1968–69 Kentucky Colonels season

1968–69 Kentucky Colonels season
Head coach	Gene Rhodes
Arena	Louisville Convention Center
Results
Record	42–36 (.538)
Place	Division: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Division Semifinals (lost to the Pacers 3–4)

The 1968–69 Kentucky Colonels season was the second season of the Colonels in the American Basketball Association. Penny Ann Early became the first female player in the history of professional basketball, playing very briefly on November 27, 1968.

In the Eastern Division Semifinals, they lost to the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 3.

Roster

1968–69 Kentucky Colonels roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF Henry Akin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) July 31, 1944 Morehead State C 25 Dan Anderson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) February 15, 1943 Augsburg C 24 Jim Caldwell 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) January 28, 1943 Georgia Tech SG 35 Darel Carrier 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) October 26, 1940 Western Kentucky SF 40 Wayne Chapman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) June 15, 1945 Western Kentucky PG 10 Louie Dampier 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) November 20, 1944 Kentucky PF 42 Ollie Darden 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) July 28, 1944 Michigan PG 3 Penny Early 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 114 lb (52 kg) May 30, 1943 SF 14 Johnny Jones 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) March 12, 1943 DeMatha Catholic High School 44 Reggie Lacefield 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) April 10, 1945 Western Michigan C 42 Manny Leaks 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1945-11-27 Niagara PF 22 Jim Ligon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) February 22, 1944 Kokomo High School SG 34 Paul Long 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) February 8, 1944 Wake Forest SF 25 Randy Mahaffey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) September 28, 1945 Clemson C 25 Elton McGriff 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) August 21, 1942 Creighton C 54 Gene Moore 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) July 29, 1945 Saint Louis SG 45 Bobby Rascoe 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) July 22, 1940 Western Kentucky SF 52 Sam Smith 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) January 27, 1944 Kentucky Wesleyan

Head coach Gene Rhodes Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Final standings

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	PCT.	GB
Indiana Pacers	44	34	.564	-
Miami Floridians	43	35	.551	1
Kentucky Colonels	42	36	.538	2
Minnesota Pipers	36	42	.462	8
New York Nets	17	61	.218	27

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 8	Indiana	128–118	1–0	6,319
2	April 9	Indiana	115–120	1–1	6,789
3	April 10	Kentucky	130–111	2–1	4,235
4	April 13	Kentucky	105–104 (OT)	3–1	3,079
5	April 14	Indiana	97–116	3–2	5,612
6	April 15	Kentucky	89–107	3–3	4,633
7	April 17	Indiana	111–120	3–4	11,005

Colonels lose series, 4–3

Awards and honors

1969 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 28, 1969, in Louisville, Kentucky)

• Louie Dampier
• Darel Carrier
• Goose Ligon

Gene Rhodes was selected to coach the Eastern Conference

• All-ABA Second Team selection
  • Louie Dampier

References

• Colonels on Basketball Reference

External links

• RememberTheABA.com 1968–69 regular season and playoff results
• RememberTheABA.com Kentucky Colonels page