1976–77 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year=1976–77
|team=UNC Charlotte 49ers
|sport=Basketball
|image=
|image_size=250
|conference=Sun Belt Conference
|division=
|short_conf=Sun Belt
|CoachRank=
|APRank=17
|record=28–5
|conf_record=5–1
|head_coach=Lee Rose
|hc_year=2nd
|asst_coach1=Everett Bass
|asst_coach2=Mike Pratt
|asst_coach3=
|stadium=Charlotte Coliseum
Belk Gymnasium (alternate)
|champion=Sun Belt tournament champion
|tourney=NCAA tournament
|tourney_result=Final Four
}}
{{1976–77 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1976–77 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 1976–77 college basketball season. This was head coach Lee Rose's second season at Charlotte. The 49ers competed in the Sun Belt Conference and played their home games at the original Charlotte Coliseum. They finished the season 28–5 (5–1 in Sun Belt play) and won the Sun Belt tournament to receive a bid to the 1977 NCAA tournament. The 49ers would defeat Central Michigan, No. 6 Syracuse,{{cite news |title=Charlotte Advances With Michigan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/18/archives/charlotte-advances-with-michigan-charlotte-defeats-syracuse.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 18, 1977 |access-date=June 13, 2021}} and No. 1 Michigan to reach the Final Four (to date, the only appearance in school history). Charlotte lost a 2-point game to the eventual national champion, Marquette, in the national semifinals before falling to UNLV in the consolation game.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1976|team=Charlotte 49ers|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jeff|last=Gruber|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=155|class=Jr|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Cary, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Chad|last=Kinch|num=21|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=186|class=Fr|link=y|dab=|rs=|home=Perth Amboy, New Jersey}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Todd|last=Crowley|num=22|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=170|class=Fr|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Charlotte, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lew|last=Massey|num=23|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=202|class=Jr|link=y|dab=|rs=|home=Charlotte, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lee|last=Whitfield|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=160|class=Fr|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Charlotte, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kevin|last=King|num=25|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=200|class=So|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Lakewood, New Jersey}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Phil|last=Scott|num=31|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=170|class=Fr|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Columbia, Maryland}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Melvin|last=Watkins|num=32|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=204|class=Sr|link=y|dab=|rs=|home=Reidsville, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Cedric|last=Maxwell|num=33|pos=C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=202|class=Sr|link=y|dab=|rs=|home=Kinston, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ken|last=Angel|num=43|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=201|class=Sr|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Covington, Kentucky}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mike|last=Hester|num=44|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=190|class=Fr|link=|dab=|rs=|home=Burlington, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
- Everett Bass
- Mike Pratt
|roster_url=https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1976-77
}}
{{cite web |title=1976-77 Men's Basketball Roster |url=https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1976-77 |publisher=UNC Charlotte Athletics |access-date=May 1, 2021}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start
| rank =
| gamehighs =
| attend =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Charlotte 49ers}}| Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 27, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 19
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Georgia College Bobcats|title=Georgia College}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 111–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 1, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 20
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Eastern Kentucky Colonels|title=Eastern Kentucky}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 104–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 4, 1976
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 20
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Tennessee Volunteers|title=Tennessee}}
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Stokely Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Knoxville, Tennessee
| gamename =
| score = 67–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 6, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Morehead State Eagles|title=Morehead State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 75–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 11, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=New Mexico State Aggies|title=New Mexico State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pan American Center
| site_cityst = Las Cruces, New Mexico
| gamename = Roadrunner Classic
| score = 85–81
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 12, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Lamar Cardinals|title=Lamar}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pan American Center
| site_cityst = Las Cruces, New Mexico
| gamename = Roadrunner Classic
| score = 91–86
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 18, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Charleston Southern Buccaneers |title=Charleston Southern}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = CSU Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = North Charleston, South Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 107–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 29, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Brown Bears |title=Brown}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename = Charlotte Classic
| score = 97–81
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 30, 1976
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=New Hampshire Wildcats|title=New Hampshire}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename = Charlotte Classic
| score = 104–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 8, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos|title=UC Santa Barbara}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rob Gym
| site_cityst = Santa Barbara, California
| gamename =
| score = 80–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 15, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Charleston Southern
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 120–87
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 19, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Appalachian State Mountaineers|title=Appalachian State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Varsity Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Boone, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 87–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 22, 1977
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Wake Forest
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 72–74
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 24, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Rollins Tars|title=Rollins}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Winter Park, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 91–76
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 26, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Georgia Southern Eagles|title=Georgia Southern}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 93–77
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 29, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Florida State Seminoles|title=Florida State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tully Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Tallahassee, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 76–65
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=UNC Wilmington Seahawks |title=UNC Wilmington}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 83–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 5, 1977
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Saint Francis Red Flash men's basketball |title=Saint Francis (PA)}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = DeGol Arena
| site_cityst = Loretto, Pennsylvania
| gamename =
| score = 87–96
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 12, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Southern Miss Golden Eagles |title=Southern Mississippi}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Reed Green Coliseum
| site_cityst = Hattiesburg, Mississippi
| gamename =
| score = 102–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 15, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Birmingham–Southern Panthers |title=Birmingham–Southern}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 87–74
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 19, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Seton Hall Pirates |title=Seton Hall}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Walsh Gymnasium
| site_cityst = South Orange, New Jersey
| gamename =
| score = 85–75
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 21, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Samford Bulldogs |title=Samford}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center
| site_cityst = Birmingham, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 95–81
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 26, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Buffalo State Bengals|title=Buffalo State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 83–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 28, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Creighton Bluejays|title=Creighton}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 85–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 2, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Marshall Thundering Herd|title=Marshall}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Huntington, West Virginia
| gamename =
| score = 84–80
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 22–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 4, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Virginia Commonwealth
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 87–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 23–3
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Charlotte 49ers}}| Sun Belt tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 8, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 18
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Jacksonville Dolphins |title=Jacksonville}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 74–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 24–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 9, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 18
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=New Orleans Privateers|title=New Orleans}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 71–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 25–3
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Charlotte 49ers}}| NCAA tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 13, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 18
| seed =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1976|sex=men|team=Central Michigan Chippewas|title=Central Michigan}}
| opprank =
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Bloomington, Indiana
| gamename = Mideast Regional Quarterfinal
| score = 91–86
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 26–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 17, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 17
| seed =
| opponent = Syracuse
| opprank = 6
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename = Mideast Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 27–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 19, 1977
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 17
| seed =
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank = 1
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename = Mideast Regional final – Elite Eight
| score = 75–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 28–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 26, 1977
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 17
| seed =
| opponent = Marquette
| opprank = 7
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = The Omni
| site_cityst = Atlanta, Georgia
| gamename = National semifinal – Final Four
| score = 49–51
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 28–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 28, 1977
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 17
| seed =
| opponent = UNLV
| opprank = 4
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = The Omni
| site_cityst = Atlanta, Georgia
| gamename = National 3rd-place game
| score = 94–106
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 28–5
}}
{{CBB schedule end}}
{{cite web |title=Results for 1976-77 |url=https://static.charlotte49ers.com/custompages/Stats/Men's%20Basketball/1976.htm |publisher=UNC Charlotte Athletics |access-date=May 1, 2021}}
Rankings
{{See also|1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}
*{{cite book|title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|publisher=Random House|pages=836–837|year=2009|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}
Awards and honors
- Cedric Maxwell – Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
- Lee Rose – Sporting News Coach of the Year, Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year
Players in the 1977 NBA draft
{{see also|1977 NBA draft}}
| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Charlotte 49ers| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club }} | |||
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=""
| 1 | 12 | Cedric Maxwell | Boston Celtics |
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=""
| 4 | 68 | Melvin Watkins | Buffalo Braves |
{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1977.html|title=1977 NBA Draft|publisher=Basketball-reference.com|accessdate=May 1, 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Charlotte 49ers men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1976-77 Charlotte 49ers Men's Basketball Team}}
Category:Charlotte 49ers men's basketball seasons
Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons