1972-1973 USC Basketball--It Was A Very Good Year

Carolina Coliseum for the past five years this nine million dollar structure has been affectionately known as the house that Frank Maguire built it's been home for Gamecock basketball the 1972-1973 home season opened at home on a winning note against nevada las vegas 13 victories later the home season closed against Duquesne 153 thousand fans filed through the turnstiles in 29 games 297,000 saw the Gamecocks play in person countless millions by way of local regional and national television 13 home victories an overall record of 22 and 7 in c-double-a postseason competition for a third year in a row South Carolina basketball 1972 at 1973 it was a very good year Carolina Coliseum was just one of the many stages upon which the Gamecocks enacted that drama called total excitement the real heroes have been the characters who have played their parts on these stages this year they were billed as captain Kevin and his Kitty Corps Michael Dunn may be an 18 year old six to 175 pound freshman from Nazareth High School in Brooklyn New York a hard-nosed Irish kid who plays the game of basketball with reckless abandon a young man with a deep-rooted desire to win done may be played in all 29 games scored three hundred and three points and into the season with the fifth highest scoring average ten point four points a game he at 73 is six second only to captain Kevin Joyce from the charity stripe he was 59 for 72 for an amazing 81 percent once again second only to Kevin Joyce against Marshall University young Michael Dunleavy was high man with 24 points he was co high score against Utah with KC Manning as he had 16 Dunleavy made the transition from high school to college with ease and proficiency shooting ability driving the middle ball handling an aggressive defense Michael Dunleavy can do it all an 18-year old freshman he's already reached basketball but year [Music] freshman players made their mark on Gamecock basketball this year freshmen accounted for 805 points 35 point seven percent of all points scored 460 rebounds thirty four point five percent of all the caroms pull down by Gamecock players leading this array of talent 19 year-old alexander a known as flick the lad from columbia is 6 8 185 pounds Alexander English was one of the most highly sought players in the history of South Carolina high school basketball English was second leading scorer 422 points in 29 games an average of 14 point six points a ball game clique has an artistic soft touch as he favors the jumper from the socks in the circle in the Utah classic English took heist growing honors against Providence yet 16 points he let all rebounders as he pull down 16 at that same Utah classic Alexander English joined very elite company he was named to the all-tournament team the Gamecocks then moved into Madison Square Garden the basketball capital of the world for the Holiday Classic the young man from Freya High School in Columbia was very much involved he had some of his greatest moments against Villanova close to 12,000 fans were on hand as English was high man with 23 points he pulled out 13 rebounds and let in that department also once again against some of the greatest college competition this country has to offer and English was proud and all-star he was named to the first 5:18 in Houston in the NCAA Regionals English was high man against powerful Memphis State he scored 19 against 7th ranked Southwest Louisiana he was also high Mac he scored 22 points 20 of those points came in the second half against Memphis State in southwestern Louisiana English was playing in his third tournament of the year when the final horn sounded he was again selected among the very best alexander english for the third time in a single season was named to the midwest regional alternis team 29 games a 51% average from the floor 63 percent from the charity struck three hundred and six rebounds 25 assists fifty four blocked shots Alexander is a young man who has earned the respect at the basketball world the night of December 22nd 1972 will go down in the annals of South Carolina basketball history as one of the greatest games of a plated Carolina Coliseum nationally ranked and previously undefeated Indiana was in town this Big Ten team coached by Bobby Knight was huge and strong for the first 20 minutes Indiana dominated play for just over 15 minutes left in the game the Hoosiers led the Gamecocks by 14 points the entire Coliseum came to life it rocked with the excitement as Kevin Joyce and his kitty core came to life let's relive some of that dramatic action the Gamecocks began the dramatic comeback Kevin Joyce drives all the way through he lays it up an an and he was fouled in the front Kevin joists in the line nerves of steel the ball is up and it's good Ritter with the ball is it the no and it's stolen by Kevin Joyce Kevin goes across the time line dots his Drive in the free throw line once again it's bill Kevin Joyce with 41 points to the ball game against nationally ranked Indiana hook shot by Cruz no good safety going out of bounds by Casey man who gives it a Kevin Joyce the long court pass the gun lady and the freshman puts it up an air and the gap was closing down lady takes the ball out of by the blind with top of the key the orchestra back it's good from way downtown Brian weathers hits the top of the keyboard the stadium rocks as the Gamecocks come back Kevin Joyce down the floor seven times seven times he hits in a row 1004 left to go on the game Joyce once again right of Akeem drives all the way through the fall away jumper it's good and Kevin Joyce is called for the offensive five Frank McGuire and Buck Freeman erupts complaining about the call but what a play glitter with the ball gives it a cruise it's stolen again long court pass to Casey Manning in rhythmic action he drives toward the basket and lays it up now only five points separate these two fine T downing with the boy stolen once again this time by Bob Mathias another freshman the Dr Micheal gun leaving starts to go through passes off to Kevin Joyce Joyce reversed cuts those just for the top of the people watch the shot [Applause] now just three for Indiana calls the timeout bill loving tells folks Frank McGuire he has two timeouts with Joyce again down the floor the ball toward the basket once again it's true one of the greatest nuts in all Americans career now just free form separate South Carolina India Joyce once again the fall away jumper once again even under severe crash one point Alexander English puts the Gamecocks entradas he scores a basket he was fouled he makes a three-pointer South Carolina's out in front Kevin Joyce way downtown rebound Bob Mathias and it's good the Gamecocks out in front again by three 4:57 now South Carolina by what his Joy's thoughts is dry in the free-throw line Dunleavy off the front of the rim Alexander which they're high in the air with the rebound and it's an offensive rebound and it's Jim Gamecocks once again by one Kevin Joyce across the time line left of the keyhole double-team the ball was stolen it's stolen by crews the long court passed the Buckner and the defensive play of the year is Joyce bangs that off buckler's me out of bounds the Gamecocks have it out Joyce again once again South Carolina tries to kill the clock they're leading by one Brian with his goes to the line and a putt attack situation he must make them both his first one is up and it's good now Indiana coach Bobby Knight will make an adjustment trying to put more height beneath that back to Brian what is mr. second Indiana could get the rebound and tie the game if the shot is good South Carolina would lead by three and just about put the game out of reach when is his basket what's up and it's go the Gamecocks by three Buckner right of the key al then he put down and turnaround jumper by downing Alexander English with the rebound he dropped it Joyce gets it jump ball five seconds showing on the clock and now in one of his patented just joist lands the ball across the time line a desperation shot South Carolina ways to game 88 85 last year the University of South Carolina basketball team traveled over 22,000 miles this past season the mileage totaled more than 19,000 some trips were made on charter flights commercial airlines provided transportation for others the Gamecocks were in and out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport eight times this year the team with his far west as Utah mountain beauty provided recreation for the South Carolina fans following the Gamecocks to Salt Lake City the Wasatch Range and the west side of the Rockies breathtaking Mother Nature meets the below zero temperatures resplendent and her deep pure white ermine coat of snow a favorite attraction Snowbird the highest peak 11,000 feet above sea level from Utah the Gamecocks traveled as far north as Niagara Falls while the state of South Carolina was digging out from beneath the burden of a record-shattering snowfall the Gamecocks were sightseeing in this other wetter Wonderland young men six five and seven feet tall big by human standards dwarfed by the magnitude and beauty of one of North America's greatest sightseeing attractions the mercury rises to only five above zero at noontime in the heart of winter the cold outside has challenged only by the inner warmth generated by this beautiful set skyscrapers and sidewalk congestion of some of the greatest cities in this country welcomed this young team from the Palmetto State New York City Chicago Salt Lake buffalo bill walk Wichita Toledo in Houston were all stops on the Gamecocks scheduled young men performing the role of ambassadors in that all-important mission 1972-1973 was also a very good year [Music] as predicted by coach Frank McGuire last October the success of the 1972-73 basketball season would be dependent upon the performance of senior Danny trailer trailer was the Gamecocks only truly big bang a seven footer he weighs 240 pounds trailer comes from winston-salem North Carolina he averaged twelve point eight points as he played in all 29 games he led his teammates in field goal accuracy he fired an amazing 52 percent from the floor this year trailer block 113 shot however his number one responsibility was rebounding he was endowed with the responsibility of getting the ball off both the offensive and defensive boards he pulled out three hundred and eight rebounds leading all teammates with an average of ten point six per game against Michigan State Danny trailer was high man with 18 points and 11 rebounds the Gamecocks defeated Michigan State 83 to 64 a New York's Madison was five twenty-five points against Manhattan he let all rebounders with 12 in ensuing games Danny trailer assumed the role of high scorer against Niagara Villanova and Stetson per big man Danny trailer possesses mobility the hook shot used so effectively by trailer did not come easily it's been the result of long hours of extra practice he's a powerful man he presents to the opponents a tremendous psychological and physical obstacle his ability to intimidate the talent that does not show up in post game statistics Danny trailer will graduate in June he's made a tremendous contribution to Gamecock basketball this year was the final chapter in his collegiate career it was Danny trailers very best teeming with trailer and Alexander English in the front foot this year was Brian Weddings this 6:4 185-pound junior from Rockaway Park New York is the person will do it all performer he can drill the long jumper from the outside as teams double and triple-teamed Kevin Joyce Bryan winters bombed away from long rail he demonstrated his shooting ability against Georgia Southern as he racked up 23 points witness has the ability to work the bass lines from all ankles Brian had another of his great Knights against powerful Duquesne it was the final home game of the season winters bombarded the Nets but 22 points Brian witness was in and out of the hospital early this year he was plagued by mononucleosis yet he plays in 26 games he scored 229 points for an eleven point five average fourth best among his teammates winters is an accurate passer against Davidson Brian broke the back of a pressing defense time and time again he threaded the needle with long accurate passes on the long fast-break talks Brian Withers has no peer he posted a superb cutie mark hitting 47% in the field from the charity stripe he was 59 for 81 for 73% although only six for winters was the team's third leading rebounder he pulled out a hundred and sixty-four Brian Withers will be back for another year seeing action in all 29 games this year was Casey Manning from Dillon this season Katie Manning was a stalwart against Utah he shared high-scoring honors with Michael Dunleavy he had a career high of 16 points the Gamecocks defeated Utah 77 to 73 it was the shooting of KC Manning's malong the baseline that kept the Gamecocks in that game it was the same story against southwestern Louisiana Manning had 13 points 11 came in a point hungry for his tack from the charity stripe he shot 79 percent graduation ends the career of this Palmetto State native he's been a credit to his state another Gamecocks star looming on the horizon is six-six 200-pound forward mark Bryan up and shop a smooth operating quantum and brighness saw action in 22 games a great baseline driver with aggressive moves beneath a moment of glory came in holy in New York against st. Bonaventure 24 seconds showing of the clock the Gamecocks leading the Bonnies 70 107 mock grindr the freshman the line of pressure-packed situation the first shot was good 72 to 70 in favor the Gamecocks Griner calmly sank the second toss the game was out of reach the Gamecocks beat the bodies by what in the last minutes of the n-c-double-a quarter-final against Texas Tech for freshmen teamed with Kevin Joyce for the victory young men who did not have a lot of playing time young men will be the heroes of the future I asked these young men their feelings about the 1972-73 season well I tell you I've met a lot of people and I've done a lot of traveling I see my place to have it seen I just really enjoy know about all the people it's really great it's really meant a lot to me it really has and Tommy Cox another lad from off Washington way you're a sophomore you had a great freshman year Tommy one of the finest shoes a head in the ball club this year you did not have a lot of playing time but do you look forward to more playing time in the future yes sir I was really happy to be associated with the players this year and I think they're really great I really hope you know I get more playing time nextgen really happy right now thank you very much Jimmy Walsh young fella from up in New York way the brother of Donnie Walsh the assistant coach and Jimmy what does the season meant to you like Tommy and Jimmy be associated with people you know on and around the team push yourself and see it's just been a big experience getting to see different places and different people I'm looking really forward to next gen time home you're gonna really work on this game well with us sela yeah as usual you know try every day you know it's to the best they can hope to play a lot more next year and Bob Mathias has been one of the big guys and Bob you've had your great moments this year I think two of the greatest games that I can recall were Indiana Illinois you did extremely well against Big Ten competition got a couple breaks I guess you have good ones and bad ones it's a really great plan this year with guys like Danny and Kevin and Brian Michael Alex it's really an experience who's great travel and I just enjoy the share a lot Rick mouth at the 65 220 pounds junior from Seymour Indiana the number one back up in the corner last year saw action in only 11 games this season Malta was hampered by illness and knee surgery next year Rick Mouser will be ready [Music] [Applause] [Applause] Frank McGuire has brought more prestige to the University of South Carolina than any other athletic coach in history the Gamecocks 22 and 7 record day marked the 5th straight year that South Carolina's basketball teams of top 20 victories in c-double-a competition for a third year in a row success for this man is no accident he's the only coach to win a hundred of more games at three separate major colleges in the words of his players coach McGuire personifies confidence as he sits on the bench time and time again this year the Gamecocks overcame huge opponent leaves and entered the victory circle as the final whistle sound there is no generation gap between coach Frank McGuire and his players he speaks their language coach McGuire's love for the game of basketball has been contagious for young and old the game is taken on new dimensions in the Palmetto State Frank McGuire winner a three National Coach of the Year award Frank McGuire builder of national champions Frank McGuire winner of 430 games against only a hundred and sixty-five defeats in 23 years college coach Frank McGuire builder of all-americans Frank McGuire buy his accomplishments so shall you know him I want to make it as brief as possible we have an excellent basketball game here but I just want to take this one moment to say how proud I am of kevin has done so much for me as a coach so much for the University as an individual so much for the state of South Carolina and so much for the United States is being a moon the Olympic team Kevin I wish you all the luck in the world the rest of your career you're a great one I don't know how we're ever gonna replace you thank you very much Kevin Joyce captain of the 1972-1973 Gamecocks became the third player in the South Carolina basketball history to have his number retired the outstanding guard for Merrick New York finished his career with 1,400 points a 17.3 average for three varsity seasons both ranked fifth and all-time Gamecock lifts the life of Kevin Joyce has been centered around this game of basketball his facial expression during a game is a vivid outlet sign of the strong inner determination to win Kevin Joyce is the super athlete one that can do it all he handles the ball runs the entire show and shoots from the outside he can fire and drive from the corner with the ability of a fall this season Kevin Joyce drew a lot of attention from opposing teams being often doubled and tripled team Kevin Joyce then demonstrated his unselfishness as he let all Gamecocks in assists he had 152 in this department he established a new Carolina Coliseum record Kevin joist exploring honors and 16 games this season he had a season high of 41 points including 18 field goals against Indiana last summer Kevin Joyce brought prestige to his country at University in himself as he was selected as a member of the United States Olympic basketball team Munich as it turned out was not only a test of his athletic ability it was a test of his character but Kevin joins the crucible of Munich produced a mature man Kevin Joyce captain Kevin Joyce all-american Kevin Joyce one of the all-time greats in a school steeped in basketball tradition number 43 has been retired Kevin Joyce leaves the University of South Carolina this young Houdini of the hardwood will never be forgotten captain Kevin and his kitty core Gamecock basketball 1972-1973 it was a very good year [Music]