The Detroit Panthers are an American minor-league basketball team in the Maximum Basketball League. Formerly a member of the American Basketball Association, the team was previously known as the Detroit Dogs and the Detroit Wheels. The Panthers were one of the charter franchises of the ABA and won the league's first championship as the Detroit Dogs.
History
2000–2002: Detroit Dogs Initially founded in 2000 as one of the new ABA's charter franchises, the Detroit Dogs quickly became one of the league's better teams. Their first coach was Detroit's own George Gervin, a star with the original ABA in the 1970s. The Dogs finished with a 24–20 record and the best record in the Eastern Division, facing the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs in the first round of the playoffs. After trailing for most of the game, Detroit rallied and won 117–112, moving to the second round. In the semifinals, Detroit handled the Indiana Legends 119–105, and advanced to the new ABA's first championship game against the heavily favored Chicago Skyliners, owners of a 31–12 record. Detroit would get off to a fast start and easily defeat the Skyliners, 107–91. Gee Gervin (George's son), who led the team during the regular season, won the first-ever ABA Championship Game MVP Award.
During their second season, 2001–02, the Detroit Dogs struggled as a team, losing five games in a row at one point. A late-season rally gave the Dogs an 11–17 record, good enough for fourth place and a playoff spot. The Phoenix Eclipse promptly eliminated Detroit, 112–97.
2003–2006: Detroit Wheels For the 2002–03 season, the ABA took the year off, but returned in the 2003–04 season. In an effort to rebrand themselves, the Detroit Dogs renamed themselves the Detroit Wheels, as a reference to the car-building industry that made the city famous. The Wheels struggled both on and off the court, with several games cancelled due to an inability to secure arena dates (a common problem in the ABA). Detroit managed to play just 12 games and finished with a losing record at 4–8. In 2004–05, they finished with the same record, missing the playoffs for two consecutive years.
In 2005–2006, the "wheels" officially came off for Detroit, as they endured the worst season in their history, thanks to various injuries to key players. A long losing streak deposited the Wheels into last place in the Freddie Lewis Division with a 6–17 record. After another losing season and no playoffs, the Wheels were ready to reinvent themselves yet again.
2006–2007: Detroit Panthers As the Detroit Panthers, the team turned things around as they went on a six-game winning streak during the 2006–07 regular season. The Panthers, led by 6'6" guard, Tyrone Mack, finished with a 16–10 record, taking the North Division title, and gearing up for a championship run. In the playoffs, they were slated to face the Peoria Kings in Detroit on March 14, 2007. In a press release, the league stated that Detroit was one of five teams that qualified for the playoffs but chose not to competehttp://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007031906001 for what league CEO Joe Newman called "valid acceptable reasons. The "Detroit Panthers" official Disc Jockey was Chip Pepitone, better known as "DJ Gemini"
2007: Off year After giving up their playoff season, the Detroit Panthers suspended operations for the 2007–08 season, and eventually dropped out of the ABA
2008–2009: Going to the PBL In the spring of 2008, the team joined the Premier Basketball League for the 2009 season. The Panthers went 6–14. In October 2009, the Panthers announced they'd be sitting out the 2010 PBL season. They would not return.
Returning to the PBL In February 2021, under new ownership of Cecil L. Hood, the Panthers joined the Pro Basketball Association. In fall of 2021 the team rejoined the Premier Basketball League for the 2022 season.
Season-by-season records
ABA 2000–2001: 24–20, W 1st rd. Tampa Bay 117–112, W 2nd rd. Indiana 119–105, W Finals Chicago 107–91 2001–2002: 11–17, L 1st round Phoenix 112–97 2002–2003: did not play 2003–2004: 4–8, missed playoffs 2004–2005: 4–8, missed playoffs 2005–2006: 6–17, missed playoffs 2006–2007: 16–10, did not participate in playoffs 2007–2008: did not play
PBL 2008–2009: 6–14 2021–2022: 5–2, L 1st round Lancaster 104–99
MBL 2022–2023: 3–6, missed playoffs
Final roster Head Coach: Terry Sare
#Pos.Ht.PlayerAcquiredCollege1PG5'11Giovanni Riley2008Wisconsin-Whitewater3PG6'0Brian Woodland2008Henderson State5PF6'8Willie Mitchell2008Alabama-Birmingham10SF6'7David Myers2008Michigan11PG6'2Reginald Riley2008Newman14SF6'6Tyrone Mack2008Northwestern22SG6'3Kyle Johnson2008Wisconsin23SF6'5Jasen Hunt2008Central State30SG6'4Micah Kirstein2008St. Francis (IL)33SG6'5Stane's Bufford2008Western Michigan44C6'6Corey Gupton2008Park45C6'9Justin Fiori2008Schoolcraft
2009 season schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecordJanuary 3Mid-Michigan DestroyersHome109-114Brian Woodland (27)Brian Woodland & David Myers (7)Reginald Riley (5)Groves High School1-0January 4Chicago ThrowbacksHome110-106Corey Gupton (22)Stane's Bufford (9)Brian Woodland & Micah Kirstein (5)Groves High School 1-1January 10Mid-Michigan DestroyersAway107-102Stane's Bufford (26)Willie Mitchell (8)Brian Woodland (7)Bay City Western High School2-1January 17Battle Creek KnightsAway101-109Stane's Bufford (26)Willie Mitchell (10)Brian Woodland (4)Kellogg Arena2-2January 18Chicago ThrowbacksAway107-119James Head (17)James Head (10)Giovanni Riley (3)Attack Athletics2-3January 24Augusta GrooveHome131-115Stane's Bufford (27)Willie Mitchell (10)Giovanni Riley (9)Groves High School2-4January 31Battle Creek KnightsHome119-106Brian Woodland (20)James Head (9)Brian Woodland (8)Groves High School2-5February 8Chicago ThrowbacksHome114-113Stane's Bufford (28)Chuck Bailey (8)Randy Gill (7)Groves High School2-6February 13Halifax RainmenAway89-100Stane's Bufford (22)Chuck Bailey (13)Randy Gill (11)Halifax Metro Centre2-7February 15Wilmington Sea DawgsAway95-101Stane's Bufford (27)Chuck Bailey (13)Randy Gill (3)Schwartz Center2-8February 20Battle Creek KnightsAway133-143Randy Gill (35)Chuck Bailey (14)Randy Gill (5)Kellogg Arena2-9February 22Mid-Michigan DestroyersAway118-103Chuck Bailey (30)Walter Waters (17)Brian Woodland (10)Western High School3-9February 28Battle Creek KnightsHome108-110Randy Gill (35)Chuck Bailey (15)Randy Gill (14)Groves High School4-9March 6Chicago ThrowbacksAway123-116Brian Woodland (30)Randy Gill (5)Randy Gill (3)Attack Athletics5-9March 8Montreal SasquatchHome115-119Stane's Bufford (26)Michael Manciel & Walter Waters (13)Stane's Bufford (6)Groves High School6-9March 15Augusta GrooveHome136-132Walter Waters (28)Walter Waters (15)Brian Woodland & Randy Gill (7)Groves High School6-10March 21Augusta GrooveAway119-123Brian Woodland (45)Michael Manciel (12)Oscar Sanders (5)Richmond Academy6-11March 22Wilmington Sea DawgsHome*110-91Stane's Bufford (29)Walter Waters (12)Michael Manciel & Brian Woodland (3)Brunswick Community College6-12March 28Wilmington Sea DawgsHome107-103Stane's Bufford (31)Walter Waters (11)Brian Woodland (6)Groves High School6-13March 29Wilmington Sea DawgsHome121-104Brian Woodland (41)Walter Waters (16)Stane's Bufford (9)Groves High School6-14
* Both Wilmington and Detroit need to make up a game, so Detroit is home for the game although it will be played very near Wilmington's home gym.
References
External links