1969–70 Kentucky Colonels season

1969–70 Kentucky Colonels season
Head coach	Gene Rhodes
Arena	Louisville Convention Center
Results
Record	45–39 (.536)
Place	Division: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Division Finals (lost to the Pacers 1–4)

The 1969–70 Kentucky Colonels season was the third season of the Colonels in the American Basketball Association. On April 15, 1969, the Colonels were bought by a group of Louisville investors that included H. Wendell Cherry, Bill DeWitt, J. David Grissom, Stuart P. Jay, David A. Jones, John Y. Brown Jr. and Mike Storen. The Colonels won their first ever playoff series, beating the New York Nets in a tight seven-game series. In the Eastern Division Finals, with the chance to go to the ABA Finals, they lost to the eventual champion Indiana Pacers in five games

Roster

1969–70 Kentucky Colonels roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From SG 35 Darel Carrier 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) October 26, 1940 Western Kentucky SF 32 Wayne Chapman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) June 15, 1945 Western Kentucky SG Steve Chubin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1944-02-08 Rhode Island 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 SF 25 John Fairchild 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943-04-28 BYU SG 40 Tommy Kron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) February 28, 1943 Kentucky PF 22 Jim Ligon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) February 22, 1944 Kokomo High School G 40 Sam Little 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) March 29, 1945 Delta State C 54 Gene Moore 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) July 29, 1945 Saint Louis SF Willie Murrell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) September 13, 1941 Kansas State PF 24 Bud Olsen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) July 25, 1940 Louisville 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 PF 25 Keith Swagerty 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) October 30, 1945 Pacific SF 34 George Tinsley 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) September 19, 1946 Kentucky Wesleyan PG 34 Bobby Washington 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) July 11, 1947 Eastern Kentucky SF 25 Gene Williams 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) April 1, 1947 Kansas State

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

Final standings

Eastern Division

Eastern Division	W	L	PCT	GB
Indiana Pacers *	59	25	.702	-
Kentucky Colonels *	45	39	.536	14.0
Carolina Cougars *	42	42	.500	17.0
New York Nets *	39	45	.464	20.0
Pittsburgh Pipers	29	55	.345	30.0
Miami Floridians	23	61	.274	36.0

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 17	Kentucky	118–122 (OT)	0–1	2,105
2	April 18	Kentucky	113–111	1–1	3,178
3	April 19	New York	99–107	1–2	2,106
4	April 22	New York	128–101	2–2	4,721
5	April 26	Kentucky	112–127	2–3	2,045
6	April 28	New York	116–113	3–3	5,039
7	April 29	Kentucky	112–101	4–3	2,876

Colonels win series, 4–3

Eastern Division Finals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	May 1	Indiana	114–110	1–0	5,939
2	May 2	Indiana	110–121	1–1	7,007
3	May 3	Kentucky	110–114	1–2	3,024
4	May 5	Kentucky	103–111	1–3	3,476
5	May 6	Indiana	103–117	1–4	5,453

Colonels lose series, 4–1

Awards and honors

1970 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 24, 1970)

• Louie Dampier
• Gene Moore
• Darel Carrier
• All-ABA Second Team selection
  • Louie Dampier

References

• Colonels on Basketball Reference

External links

• RememberTheABA.com 1969–70 regular season and playoff results
• RememberTheABA.com Kentucky Colonels page