1970–71 Kentucky Colonels season

1970–71 Kentucky Colonels season
Head coach	Gene Rhodes (10–5) Alex Groza (2–0) Frank Ramsey (32–35)
Arena	Freedom Hall
Results
Record	44–40 (.524)
Place	Division: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	ABA Finals (lost to the Stars 3–4)

The 1970–71 Kentucky Colonels season was the fourth season of the Colonels in the American Basketball Association. University of Kentucky star Dan Issel was signed by the Colonels. Issel was given a 10-year contract worth $1.4 million, while playing all but one game in the whole season, leading to him being named Rookie of the Year, alongside averaging 29.9 points and 13.2 rebounds per game during the season. Despite a 10–5 record, Rhodes was fired during the season. After having business manager Alex Groza coach the team for 2 games, Frank Ramsey was hired to coach the rest of the season. In the Semifinals, the Colonels beat The Floridians in a four game sweep. In the Eastern Division Finals, they beat the Virginia Squires in six games to reach their first ABA Finals. In the championship series, they lost to the Utah Stars in seven games.

Notably, this was the first season for the Colonels after rebranding from their original colors of chartreuse and white.

Roster

1970–71 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 C 25 Bobby Croft 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 200 lb (91 kg) March 17, 1946 Tennessee PG 10 Louie Dampier 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) November 20, 1944 Kentucky G 32 Tom Hagan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) January 29, 1947 Vanderbilt PF 4 Dennis Hamilton 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) May 8, 1944 Arizona State C 8 Dan Hester 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) November 8, 1948 LSU PF 4 Les Hunter 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) August 16, 1942 Loyola Chicago C 44 Dan Issel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) October 25, 1948 Kentucky PF 22 Jim Ligon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) February 22, 1944 Kokomo High School SF 9, 24 Cincy Powell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) February 25, 1942 Portland SG 33, 54 Mike Pratt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) August 4, 1948 Kentucky SF 2 Walt Simon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) December 1, 1939 Benedict SF 5, 50 Sam Smith 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) January 27, 1944 Kentucky Wesleyan F 42 Al Williams 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) February 3, 1948 Drake SG 3, 45 Howie Wright 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) February 22, 1947 Austin Peay

Head coach Gene Rhodes / Alex Groza / Frank Ramsey Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Final standings

Eastern Division

Eastern Division	W	L	PCT	GB
Virginia Squires *	55	29	.655	–
Kentucky Colonels *	44	40	.524	11.0
New York Nets *	40	44	.476	15.0
The Floridians *	37	47	.440	18.0
Pittsburgh Condors	36	48	.429	19.0
Carolina Cougars	34	50	.405	21.0

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 2	Kentucky	116–112	1–0	3,182
2	April 4	Kentucky	120–110	2–0	3,881
3	April 6	Florida	102–120	2–1	4,126
4	April 8	Florida	117–129	2–2	4,268
5	April 10	Kentucky	118–101	3–2	4,996
6	April 12	Florida	112–103	4–2	4,478

Colonels win series, 4–2

Eastern Division Finals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 15	Virginia	136–132	1–0	4,250
2	April 17	Virginia	122–142	1–1	5,000
3	April 19	Kentucky	137–150	1–2	4,777
4	April 21	Kentucky	128–110	2–2	5,221
5	April 23	Virginia	115–107	3–2	10,013
6	April 24	Kentucky	129–117	4–2	12,822

Colonels win series, 4–2

ABA Finals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	May 3	Utah	117–136	0–1	12,051
2	May 5	Utah	125–138	0–2	13,208
3	May 7	Kentucky	116–110	1–2	12,337
4	May 8	Kentucky	129–125 (OT)	2–2	9,863
5	May 12	Utah	127–137	2–3	13,260
6	May 15	Kentucky	105–102	3–3	11,793
7	May 18	Utah	121–131	3–4	13,260

Colonels lose series, 4–3

Awards and honors

1971 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 23, 1971)

• Dan Issel
• Cincy Powell
• ABA Rookie of the Year
  • Dan Issel (shared with Charlie Scott)
• ABA All-Second Team
  • Dan Issel (tied with Zelmo Beaty for the Center position)

References

• Colonels on Basketball Reference

External links

• RememberTheABA.com 1970–71 regular season and playoff results
• RememberTheABA.com Kentucky Colonels page