The 1969–70 Carolina Cougars season was the 1st season of the Cougars in the ABA. Late in the spring of 1969, the Houston Mavericks had been bought by the Southern Sports Corporation (headed by James C. Gardner) for $350,000. After the season finished, the team moved to North Carolina, which at the time had no professional teams. The Cougars played in three areas in the state: Greensboro, Charlotte, and Raleigh, making this the first regional franchise in the ABA. The first game of the Cougars was on October 8, 1969, when the Cougars played the Dallas Chaparrals at Greensboro Coliseum, with Carolina winning 108–97. The team finished 3rd in the six team Eastern Division. While they finished last in average points scored per game (106.8), they were 1st in points allowed per game (107). In the Playoffs, the Cougars faced off against the Indiana Pacers (with Game 3 being played in Charlotte and Game 4 played in Raleigh), but the Cougars lost the series in four games.

During the regular season, the Cougars played 20 games in Greensboro, 14 in Charlotte, and 8 in Raleigh; in the playoffs, the team played once in Charlotte, and once in Raleigh.

Roster

Final standings Eastern Division + Team W L PCT. GBIndiana Pacers5925.702 -Kentucky Colonels 4539.53614.0Carolina Cougars 4242.50017.0New York Nets 39 45 .464 20.0Pittsburgh Pipers 29 55 .345 30.0Miami Floridians 23 61 .274 36.0

ABA Playoffs

| 1 | April 18 | @ Indiana | L 105–123 | Bob Verga (19) | Randy Mahaffey (9) |Doug Moe (6) | Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum6,123 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 19 |@ Indiana | L 98–103 | Bob Verga (35) | Hank Whitney (11) | Calvin Fowler (4) | Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum6,341 | 0–2 |- | 3 | April 22 | Indiana | L 106–115 | Bob Verga (24) | George Peeples (22) |Doug Moe (8) | Charlotte Coliseum3,381 | 0–3

| 4 | April 24 | Indiana | L 106–110 | Bob Verga (30) | George Peeples (18) | Doug Moe (8) | Dorton Arena5,211 | 0–4

Awards, records, and honors 1970 ABA All-Star Game played on January 24, 1970 Doug Moe Bob Verga

References

Cougars on Basketball Reference