houston Coliseum...
in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in late 1969 after two unsuccessful seasons in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
at the Sam Houston Coliseum
Sam Houston Coliseum
Sam Houston Coliseum was an indoor arena, located in Houston, Texas. It was located at 801 Bagby Street near downtown. The arena was opened in November 1937 and had a capacity of 9,200. It was built in conjunction with the Houston Music Hall, which was adjacent to the Coliseum...
. The Cougars' colors were green, blue, and white.
History
The history of the Carolina Cougars franchise began when the former Houston ABA franchise was relocated to North Carolina in 1969. During the 1970s, North Carolina did not have a large primary metropolitan area to base a professional sports franchise, so the team's ownership decided to have the teams play its home games in CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
at the Charlotte Coliseum, Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
at the Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro Coliseum
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is an entertainment complex located in College Hill neighborhood of Greensboro, North Carolina. Opening in 1959, the arena was one of the largest venues in the South, with a seating capacity of over 7,000...
, Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
at the Dorton Arena
Dorton Arena
The J.S. Dorton Arena is a 7,610-seat multi-purpose arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the grounds of the North Carolina State Fair...
and Reynolds Coliseum
Reynolds Coliseum
William Neal Reynolds Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena located in Raleigh, North Carolina on the North Carolina State University campus. The arena was built to host a variety of events, including agricultural expositions and NC State basketball games...
, and in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
Winston–Salem Memorial Coliseum was a multi-purpose arena in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The arena, which opened in 1955, held 8,500 people and was eventually replaced by the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 1989...
as a regional team. However, the team was based in Greensboro.
Early on, the Carolina Cougars were not especially successful on the court, posting a 42-42 record in the 1969-'70 season, a 34-50 record in '70-'71, and a 35-49 record in '71-'72. Only the '69-'70 Cougars managed to make the ABA playoffs but lost in the Eastern Division Semifinals (first round) to a much stronger Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
team. In spite of this, the Cougars had a good fan following, particularly in Greensboro.
The 1971-72 team was coached by former NBA All-Star Tom Meschery, who had just retired from 10 years of NBA play with the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle Supersonics.
In 1972-1973, the Carolina Cougars hired retired ABA players Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
and former Cougar Doug Moe
Doug Moe
Douglas Edwin Moe is an American professional basketball coach. He is most closely associated with the Denver Nuggets franchise....
as coaches. The '72-'73 Cougars were fairly talented and featured players Billy Cunningham
Billy Cunningham
William John "Billy" Cunningham is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid.- Beginnings :...
, Joe Caldwell
Joe Caldwell
Joe Louis Caldwell is a retired American professional basketball player. He spent 6 seasons in the NBA and 5 seasons in the now-defunct ABA, and he was one of the few players to be an All-Star in both leagues...
, and Mack Calvin
Mack Calvin
Mack Calvin is an American former basketball player.-College career:A 6'0" point guard from Long Beach City College and the University of Southern California, Calvin was a 14th-round draft pick of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 1969.In his final college season, Calvin and his Trojans defeated the...
. All three appeared in the ABA All-Star Game
1973 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 6: at the Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6, 1973MVP: Warren Jabali, Denver RocketsCoaches: East:* Larry Brown, Carolina Cougars* West: LaDell Andersen, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
that season, and Cunningham was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Carolina went on to post a 57-27 record, which was the best in the ABA. The Cougars beat the New York Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in their first-round playoff series 4-1, but lost a close series to the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
4-3 in the Eastern Division finals. There were many upset and disappointed fans in Greensboro when Cougar Management decided to hold game 7 of the series in Charlotte. Greensboro had developed a rabid fan base which gave great support to the Cougars. Of the 42 scheduled regular season home games, 25 were usually scheduled for Greensboro while only 12 were played in Charlotte. With Cougar management having the choice of city to play game 7, it mystified its Greensboro area fans with the choice to play such a pivotal game on a less familiar court. Game 7 was hotly contested but Kentucky prevailed, much to Cougar fans dismay. Many Cougar fans believed had they won that series, interest in the Cougars would've skyrocketed, and the franchise would've stayed in Carolina.
The 1973-1974 season proved to be the last for the Carolina Cougars in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Due to injuries and internal squabbles, the '73-'74 Cougars posted a 47-37 record but was swept in the Eastern Division semifinals 4-0 by the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
. Later in 1974, the Carolina Cougars were moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and became the Spirits of St. Louis
Spirits of St. Louis
The Spirits of St. Louis were one of two teams still in existence at the end of the American Basketball Association that did not survive the ABA-NBA merger. They were a member of the ABA in its last two seasons, 1974–75 and 1975–76, while playing their home games at the St...
until the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
in June 1976. The Spirits of St. Louis were one of only two ABA teams to survive until the very end of the league but not join the NBA; the other was the Kentucky Colonels. (The Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
folded after the final ABA regular season ended but before the ABA-NBA merger due to their inability to meet a league-mandated financial assessment after the season ended.) At the time of the ABA-NBA merger the Spirits' owners planned to move the team to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
to play as the Utah Rockies
Utah Rockies
Utah Rockies was the name under which the Spirits of St. Louis were to play during the ultimately aborted 1976–77 American Basketball Association season....
.
The Cougars were moderately successful overall and had one of the most loyal fan bases in the NBA. However, it soon became apparent that a "regional" franchise would not be viable in the NBA. Although the Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh axis was beginning an unprecedented period of growth that still continues to this day, neither city was big enough at the time to support an NBA team on its own. Additionally, several persons quoted in the book Loose Balls by Terry Pluto say the added travel expenses incurred by the regional concept contributed to the Cougars' failure.
Professional basketball would return to North Carolina in 1988 when the Charlotte Hornets entered the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, but the Hornets would eventually move to New Orleans in 2002. The NBA returned to Charlotte two years later when the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
began their inaugural NBA season in 2004-2005
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
.