1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

The 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in November 1972, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 26, 1973, at St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. The UCLA Bruins won their ninth NCAA national championship with an 87–66 victory over the Memphis State Tigers.

1972–73 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	UCLA
NCAA Tournament	1973
Tournament dates	March 10 – 26, 1973
National Championship	St. Louis Arena St. Louis, Missouri
NCAA Champions	UCLA
Helms National Champions	UCLA
Other champions	Virginia Tech (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Bill Walton, UCLA (Naismith)
Player of the Year (Helms)	Bill Walton, UCLA

Rule changes

• Freshmen became eligible to play on varsity teams. Previously, they had played on separate freshman teams.
• The free throw on a common foul for the first six personal fouls in a half was eliminated. Instead, the team that was fouled threw the ball in from out of bounds after each such foul.
• A "flop" — an unnecessary fall to the floor to get a charging call against a player dribbling the ball — was deemed a form of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Season headlines

• UCLA went undefeated (30–0) for the second straight season and won its seventh NCAA championship in a row, ninth overall, and ninth in 10 seasons. In the Pacific 8 Conference, it also won its seventh of what would ultimately be 13 consecutive conference titles.
• This was the last season for the NCAA University Division as the subdivision of the NCAA made up of colleges and universities competing at the highest level of college sports, as well as for the NCAA College Division for colleges and universities competing at a lower level. After the season, the NCAA replaced the University Division with Division I and the College Division with Division II for schools awarding limited athletic scholarships and Division III for schools offering no athletic scholarships.
• The Final Four was played on Saturday and Monday for the first time.
• The NCAA title game was televised during prime time for the first time. NBC aired the game on March 26, 1973.
• For the first time, television broadcast rights fees for an NCAA tournament totaled more than $1 million.

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

Main article: 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The Top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 UCLA 2 Florida State 3 Maryland 4 Minnesota 5 Marquette 6 Long Beach State 7 Southwestern Louisiana 8 NC State 9 Penn 10 Ohio State 11 Memphis State 12 BYU 13 Kentucky 14 Tennessee 15 Houston 16 South Carolina 17 Kansas State 18 Oral Roberts 19 Michigan 20 (tie) Louisville USC

UPI Coaches Ranking Team 1 UCLA 2 Florida State 3 Maryland 4 Minnesota 5 Marquette 6 Ohio State 7 Kentucky 8 Long Beach State 9 Penn 10 NC State 11 Houston 12 North Carolina 13 Southwestern Louisiana 14 Memphis State 15 (tie) BYU Kansas State 17 USC 18 Providence 19 Oral Roberts 20 UTEP

Conference membership changes

School	Former conference	New conference
Appalachian State Moutaineers	non-University Division independent	Southern Conference
Trinity Tigers	Southland Conference	University Division independent

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference	Regular season winner	Conference player of the year	Conference tournament	Tournament venue (City)	Tournament winner
Atlantic Coast Conference	NC State	David Thompson, NC State	1973 ACC men's basketball tournament	Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, North Carolina)	NC State
Big Eight Conference	Kansas State	Lon Kruger, Kansas State	No Tournament
Big Sky Conference	Weber State	None selected	No Tournament
Big Ten Conference	Indiana	None selected	No Tournament
Ivy League	Penn	None selected	No Tournament
Mid-American Conference	Ohio	Tom Kozelko, Toledo	No Tournament
Middle Atlantic Conference	Saint Joseph's (East); Lafayette (West)	Patrick McFarland, Saint Joseph's & Walt Kocubinski, Lafayette	No Tournament
Missouri Valley Conference	Memphis State	Larry Kenon, Memphis State	No Tournament
Ohio Valley Conference	Austin Peay State	Les Taylor, Murray State	No Tournament
Pacific 8 Conference	UCLA	None selected	No Tournament
Pacific Coast Athletic Association	Long Beach State	Ed Ratleff, Long Beach State	No Tournament
Southeastern Conference	Kentucky	Kevin Grevey, Kentucky, & Wendell Hudson, Alabama	No Tournament
Southern Conference	Davidson	Aron Stewart, Richmond	1973 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament	Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, Virginia) (Semifinals and Finals)	Furman
Southland Conference	Louisiana Tech	Mike Green, Louisiana Tech	No Tournament
Southwest Conference	Texas Tech	Martin Terry, Arkansas	No Tournament
West Coast Athletic Conference	San Francisco	Bird Averitt, Pepperdine	No Tournament
Western Athletic Conference	Arizona State	None selected	No Tournament
Yankee Conference	Massachusetts	None selected	No Tournament

Conference standings

1972–73 ACC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 2 NC State † 12 – 0   1.000 27 – 0   1.000 No. 11 North Carolina 8 – 4   .667 25 – 8   .758 No. 8 Maryland 7 – 5   .583 23 – 7   .767 Duke 4 – 8   .333 12 – 14   .462 Virginia 4 – 8   .333 13 – 12   .520 Clemson 4 – 8   .333 12 – 14   .462 Wake Forest 3 – 9   .250 12 – 15   .444 † 1973 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 9 Kansas State 12 – 2   .857 23 – 5   .821 No. 15 Missouri 9 – 5   .643 21 – 6   .778 Colorado 9 – 5   .643 13 – 13   .500 Oklahoma 8 – 6   .571 18 – 8   .692 Iowa State 7 – 7   .500 16 – 10   .615 Nebraska 7 – 7   .500 9 – 17   .346 Kansas 4 – 10   .286 8 – 18   .308 Oklahoma State 3 – 11   .214 7 – 19   .269 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Big Sky men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Weber State 13 – 1   .929 20 – 7   .741 Idaho State 10 – 4   .714 18 – 8   .692 Montana State 9 – 5   .643 17 – 10   .630 Montana 7 – 7   .500 13 – 13   .500 Gonzaga 6 – 8   .429 14 – 12   .538 Boise State 5 – 9   .357 11 – 15   .423 Idaho 3 – 11   .214 7 – 19   .269 Northern Arizona 3 – 11   .214 6 – 20   .231
1972–73 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 6 Indiana 11 – 3   .786 22 – 6   .786 No. 10 Minnesota 10 – 4   .714 21 – 5   .808 Purdue 8 – 6   .571 15 – 9   .625 Illinois 8 – 6   .571 14 – 10   .583 Ohio State 8 – 6   .571 14 – 10   .583 Iowa 6 – 8   .429 13 – 11   .542 Michigan 6 – 8   .429 13 – 11   .542 Michigan State 6 – 8   .429 13 – 11   .542 Wisconsin 5 – 9   .357 11 – 13   .458 Northwestern 2 – 12   .143 5 – 19   .208 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Ivy League men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 18 Pennsylvania 12 – 2   .857 21 – 7   .750 Princeton 11 – 3   .786 16 – 9   .640 Brown 10 – 4   .714 14 – 12   .538 Harvard 7 – 7   .500 14 – 12   .538 Yale 6 – 8   .429 9 – 16   .360 Columbia 5 – 9   .357 7 – 18   .280 Dartmouth 4 – 10   .286 6 – 20   .231 Cornell 1 – 13   .071 4 – 22   .154 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Miami (Ohio) 9 – 2   .818 18 – 9   .667 Toledo 7 – 5   .583 15 – 11   .577 Bowling Green State 7 – 5   .583 13 – 13   .500 Ohio 6 – 5   .545 16 – 10   .615 Kent State 5 – 7   .417 10 – 16   .385 Central Michigan 4 – 6   .400 13 – 13   .500 Western Michigan 2 – 10   .167 8 – 18   .308 Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 MAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT University–Eastern Saint Joseph's † 6 – 0   1.000 22 – 6   .786 Temple 5 – 1   .833 17 – 10   .630 American 4 – 2   .667 21 – 4   .840 La Salle 3 – 3   .500 15 – 10   .600 Drexel 2 – 4   .333 14 – 7   .667 Hofstra 1 – 5   .167 8 – 16   .333 West Chester 0 – 6   .000 5 – 21   .192 University–Western Lafayette 7 – 3   .700 16 – 10   .615 Gettysburg 6 – 4   .600 14 – 11   .560 Delaware 6 – 4   .600 14 – 11   .560 Bucknell 6 – 4   .600 11 – 14   .440 Lehigh 3 – 7   .300 8 – 17   .320 Rider 2 – 8   .200 12 – 14   .462 † 1973 MAC men's basketball tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 12 Memphis State 12 – 2   .857 24 – 6   .800 Louisville 11 – 3   .786 23 – 7   .767 Saint Louis 10 – 4   .714 19 – 7   .731 Tulsa 10 – 4   .714 18 – 8   .692 New Mexico State 6 – 8   .429 12 – 14   .462 Wichita State 6 – 8   .429 10 – 16   .385 Drake 5 – 9   .357 14 – 12   .538 Bradley 4 – 10   .286 12 – 14   .462 North Texas State 4 – 10   .286 9 – 16   .360 West Texas State 2 – 12   .143 9 – 17   .346 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 19 Austin Peay State* 11 – 3   .786 22 – 7   .759 Murray State 9 – 5   .643 17 – 8   .680 Morehead State 9 – 5   .643 14 – 11   .560 Tennessee Tech 7 – 7   .500 14 – 11   .560 Eastern Kentucky 7 – 7   .500 12 – 13   .480 Western Kentucky 6 – 8   .429 10 – 16   .385 Middle Tennessee 5 – 9   .357 12 – 13   .480 East Tennessee State 2 – 12   .143 9 – 17   .346 * – Overall record adjusted to 21–5 Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Pacific-8 Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 1 UCLA 14 – 0   1.000 30 – 0   1.000 USC 9 – 5   .643 18 – 10   .643 Oregon 8 – 6   .571 16 – 10   .615 Stanford 7 – 7   .500 14 – 11   .560 Washington 6 – 8   .429 16 – 11   .593 Oregon State 6 – 8   .429 15 – 11   .577 California 4 – 10   .286 11 – 15   .423 Washington State 2 – 12   .143 6 – 20   .231 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 3 Long Beach State* 10 – 2   .833 26 – 3   .897 UC Santa Barbara 8 – 4   .667 17 – 9   .654 San Diego State 7 – 5   .583 15 – 11   .577 Pacific 6 – 6   .500 14 – 12   .538 San Jose State 6 – 6   .500 11 – 14   .440 Cal State Los Angeles 4 – 8   .333 11 – 14   .440 Fresno State 1 – 11   .083 10 – 16   .385 * – Overall record adjusted to 24–2 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 17 Kentucky 14 – 4   .778 20 – 8   .714 Vanderbilt 13 – 5   .722 20 – 6   .769 Alabama 13 – 5   .722 22 – 8   .733 Tennessee 13 – 5   .722 15 – 9   .625 LSU 9 – 9   .500 14 – 10   .583 Ole Miss 8 – 10   .444 14 – 12   .538 Florida 7 – 11   .389 11 – 15   .423 Georgia 5 – 13   .278 10 – 16   .385 Mississippi State 4 – 14   .222 11 – 15   .423 Auburn 4 – 14   .222 6 – 20   .231 Rankings from AP Poll
1972–73 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Davidson 9 – 1   .900 18 – 9   .667 Furman † 11 – 2   .846 20 – 9   .690 East Carolina 7 – 7   .500 13 – 13   .500 The Citadel 6 – 7   .462 11 – 15   .423 William & Mary 5 – 6   .455 10 – 17   .370 Richmond 5 – 9   .357 8 – 16   .333 Appalachian State 3 – 8   .273 6 – 20   .231 VMI 3 – 9   .250 6 – 20   .231 † Southern Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Southland Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Louisiana Tech†* 10 – 2   .833 20 – 6   .769 McNeese State** 10 – 2   .833 21 – 5   .808 Texas-Arlington*** 8 – 4   .667 13 – 13   .500 Lamar**** 6 – 6   .500 11 – 13   .458 Arkansas State***** 4 – 8   .333 7 – 17   .292 Abilene Christian****** 4 – 8   .333 6 – 20   .231 No. 7 Southwestern Louisiana******* 0 – 12   .000 23 – 3   .885 † Regular-season championship winner * – Played as non-major program; conference record adjusted to 10–2. ** – Played as non-major program; conference record adjusted to 10–2. *** – Disputed conference record 6–6. **** – Disputed conference record 4–8. ***** – Disputed conference record 2–10. ****** – Disputed conference record 2–10. ******* – Disputed record 12–0 conference, 24–5 overall. Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Texas Tech 12 – 2   .857 19 – 8   .704 Texas A&M 9 – 5   .643 17 – 9   .654 Arkansas 9 – 5   .643 16 – 10   .615 Baylor 8 – 6   .571 14 – 11   .560 Texas 7 – 7   .500 13 – 12   .520 SMU 7 – 7   .500 10 – 15   .400 Rice 2 – 12   .143 7 – 19   .269 TCU 2 – 12   .143 4 – 21   .160 Rankings from AP Poll
1972-73 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 20 San Francisco 12 – 2   .857 23 – 5   .821 Santa Clara 11 – 3   .786 19 – 7   .731 Pepperdine 7 – 7   .500 14 – 11   .560 Loyola (Calif.) 7 – 7   .500 10 – 16   .385 Seattle 6 – 8   .429 13 – 13   .500 UNLV 6 – 8   .429 13 – 15   .464 Nevada 5 – 9   .357 10 – 16   .385 Saint Mary's 2 – 12   .143 7 – 19   .269 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 WAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 16 Arizona State 10 – 4   .714 19 – 9   .679 New Mexico 9 – 5   .643 21 – 6   .778 BYU 9 – 5   .643 19 – 7   .731 Arizona 9 – 5   .643 16 – 10   .615 UTEP 6 – 8   .429 16 – 10   .615 Colorado State 5 – 9   .357 13 – 15   .464 Wyoming 4 – 10   .286 9 – 17   .346 Utah 4 – 10   .286 8 – 19   .296 Rankings from AP Poll	1972–73 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Massachusetts 10 – 2   .833 20 – 7   .741 Connecticut 9 – 3   .750 15 – 10   .600 Boston University 7 – 4   .636 15 – 10   .600 Maine 6 – 6   .500 13 – 10   .565 Rhode Island 5 – 6   .455 7 – 18   .280 New Hampshire 2 – 10   .167 11 – 15   .423 Vermont 2 – 10   .167 7 – 17   .292

University Division independents

A total of 72 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, Providence (27–4) and Marquette (27–4) had both the best winning percentage (.871) and the most wins.

1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball independents standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 4 Providence –   – 27 – 4   .871 No. 5 Marquette –   – 27 – 4   .871 No. 13 Houston –   – 23 – 4   .852 No. 14 Syracuse –   – 24 – 5   .828 Virginia Tech –   – 22 – 5   .815 Jacksonville –   – 21 – 6   .778 Oklahoma City –   – 21 – 6   .778 Oral Roberts –   – 21 – 6   .778 South Carolina –   – 22 – 7   .759 Marshall –   – 20 – 7   .741 Northeastern –   – 19 – 7   .731 St. John's –   – 19 – 7   .731 Centenary –   – 19 – 8   .704 Florida State –   – 18 – 8   .692 Northern Illinois –   – 17 – 8   .680 Duquesne –   – 16 – 8   .667 Fairfield –   – 18 – 9   .667 Cincinnati –   – 17 – 9   .654 Denver –   – 17 – 9   .654 George Washington –   – 17 – 9   .654 Penn State –   – 15 – 8   .652 Detroit –   – 16 – 9   .640 Hardin–Simmons –   – 16 – 9   .640 Indiana State –   – 16 – 10   .615 Manhattan –   – 16 – 10   .615 Utah State –   – 16 – 10   .615 Notre Dame –   – 18 – 12   .600 Air Force –   – 14 – 10   .583 Creighton –   – 15 – 11   .577 Hawaii –   – 15 – 11   .577 Rutgers –   – 15 – 11   .577 Stetson –   – 15 – 11   .577 DePaul –   – 14 – 11   .560 South Alabama –   – 14 – 11   .560 Trinity (TX) –   – 14 – 11   .560 Canisius –   – 13 – 11   .542 Butler –   – 14 – 12   .538 Charlotte –   – 14 – 12   .538 Illinois State –   – 13 – 12   .520 Long Island –   – 13 – 12   .520 Navy –   – 13 – 12   .520 Dayton –   – 13 – 13   .500 Fairleigh Dickinson –   – 13 – 13   .500 St. Bonaventure –   – 13 – 13   .500 Portland State –   – 12 – 12   .500 Georgetown –   – 12 – 14   .462 Pittsburgh –   – 12 – 14   .462 Tulane –   – 12 – 14   .462 Army –   – 11 – 13   .458 Boston College –   – 11 – 14   .440 Colgate –   – 11 – 14   .440 Villanova –   – 11 – 14   .440 Fordham –   – 12 – 16   .429 Southern Illinois –   – 11 – 15   .423 West Virginia –   – 10 – 15   .400 Cleveland State –   – 9 – 14   .391 Ball State –   – 9 – 15   .375 Niagara –   – 9 – 16   .360 Loyola (IL) –   – 8 – 15   .348 Holy Cross –   – 9 – 17   .346 Southern Miss –   – 8 – 16   .333 St. Francis (NY) –   – 8 – 16   .333 Portland –   – 9 – 19   .321 Seton Hall –   – 8 – 17   .320 Georgia Southern –   – 8 – 18   .308 Saint Peter's –   – 8 – 18   .308 Georgia Tech –   – 7 – 18   .280 Iona –   – 6 – 16   .273 Samford –   – 5 – 20   .200 Saint Francis (PA) –   – 5 – 21   .192 Pan American –   – 4 – 22   .154 Xavier –   – 3 – 23   .115 Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference	Regular season winner	Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5	Penn	Tom Ingelsby, Villanova

Penn finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main articles: 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament and 1973 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game

Final Four

	National semifinals					National finals
	E	Providence	85
	MW	Memphis State	98
						MW	Memphis State	66
						W	UCLA	87
	ME	Indiana	59
	W	UCLA	70			Third place
						E	Providence	79
						ME	Indiana	97

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1973 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

	Semifinals				Finals
	North Carolina	71
	Notre Dame	78
					Notre Dame	91
					Virginia Tech	92
	Virginia Tech	74
	Alabama	73			Third place
					North Carolina	88
					Alabama	69

Awards

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1973 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Doug Collins	G	Senior	Illinois State
Ernie DiGregorio	G	Senior	Providence
Dwight Lamar	G	Senior	Southwestern Louisiana
Ed Ratleff	F	Senior	Long Beach State
David Thompson	G/F	Sophomore	North Carolina State
Bill Walton	C	Junior	UCLA
Keith Wilkes	G/F	Junior	UCLA

Consensus Second Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Jim Brewer	F/C	Senior	Minnesota
Tom Burleson	C	Junior	North Carolina State
Larry Finch	G	Senior	Memphis State
Kevin Joyce	G	Senior	South Carolina
Tom McMillen	F	Junior	Maryland
Kermit Washington	C	Senior	American

Major player of the year awards

• Naismith Award: Bill Walton, UCLA
• Helms Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA
• Associated Press Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA
• UPI Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Bill Walton, UCLA
• Adolph Rupp Trophy: Bill Walton, UCLA
• Sporting News Player of the Year: Bill Walton, UCLA

Major coach of the year awards

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): John Wooden, UCLA
• NABC Coach of the Year: Gene Bartow, Memphis State
• UPI Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA
• Sporting News Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA

Other major awards

• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Robert Sherwin, Army
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Tom Ingelsby, Villanova
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Billy Schaeffer, St. John's

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

Team	Former Coach	Interim Coach	New Coach	Reason
Georgia Tech	John Hyder		Dwane Morrison
Long Beach State	Jerry Tarkanian		Lute Olson
Oklahoma City	Abe Lemons		Paul Hansen
Pan American	Sam Williams		Abe Lemons
Rhode Island	Tom Carmody		Jack Kraft
St. John's	Frank Mulzoff		Lou Carnesecca
Southwestern Louisiana	Beryl Shipley		None	The NCAA shut down the Ragin' Cajun program for the 1973–74 and 1974–75 seasons due to over 100 rules violations.
Temple	Harry Litwack		Don Casey
UNLV	John Bayer		Jerry Tarkanian
Villanova	Jack Kraft		Rollie Massimino
West Texas State	Dennis Walling		Ron Ekker