Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics

Last updated
8th Olympic Basketball Tournament
Munich 1972
Olympic games 1972 basketball 0501.JPG
Tournament details
Olympics 1972 Summer Olympics
Host nation West Germany
City Munich
DurationAugust 27 – September 9
Men's tournament
Teams16
Medals
Gold medal icon.svg Gold medalists Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Silver medal icon.svg Silver medalistsFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze medalistsFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Tournaments
  Mexico City 1968   Montreal 1976  

Basketball contests at the 1972 Summer Olympics was the eighth appearance of the sport of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. It took place at Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle in Munich, Germany from August 27 to September 9. The Soviet Union controversially won the gold medal game against the United States. [1] [2] This was the first time that the USA did not win a gold medal since the sport's introduction into the Olympics at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. The bronze was won by Cuba, the only Olympic medal they have won in basketball. [3] Another controversy was suspension of Mickey Coll after a positive drug test.

Contents

Medal summary

GamesGoldSilverBronze
Men's basketballFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Anatoli Polivoda
Modestas Paulauskas
Zurab Sakandelidze
Alzhan Zharmukhamedov
Aleksandr Boloshev
Ivan Edeshko
Sergei Belov
Mikheil Korkia
Ivan Dvorny
Gennadi Volnov
Aleksandr Belov
Sergei Kovalenko
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Kenneth Davis
Doug Collins
Tom Henderson
Mike Bantom
Robert Jones
Dwight Jones
James Forbes
Jim Brewer
Tommy Burleson
Tom McMillen
Kevin Joyce
Ed Ratleff
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Juan Carlos Domecq Fortuondo
Ruperto Herrera Tabio
Juan Roca Brunet
Pedro Chappe Garcia
Miguel Álvarez Pozo
Rafael Cañizares Poey
Conrado Perez Armenteros
Miguel Calderon Gomez
Tomas Herrera Martinez
Oscar Varona Varona
Alejandro Urgelles Guibot
Franklin Standard Johnson

Qualification

Automatic qualifications were granted to the host country and the first four places at the previous tournament. Additional spots were decided by various continental tournaments held by FIBA plus an additional pre-Olympic tournament that granted two extra berths.

AfricaAmericasAsiaEuropeOceaniaAutomatic qualifiers
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt [a]
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the United States.svg  United StatesGold medal in 1968
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  YugoslaviaSilver medal in 1968
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet UnionBronze medal in 1968
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil – 4th place in 1968
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany – Olympic hosts

Format

Tie-breaking criteria:

  1. Head to head results
  2. Goal average (not the goal difference) between the tied teams

Squads

For the team rosters see: Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's team rosters .

Preliminary round

The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, while the remaining teams compete for 5th through 16th places in separate brackets.

Group A

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 770542312+23014 Semifinals
2Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 761560445+11513
3Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 743561490+7111 [lower-alpha 1] 5th–8th classification round
4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 743493489+411 [lower-alpha 1]
5Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain 7344865001410 [lower-alpha 2] 9th–12th classification round
6Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 734523524110 [lower-alpha 2]
7Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 7164426432018 13th–16th classification round
8Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 7074406442047
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head record: Brazil 1–0 Czechoslovakia
  2. 1 2 Head-to-head record: Spain 1–0 Australia
August 27
10:30
Cuba  Flag of Cuba.svg10564Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
August 27
12:00
United States  Flag of the United States.svg6635Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
August 27
14:30
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg55110Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
August 27
20:00
Spain  Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg7974Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
August 28
9:00
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg11084Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
August 28
14:30
United States  Flag of the United States.svg8155Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
August 28
16:00
Cuba  Flag of Cuba.svg7453Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain
August 28
20:00
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg6174Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
August 29
9:00
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg7269Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain
August 29
14:30
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg7873Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
August 29
20:00
Czechoslovakia  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg6968Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
August 29
21:30
United States  Flag of the United States.svg6748Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
August 30
10:30
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg5872Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain
August 30
14:30
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg7692Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
August 30
16:00
Czechoslovakia  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg6577Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
August 30
21:30
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg5461Flag of the United States.svg  United States
September 1
21:30
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg7687Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain
September 1
21:30
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg7084Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
September 1
21:30
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg3196Flag of the United States.svg  United States
September 1
21:30
Czechoslovakia  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg8283Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
September 2
9:00
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg7569Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
September 2
12:00
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg6494Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
September 2
14:30
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg63108Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
September 2
18:30
Spain  Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg5672Flag of the United States.svg  United States
September 3
9:00
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg3399Flag of the United States.svg  United States
September 3
10:30
Spain  Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg7074Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
September 3
18:30
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg8966Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
September 3
21:30
Cuba  Flag of Cuba.svg6463Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil

Group B

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 770639479+16014 Semifinals
2Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 752547471+7612 [lower-alpha 1]
3Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 752582484+9812 [lower-alpha 1] 5th–8th classification round
4Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 752570531+3912 [lower-alpha 1]
5Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany (H)7344825183610 9th–12th classification round
6Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 725520536169
7Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines 7165266661408 13th–16th classification round
8Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 7074055861817
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Italy 1–1 (1.072 GAvg), Yugoslavia 1–1 (1.013), Puerto Rico 1–1 (0.917)
August 27
9:00
Poland  Flag of Poland.svg9075Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
August 27
16:00
Yugoslavia  Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg8578Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
August 27
18:30
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg5294Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
August 27
21:30
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg7481Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
August 28
12:00
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg6387Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
August 28
16:30
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg5692Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
August 28
18:30
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg9272Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
August 28
21:30
Poland  Flag of Poland.svg6485Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
August 29
10:30
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg5995Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
August 29
12:00
Soviet Union  Flag of the Soviet Union.svg7966Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
August 29
16:00
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg7974Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
August 29
18:30
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg9374Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
August 30
9:00
Soviet Union  Flag of the Soviet Union.svg9464Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
August 30
12:00
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg5768Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
August 30
18:30
Philippines  Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg76117Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
August 30
20:00
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg9257Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
September 1
9:00
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg6268Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
September 1
12:00
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg5681Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
September 1
20:00
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg7159Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
September 1
21:30
Soviet Union  Flag of the Soviet Union.svg10087Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
September 2
12:00
SFR Yugoslavia  Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg7357Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
September 2
14:30
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg6765Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
September 2
16:00
Philippines  Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg80111Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
September 2
20:00
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg7154Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
September 3
12:00
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg10181Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
September 3
14:30
Poland  Flag of Poland.svg8385Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
September 3
16:00
SFR Yugoslavia  Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg6774Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
September 3
20:00
West Germany  Flag of Germany.svg7262Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal

Knockout stage

Medal bracket

Semifinals (September 7) [4] Gold medal (September 9)
      
A1 Flag of the United States.svg  United States 68
B2 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 38
A1 Flag of the United States.svg  United States 50
B1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 51
B1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 67
A2 Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 61 Bronze medal (September 8)
B2 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 65
A2 Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 66

Classification brackets

5th–8th place

Semifinals (September 7 [4] ) 5th place (September 9)
      
A3 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 83
B4 Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 87
B4 Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 70
B3 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 86
B3 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 66
A4 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 63 7th place (September 8)
A3 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 87
A4 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 69

9th–12th place

Semifinals (September 5) 9th place (September 9)
      
A5 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain 76
B6 Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 87
B6 Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 83
A6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 91
B5 Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 69
A6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 7011th place (September 8)
A5 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain 84
B5 Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 83

13th–16th place

Semifinals (September 5) 13th place (September 7)
      
A7 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 70
B8 Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 67
A7 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 73
B7 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines 82
B7 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines 2
A8 Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0 [a] 15th place
B8 Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0 [a]
A8 Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 2

Final

September 9
23:30
Soviet Union  Flag of the Soviet Union.svg5150Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Scoring by half:26–21, 25–29
Pts: Sergey Belov 20
Rebs: Alexander Belov 8
Pts: Tom Henderson, Jim Brewer 9 each
Rebs: Mike Bantom 9
Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich
Referees: Renato Righetto (Brazil), Artenik Arabadjian (Bulgaria)

Awards

1972 Olympic Basketball Champions
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Soviet Union
First title

Final standings

RankTeamPldWL
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 990
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 981
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 972
4thFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 954
5thFlag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 972
6thFlag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 963
7thFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 954
8thFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 945
9thFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 954
10thFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 936
11thFlag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain 945
12thFlag of Germany.svg  West Germany 936
13thFlag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines 936
14thFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 927
15thFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 918
16thFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 909

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References

Citations