1972–73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|year=1972–73
|team=UCLA Bruins
|image=1973 UCLA basketball NCAA champions.JPG
|image_size=260px
|conference=Pacific-8 Conference
|short_conf=Pac-8
|CoachRank= 1
|APRank= 1
|record= 30–0
|conf_record= 14–0
|head_coach=John Wooden
|hc_year=25th
|asst_coach1= Gary Cunningham
|asst_coach2=
|asst_coach3=
|stadium= Pauley Pavilion
|champion= NCAA tournament National champions
Pac-8 champions
|bowl=National Championship Game
|bowl_result=
W 87–66 vs. Memphis State
}}
{{1972–73 Pacific-8 Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1972–73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team went undefeated again at {{nowrap|30–0}} and claimed a seventh consecutive national championship.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8HdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=chEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7288%2C2742880 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Hofmann |first=Dale |title=Walton's 44 KO Memphis State |date=March 27, 1973 |page=1, part 2}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SWoRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=--ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6097%2C6559040 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Walton may be $2 million bargain |date=March 27, 1973 |page=1C}}UCLA media guide{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KGo0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=8QkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1187%2C6129430 |work=Wilmington Morning Star |location=(North Carolina) |agency=UPI |title=Walton 'demolishes' Memphis State, 87–66 |date=March 27, 1973 |page=14}}
In the title game of the NCAA tournament at St. Louis, junior center Bill Walton scored 44 points (21 of 22 field goal attempts) with thirteen rebounds as the top-ranked Bruins defeated #12 Memphis State, {{nowrap|87–66.}} Some regard this as the greatest ever offensive performance in American college basketball.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1973/04/02/618008/a-slight-case-of-being-superhuman |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Kirkpatrick |first=Curry |title=A slight case of being superhuman |date=April 2, 1973 |page=18}} Tied at 39 at halftime, the Bruins dominated the second half and outscored the Tigers, {{nowrap|48–27.UCLA media guide}}
UCLA set a new NCAA record of 75 consecutive wins and a three-season composite record of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|89|1|record=y}}}}.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1972|team=UCLA Bruins|sex=men's|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Vince|last=Carson|dab=|link=|num=30|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=|class=Jr|rs=|home=}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tommy|last=Curtis|dab=|link=y|num=22|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|lbs=170|class=Jr|rs=|home=Tampa, Florida}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Larry|last=Farmer|dab=basketball|link=y|num=54|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=|class=Sr|rs=|home=|note=C}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Gary|last=Franklin|dab=|link=|num=50|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=|class=Jr|rs=|home=}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Larry|last=Hollyfield|dab=|link=y|num=53|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=215|class=Sr|rs=|home=}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Greg|last=Lee|dab=basketball|link=y|num=43|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=|class=Jr|rs=|home=Reseda, California}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dave|last=Meyers|dab=basketball|link=y|num=34|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=215|class=So|rs=|home=San Diego, CA}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Swen|last=Nater|dab=|link=y|num=31|pos=C|ft=6|in=11|lbs=240|class=Sr|rs=|home=Den Helder, Netherlands}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Pete|last=Trgovich|dab=|link=y|num=25|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=|class=So|rs=|home=East Chicago, Indiana}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Walton|dab=|link=y|num=32|pos=C|ft=6|in=11|lbs=210|class=Jr|rs=|home=La Mesa, California}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Keith|last=Wilkes|dab=|link=y|num=52|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=190|class=Jr|rs=|home=Berkeley, California}}
{{CBB roster/Footer|roster_url=http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB1/C/Men's%20Basketball_Men's_Division%20I_1973_110_University%20of%20California,%20Los%20Angeles.pdf|accessdate=|head_coach=John Wooden (Purdue)|asst_coach=Gary Cunningham (UCLA)}}
=Starting lineup=
:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;"
!Position !Player !Class |
| F
|align=left|Larry Farmer |Senior |
| F
|align=left|Keith Wilkes |Junior |
| C
|align=left|Bill Walton |Junior |
| G
|align=left|Larry Hollyfield |Senior |
| G
|align=left|Greg Lee |Junior |
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=yes|ranklink=1972–73 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=1972|tv=|record=yes|attend=}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|UCLA Bruins}}|Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 25, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 94–53
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Bradley
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 73–38
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 2, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Pacific Tigers|title=Pacific}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 81–48
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos|title=UCSB}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 98–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 22, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Pittsburgh Panthers|title=Pittsburgh}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 89–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 23, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish|title=Notre Dame}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 82–56
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Drake Bulldogs|title=Drake}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Municipal Auditorium
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = Sugar Bowl Classic
| tv =
| score = 85–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 30, 1972
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 1
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Municipal Auditorium
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = Sugar Bowl Classic
| tv =
| score = 71–64
| overtime =
| attend = 7,123
| record = 8–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 5, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Oregon Ducks|title=Oregon}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 64–38
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–0
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 6, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Oregon State Beavers|title=Oregon State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 87–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–0
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 12, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Stanford Cardinal|title=Stanford}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Maples Pavilion
| site_cityst = Stanford, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 82–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–0
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 13, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=California Golden Bears|title=California}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Harmon Gym
| site_cityst = Berkeley, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 69–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–0
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 19, 1973
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=San Francisco Dons|title=San Francisco}}
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 92–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 20, 1973
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Providence
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 101–77
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 25, 1973
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Loyola Ramblers|title=Loyola–Chicago}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Chicago Stadium{{cite news|last1=Rapoport|first1=Ron|title=Bruins Tie All-Time Mark|work=Los Angeles Times|date=26 January 1973|id={{ProQuest|157194780}}}}
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 87–73
| overtime =
| attend = 15,817
| record = 15–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27, 1973
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Athletic & Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 82–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 3, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=USC Trojans|title=USC}}
| opprank = 20
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 79–56
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–0
| conference = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 10, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Washington State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bohler Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Pullman, WA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 88–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–0
| conference = 6–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Washington
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Hec Edmundson Pavilion
| site_cityst = Seattle, WA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 76–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–0
| conference = 7–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 16, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Washington
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 93–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–0
| conference = 8–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 17, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Washington State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 96–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–0
| conference = 9–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 22, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Oregon
| opprank =
| site_stadium = McArthur Court
| site_cityst = Eugene, OR
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 72–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 22–0
| conference = 10–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 24, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Oregon State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Gill Coliseum
| site_cityst = Corvallis, OR
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 73–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 23–0
| conference = 11–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 2, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = California
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 51–45
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 24–0
| conference = 12–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 3, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = Stanford
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 51–45
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 25–0
| conference = 13–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 9, 1973
| time =
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 1
| opponent = USC
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = 76–56
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 26–0
| conference = 14–0
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style="background:#{{NCAA color|UCLA Bruins|1}};"| 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 15, 1973
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 1
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1972|sex=men|team=Arizona State Sun Devils|title=Arizona State}}
| opprank = 16
| gamename = Regional semifinal
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv =
| score = 98–81
| overtime =
| attend = 12,671
| record = 27–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 17, 1973
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 1
| opponent = San Francisco
| opprank = 20
| gamename = Regional Final
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv =
| score = 54–39
| overtime =
| attend = 12,705
| record = 28–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 24, 1973
| time = 1:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 1
| opponent = Indiana
| opprank = 6
| gamename = National semifinal
| site_stadium = St. Louis Arena
| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO
| tv = NBC
| score = 70–59
| overtime =
| attend = 19,029
| record = 29–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 26, 1973
| time = 6:10 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 1
| opponent = Memphis State
| opprank = 12
| gamename = National Final
| site_stadium = St. Louis Arena
| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO
| tv = NBC
| score = 87–66
| overtime =
| attend = 19,301
| record = 30–0
}}
{{CBB schedule end
Notes
- The 1972 team was ranked No. 1 by both AP and UPI pre-season polls
- Walton set a school record with 506 rebounds
- Larry Farmer and Larry Hollyfield became the only players to have the best winning record over a three-year period, 89–1.[http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2001/Div1.pdf NCAA Division 1 Record], NCAA, 2002
- In the semifinal against #6 Indiana, the Hoosiers rallied in the second half to give the Bruins a scare. Curtis scored 22 points off the bench to help UCLA with the 70–59 victory.
- Walton and Keith Wilkes were consensus first team All-Americans.
Awards and honors
- Bill Walton, James E. Sullivan Award,{{cite web | url=http://aausullivan.org/winners_1973.html | title=AAU Sullivan Award }} which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the United States
- Bill Walton, USBWA College Player of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/awards/robertson/index.html |title=USBWA > Awards > Oscar Robertson Trophy |access-date=2007-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213004535/http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/awards/robertson/index.html |archive-date=2007-02-13 }}
- Bill Walton, Naismith College Player of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.naismithawards.com/History/NaismithTrophy/tabid/58/Default.aspx |title=Naismith Awards - Naismith Trophy |access-date=2009-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302160347/http://www.naismithawards.com/History/NaismithTrophy/tabid/58/Default.aspx |archive-date=2009-03-02 }}
- Bill Walton, Adolph Rupp Trophy{{cite web|url=http://www.ruppawards.com/index_files/Page356.htm |title=About Us |access-date=2009-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107024610/http://www.ruppawards.com/index_files/Page356.htm |archive-date=2009-01-07 }}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ucla/1973.html 1972–73 UCLA Bruins] at Sports-Reference.com
{{1973 UCLA Bruins men's basketball navbox}}
{{UCLA Bruins men's basketball navbox}}
{{NCAA Men's Basketball Champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1972-73 Ucla Bruins Men's Basketball Team}}
Category:UCLA Bruins men's basketball seasons
Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons
Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons