1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

Men's collegiate basketball season August 2023 March 2026 1972 247px UCLAESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia 978-0-345-51392-2 Random House 2009 846 March 10 26, 1973 St. Louis Arena St. Louis, Missouri UCLA UCLA Virginia Tech Bill Walton, UCLA (Naismith) Bill Walton, UCLA 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. Rule changes Freshmen became eligible to play on varsity teams.orangehoops.org History of NCAA Basketball Rule Changes 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. 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. 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.https://www.ncaa.org/static/champion/a-brief-history-of-mens-college-basketball/ Burnsed, Brian, "A Brief History of Men's College Basketball," Champion, Fall 2018 Accessed April 6, 2021 April 8, 2021 April 13, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210413013611/https://www.ncaa.org/static/champion/a-brief-history-of-mens-college-basketball/ dead The Final Four was played on Saturday and Monday for the first time.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2010/Rules.pdf Playing Rules History ncaa.org NCAA June 25, 2024 11 The NCAA title game was televised during prime time for the first time. NBC aired the game on March 26, 1973. For the first time, television broadcast rights fees for an NCAA tournament totaled more than $1 million. Season outlook Pre-season polls 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings The Top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia 978-0-345-51392-2 Random House 2009 836 Associated PressRankingTeam1UCLA2Florida State3Maryland4Minnesota5Marquette6Long Beach State7Southwestern Louisiana8NC State9Penn10Ohio State11Memphis State12BYU13Kentucky14Tennessee15Houston16South Carolina17Kansas State18Oral Roberts19Michigan20(tie)LouisvilleUSC UPI CoachesRankingTeam1UCLA2Florida State3Maryland4Minnesota5Marquette6Ohio State7Kentucky8Long Beach State9Penn10NC State11Houston12North Carolina13Southwestern Louisiana14Memphis State15(tie)BYUKansas State17USC18Providence19Oral Roberts20UTEP Conference membership changes SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference Appalachian State Appalachian State Mountaineers non-University Division Southern Conference Boston University Boston University Terriers University Division independent Yankee Conference Central Michigan Central Michigan Chippewas non-University Division Mid-American Conference Charlotte Charlotte 49ers non-University Division University Division independent Cleveland State Cleveland State Vikings non-University Division University Division independent Loyola (LA) Loyola (LA) Wolf Pack University Division independent None (dropped athletics) McNeese State McNeese State Cowboys non-University Division Southland Conference Northeastern Northeastern Huskies non-University Division University Division independent Portland State Portland State Vikings non-University Division University Division independent Samford Samford Bulldogs non-University Division University Division independent Southern Miss Southern Miss Golden Eagles non-University Division University Division independent Trinity Trinity Tigers Southland Conference University Division independent Regular season Conferences Conference winners and tournaments ConferenceRegular season winnerhttp://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2009/Standings.pdf 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section 2009 NCAA 2009-02-14Conference player of the yearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAtlantic Coast Conference NC State David Thompson, NC State2008–09 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Year by Year section https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192652/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09mbkguide083112.pdf 2016-03-03 , retrieved 2009-02-14 1973 ACC men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) NC StateBig Eight Conference Kansas State Lon Kruger, Kansas State2008–09 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section, Big 12 Conference, retrieved 2009-02-04 No TournamentBig Sky Conference Weber State None selected No TournamentBig Ten Conference Indiana None selected No TournamentIvy League Penn None selected No TournamentMid-American Conference Ohio Tom Kozelko, Toledo2008–09 MAC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Records Section, Mid-American Conference, retrieved 2009-02-14 No TournamentMiddle Atlantic Conference Saint Joseph's (East); Lafayette (West) Patrick McFarland, Saint Joseph's & Walt Kocubinski, Lafayette No TournamentMissouri Valley Conference Memphis State Larry Kenon, Memphis State No TournamentOhio Valley Conference Austin Peay State Les Taylor, Murray State No TournamentPacific 8 Conference UCLA None selected No TournamentPacific Coast Athletic Association Long Beach State Ed Ratleff, Long Beach State No TournamentSoutheastern Conference Kentucky Kevin Grevey, Kentucky, & Wendell Hudson, Alabama2008–09 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book, Southeastern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-06 No TournamentSouthern Conference Davidson Aron Stewart, Richmond2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110723151437/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/honorsandawards.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 July 23, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09 1973 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia)(Semifinals and Finals) Furman2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110930163611/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/standingsandresults.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 September 30, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09Southland Conference Louisiana Tech Mike Green, Louisiana Tech2008–09 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Media Guide, Southland Conference, retrieved 2009-02-07 No TournamentSouthwest Conference Texas Tech Martin Terry, Arkansas No TournamentWest Coast Athletic Conference San Francisco Bird Averitt, Pepperdine No TournamentWestern Athletic Conference Arizona State None selected No TournamentYankee Conference Massachusetts None selected No Tournament Conference standings University Division independents A total of 72 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, Providence (27–4) and 1972 Marquette Warriors Marquette (27–4) had both the best winning percentage (.871) and the most wins.https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/independent/men/1973.html Sports Reference 1972-73 Men's Independent Season Summary August 18, 2024 Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 Penn Tom Ingelsby, Villanova Penn finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5. Post-season tournaments NCAA tournament 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament 1973 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game Final Four National semifinals National finals Third place E Providence 85 MW Memphis State 98 ME Indiana 59 W UCLA 70 MW Memphis State 66 W UCLA 87 E Providence 79 ME Indiana 97 National Invitation tournament 1973 National Invitation Tournament Semifinals & finals no Semifinals Finals Third place   North Carolina 71   Notre Dame 78   Virginia Tech 74   Alabama 73   Notre Dame 91   Virginia Tech 92   North Carolina 88   Alabama 69 Awards Consensus All-American teams 1973 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans + 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 + 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 Major player of the year awards Naismith Award: Bill Walton, UCLA Helms Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA Associated Press Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA UPI Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Bill Walton, UCLA Adolph Rupp Trophy: Bill Walton, UCLA Sporting News Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA Major coach of the year awards Associated Press Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA Henry Iba Award (USBWA): John Wooden, UCLA NABC Coach of the Year: Gene Bartow, Memphis State UPI Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA Sporting News Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA Other major awards Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Robert Sherwin, Army Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Tom Ingelsby, Villanova NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Billy Schaeffer, St. John's Coaching changes A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended. TeamFormerCoachInterimCoachNewCoachReasonAbilene ChristianGarnie HatchWillard Tate AmericanTom YoungJim Lynam Young left to coach Rutgers.AuburnBill LynnBob Davis BaylorBill MenefeeCarroll Dawson Boise StateMurray SatterfieldBus Connor DetroitJim HardingDick Vitale DukeBucky WatersNeil McGeachy Est Tennessee StateMadison BrooksLeroy Fisher Eastern KentuckyGuy R. StrongBob Mulcahy Strong left to coach Oklahoma State.FloridaTommy BartlettJohn Lotz GeorgiaKen RosemondJohn Guthrie Georgia TechJohn HyderDwane Morrison HarvardBob HarrisonSatch Sanders HawaiiRed RochaBruce O'Neil IonaJim McDermottGene Roberti JacksonvilleTom WasdinBob Gottlieb Long Beach StateJerry TarkanianLute Olson Tarkanian left to coach UNLV.Loyola (Calif.)Richard BakerDave Benaderet Northern IllinoisTom JorgensenEmory Luck NorthwesternBrad SnyderTex Winter OklahomaJohn MacLeodJoe Ramsey Oklahoma CityAbe LemonsPaul Hansen Oklahoma StateSam AubreyGuy R. Strong Rhode IslandTom CarmodyJack Kraft RutgersDick FloydTom Young Saint Francis (PA)Dick ConoverPete Lonergan Saint Mary'sBruce HaleFrank LaPorte St. BonaventureLarry WeiseJim Satalin St. Francis (NY)Lester YellinJohn M. Prenderville St. John'sFrank MulzoffLou Carnesecca Southwestern LouisianaBeryl ShipleyNoneThe NCAA shut down the Ragin' Cajun program for the 1973–74 and 1974–75 seasons due to over 100 rules violations.TempleHarry LitwackDon CaseyTulaneDick LongoCharles Moir UNLVJohn BayerJerry Tarkanian Utah StateT. L. PlainDutch Belnap VillanovaJack KraftRollie Massimino West Texas StateDennis WallingRon Ekker WyomingBill StranniganMoe Radovich XavierDick CampbellTay Baker References 2