The 1972–73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team went undefeated again at and claimed a seventh consecutive

national championship A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...

.UCLA media guide In the title game of the NCAA tournament at St. Louis, junior center

Bill Walton William Theodore Walton III (November 5, 1952 – May 27, 2024) was an American basketball player and television Sports commentator, sportscaster. He played college basketball, collegiately for the UCLA Bruins men's basketball, UCLA Bruins an ...

scored 44 points (21 of 22 field goal attempts) with thirteen rebounds as the top-ranked Bruins defeated #12 Memphis State, Some regard this as the greatest ever offensive performance in American

college basketball College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...

. Tied at 39 at halftime, the Bruins dominated the second half and outscored the Tigers, UCLA set a new NCAA record of 75 consecutive wins and a three-season composite record of .

Roster

Starting lineup

Schedule

, - !colspan=9 style=, Regular Season , - !colspan=12 style="background:#;", NCAA Tournament

Notes

* The 1972 team was ranked No. 1 by both AP and UPI pre-season polls * Walton set a school record with 506 rebounds * Larry Farmer and Larry Hollyfield became the only players to have the best winning record over a three-year period, 89–1. * In the semifinal against #6

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, the Hoosiers rallied in the second half to give the Bruins a scare. Curtis scored 22 points off the bench to help UCLA with the 70–59 victory. * Walton and Keith Wilkes were consensus first team

All-Americans The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

Awards and honors

* Bill Walton, James E. Sullivan Award, which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the United States * Bill Walton, USBWA College Player of the Year * Bill Walton,

Naismith College Player of the Year The Naismith College Player of the Year is "the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's college basketball players of the year," as chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors. It is named in honor o ...

* Bill Walton, Adolph Rupp Trophy

References

External links

*
1972–73 UCLA Bruins
at Sports-Reference.com {{DEFAULTSORT:1972-73 Ucla Bruins Men's Basketball Team

Ucla Bruins The UCLA Bruins are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Los Angeles. The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Big Ten Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF ...

UCLA Bruins men's basketball seasons NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons

Ucla The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...