This day in Kentucky basketball history

[The Old School JPS]

On April 25, 1976 - 30 years ago today - the Kentucky Colonels played their final home game. It was a playoff game against the Denver Nuggets. The Colonels won 119-115 in Freedom Hall to tie the series at 3-3.

Trivia questions:

1) which two former UK players were on the Colonels' roster that year?

2) which former WKU star was on the Colonels' roster?

3) which Colonel had 24 points and 20 rebounds in a win vs. UK in the NCAA tournament?

4) which former UK star was on the Nuggets' roster that year?

5) the Colonels went 7-2 in exhibition games against NBA teams that season (includinga win over the Golden State Warriors in a matchup of the previous season's ABA champion and NBA champion. Which NBA team did the Colonels play and defeat in Lexington that year?

[cumberlandredskin]

The Old School JPS wrote: On April 25, 1976 - 30 years ago today - the Kentucky Colonels played their final home game. It was a playoff game against the Denver Nuggets. The Colonels won 119-115 in Freedom Hall to tie the series at 3-3.

Trivia questions:

1) which two former UK players were on the Colonels' roster that year?

2) which former WKU star was on the Colonels' roster?

3) which Colonel had 24 points and 20 rebounds in a win vs. UK in the NCAA tournament?

4) which former UK star was on the Nuggets' roster that year?

5) the Colonels went 7-2 in exhibition games against NBA teams that season (includinga win over the Golden State Warriors in a matchup of the previous season's ABA champion and NBA champion. Which NBA team did the Colonels play and defeat in Lexington that year?



I will atempt to answer some of these:

1. Louie Dampier was one but I don't know the other but I'll guess Mike Casey.

2.I will guess Dwight Smith?

3. Artis Gilmore

4. Dan Issel

5. No idea here. I'll guess Boston.

The Colonels bring back good memories of listening to their games on WHAS. I listened to nearly every game I could pick up. Some nights it just wouldn't come in good or at all. I doubt that I saw a handful of games on TV as they just weren't on any in Eastern Kentucky. I think my interest in the NBA died when the Colonels weren't picked up by the NBA. I did watch the NBA quite a bit in the 80's but without following a specific team, my interest slowly waned, to now I hardly watch a minute of a pro game.

[Wildcat Larry]

I'm guessing for the WKU player ....... Darrell Carrier.

And for the NBA team in Lexington, the Washington Bullets.

I agree with the other answers, I think, but Mike Flynn or Jimmy Dan Connors ever play for the Colonels?

[HC]

Conner played 1 year. Couldn't find Flynn on the all time roster. Here is a site that has all the info about the Kentucky Colonels:

http://www.remembertheaba.com/Kentucky-Colonels.html

Goose Ligon was one of my favorites. I got to watch them off and on from '67 to '70.

[The Old School JPS]

1) which two former UK players were on the Colonels' roster that year?

cumberlandredskin got Louie Dampier.
Wildcat Larry got Jimmy Dan Conner.

2) which former WKU star was on the Colonels' roster?

So far no one has gotten this one yet.

Hint #1: he played in the ABA, then the NBA, then in the ABA again, then the NBA again.

Hint #2: big kid, Kentucky native, played center.

Hint #3: star on WKU's 1971 Final Four team.

3) which Colonel had 24 points and 20 rebounds in a win vs. UK in the NCAA tournament?

cumberlandredskin got it: Artis Gilmore (had a big game for Jacksonville when they beat a very good UK team in the NCAA tourney)

4) which former UK star was on the Nuggets' roster that year?

cumberlandredskin got it: Dan Issel

5) the Colonels went 7-2 in exhibition games against NBA teams that season (including a win over the Golden State Warriors in a matchup of the previous season's ABA champion and NBA champion. Which NBA team did the Colonels play and defeat in Lexington that year?

Wildcat Larry got it: the Washington Bullets are who the Colonels beat in Lexington that year.

Larry, how did you know it was the Bullets? Did you go to that game?

Mike Flynn never played for the Colonels. I think the following are all the former UK players who did:

Larry Conley
Jimmy Dan Conner
Louie Dampier
Dan Issel
Tommy Kron
Cotton Nash
Mike Pratt

Each of them was only with the Colonels for one season except for Pratt (two), Issel (five) and Dampier (all nine).

OK, one more UK/ABA trivia question.

6) After Dan Issel left the Kentucky Colonels, but before he ended up with the Denver Nuggets, he was with another ABA team, briefly. Which team was it?

[Wildcat Larry]

2. With your hints, I'm thinking Jim McDaniels from WKU.

5. It was a guess, but an educated, logical guess. I knew that Kevin Grevey was drafted by the Bullets and I figured that would be the logical team to bring into Lexington to bring out the crowd.

I know Issel didn't go from the Colonels to the Nuggets, but I thought he went to a team that folded, so he didn't really play for them. Seems like it was somewhere in ACC territory.

[The Old School JPS]

Yes, it was Jim McDaniels.

Good call on the Bullets.

You are right on all counts about the ABA team Issel was with between the Colonels and Nuggets; few people remember the name of the team though...

[cumberlandredskin]

I think I may know number 6. Was it the Baltimore Claw? IIRC theyfolded before the season started and never played a game.

[The Old School JPS]

cumberlandredskin wrote: I think I may know number 6. Was it the Baltimore Claw? IIRC theyfolded before the season started and never played a game.

Yes, that's it - the Baltimore Claws.

They did play a handful of preseason exhibition games but the Claws never played a regular season ABA game.

John Y. Brown Jr. sold Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels to the Baltimore Claws.

Here is a photo of the Baltimore Claws playing an exhibition game against the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers:

http://www.remembertheaba.com/BaltimoreMaterial/McGinnisShotDanielsCarter.jpg

That's George McGinnis (#30)putting up theone-handed jumper against Claws (from left to right) Mel Daniels, Chuck Williams, George Carter and Stew Johnson. (Johnson and Williams had previously played for the Colonels.) This might be McGinnis' first game in the NBA after jumping to the 76ers from the ABA's Pacers.

The Claws' coach was former Kentucky Colonels coach Joe Mullaney.

Here's an audio clip of Van Vance interviewing Dan Issel about being sent from the Colonels to the Claws:

http://www.remembertheaba.com/MiscellaneousGraphics/sound2.gif

http://www.remembertheaba.com/ABAUniforms/1975ClawsRoad.JPGhttp://www.remembertheaba.com/ABAUniforms/1975BaltimoreRoad2.JPGhttp://www.remembertheaba.com/ABALogos/NewClawsLogo3.gif