The 1972 College Basketball All American Team
Contents
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: Introduction
- The 1972 College Basketball All American Team: The Players
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Coaches
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Game
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Aftermath
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Legacy
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Significance
- The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Impact
- The 1972 College Basketball All American Team: The Future
- The 1972 College Basketball All American Team: Conclusion
The team was announced on March 20, 1972. It was the first time that the team had been selected by the United States basketball writers Association.
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: Introduction
In 1972, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) commissioned a study to identify the top college basketball players in the United States The result was the NCAA’s first-ever “All American” team.
The team was selected by a panel of experts, and consisted of five players: two forwards, two guards, and a center. The players were chosen based on their skill, ability, and potential contribution to the game of basketball
The 1972 All American team has been referred to as one of the best college basketball teams of all time. All five members of the team went on to have successful professional careers in the NBA.
The 1972 College Basketball All American Team: The Players
The 1972 College Basketball All American Team consisted of six players. They were:
-Tom Boerwinkle, from the University of Tennessee
--Bill Bradley from Princeton University
-Howard Porter, from Villanova University
-Bob Lanier, from St. Bonaventure University
-Dennis Awtrey, from Santa Clara University
--Julius Erving from the University of Massachusetts
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Coaches
The 1972 college basketball All American team was announced on March 22, 1972. The team was selected by the Associated Press (AP), the United Press International (UPI), and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
The three coaches for the team were Hank Iba of Oklahoma State Tom constantine of Syracuse, and Bob Knight of Indiana.
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Game
The 1972 college basketball All American team was the first to be selected by the National Association of Basketball coaches The team featured some of the best players in college basketball history, including future Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob Lanier. The team also included four players who would go on to play in the NBA: Bill Walton Brian Taylor Wally Szczerbiak, and Sam Lacey. The team was coached by John Wooden who led the UCLA Bruins to an undefeated season and a National Championship
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Aftermath
In 1972, the starting five for the NCAA Basketball Championship team were all black. This was the first time this had ever happened in the history of College Basketball The team was made up of future NBA Stars such as Julius Erving and Bob McAdoo. After they won the championship, they were dubbed the “Magnificent Five”.
However, not everyone was happy about this. Some people felt that College Basketball was becoming too “black” and that white players were being unfairly excluded. As a result, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the 1972 college basketball All American team.
Despite the controversy, the team went on to have successful careers in the NBA. Julius Erving became one of the greatest players of all time and Bob McAdoo went on to win multiple MVP Awards The other members of the team also had successful careers in Professional Basketball
The 1972 college basketball All American team is remembered as one of the greatest teams in college basketball history. They overcame adversity and proved that talent and skill are more important than skin color.
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Legacy
In 1972, the NCAA published its first list of All American College Basketball Players The team was selected by a panel of coaches and experts, and it included some of the biggest names in the sport at the time. Nearly fifty years later, the 1972 All American team is still considered one of the best ever assembled. Here’s a look at the legacy of that legendary team.
The 1972 All American team was led by two future Hall of Famers Bill Walton and Marvin Webster. Walton was a dominant center for UCLA, and he would go on to have a successful NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers Webster was a 6’11” center for Memphis State and he would enjoy a long career in professional basketball both in the NBA and overseas.
Other members of the 1972 All American team included Chris Ford ( Villanova), Tom Burleson ( North Carolina State), Phil Sellers ( Penn State), Dwight Jones ( North Carolina), Greg Cook ( Cincinnati), Wilbert Jonhson ( Southern Illinois), Curt Benischke ( Bradley), and Dwight Lamar ( Southwestern Louisiana).
This group of All Americans helped lead their respective teams to deep runs in the NCAA tournament UCLA won the National Championship that year, with Memphis State reaching the Final Four. North Carolina State made it to the Elite Eight, while Cincinnati and Bradley both made it to the Sweet Sixteen
The 1972 All American team dominated college basketball that year, and their legacy has endured for nearly fifty years. Many of those players went on to have successful careers in professional basketball both in the NBA and overseas. They are still considered one of the best college basketball teams ever assembled.
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Significance
The 1972 college basketball All American team was significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was the first team to feature players from all over the country. This was a reflection of the increasing popularity of the sport and the fact that it was starting to be taken more seriously by colleges and universities. Secondly, the team included two African American players which was fairly rare at the time. This helped to break down some of the barriers that had previously existed in College Basketball Finally, the team was very successful, winning a number of important games and finishing the season with a impressive record.
The 1972 college basketball All American Team: The Impact
The 1972 College basketball All American team had a profound impact on the game of basketball The team was made up of some of the greatest players to ever play the game including Future Hall of Famers Bill Walton and Bob Lanier. The team also featured players like Steve Hawes, who went on to have a successful NBA Career The team’s success had a ripple effect that can still be felt today.
The 1972 College Basketball All American Team: The Future
The 1972 college basketball All American Team featured some of the brightest young stars in the game. Many of these players went on to have successful professional careers, and a few are still remembered today as some of the greatest to ever play the game Let’s take a look at where some of these players ended up after their college days.
Bill Walton was the star center for the UCLA Bruins and he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1972. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, winning two championships with the Portland Trail Blazers
Bob Lanier was a dominating force in the paint for St. Bonaventure, and he was named an All American in 1972. He went on to have a successful 14-year career in the NBA, mostly with the Detroit Pistons
Julius Erving was one of the most electrifying players in college basketball and he made waves with his incredible dunks for Massachusetts. He went on to have an even more successful career in the ABA and NBA, winning three championships and becoming one of the most iconic players in Basketball History
The 1972 College Basketball All American Team: Conclusion
The following is a list of the 1972 college basketball All-American team as selected by the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and the National Association of basketball coaches (NABC).
First Team:
-Bill Walton, Center, UCLA
-Howard Porter, Forward, Villanova
-Johnny Bach, Forward-Guard, Penn State
-Tom Henderson, Guard, Western Kentucky
-Dennis Awtrey, Center, Santa Clara