- Pittsburgh Xplosion
CBA team
color1 = gold
color2 = black
pixels = 150px
founded = 2005
league = ABA2005 –2006
CBA2006 –present
history = Pittsburgh Xplosion2005 –present
arena =Mellon Arena
Peterson Events Center
city = Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania
colors = Black, Gold
owner =Freddie Lewis Richard Hersperger
coach = Carlos Knox
championships = 0
titles = 0
cheerleaders =
dancers =
mascot =Pittsburgh Xplosion is a team of the
Continental Basketball Association founded in 2004 but owning the ABA Franchise license from the now defunctPittsburgh Hardhats from 2000–2004. The ABA tradition goes back even further in Pittsburgh to the Pipers and Condors of the original ABA of the 1960s and 1970s. When taken in total the ABA franchise in Pittsburgh despite the name and ownership changes, have earned a world title in 1968 and that year's ABA MVP. The Xplosion play atMellon Arena and on the campus of theUniversity of Pittsburgh at thePeterson Events Center , both in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania .During their first season, the Xplosion were 18-12, which was second in the Freddie Lewis division. The Xplosion were eliminated in the playoffs by the
Bellingham Slam .Early crowds were in the hundreds, but eventually the averaged attendance reportedly worked its way up to about 1,600 a game. The team got its highest attendance to date in a 2008 regular season game, with over 2,000 fans.
After the 2006 season, the team decided to move to the
Continental Basketball Association . [http://www.cbahoopsonline.com/news_detail.html?newsid=796] .The team drafted and signed former West Virginia star
Kevin Pittsnogle . Other players on the 2006 roster include former NBA starArmon Gilliam and former Pitt Panthers Jaron Brown and Chris Seabrooks. [http://mondesishouse.blogspot.com/2006/11/pittsnogle-xplodes-into-pittsburgh.html]Former Pitt stars Antonio Graves, John DeGroat, and
Carl Krauser started on the 2008 season roster.The Xplosion lost the to the Minot SkyRockets in the 2008 American Conference Finals. The SkyRockets won the first two out of three games in Minot.
Roster
2007-2008
*Lawrence Baker
*Tyrone Anderson
*John DeGroat
*Shaun Fountain
*Carl Krauser
*Kevin Mickens
*Albert White
*Chaz McCrommon
*Simplice Njoya
*John StricklandHead Coach: Carlos Knox,Assistant Coach: Pablo Redwood,Assistant Coach:
DeVaughn Halsel As of October 5, 2008, the Xplosion may not come back for the 2008 season.
External links
* [http://www.pittsburghxplosion.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.cbahoopsonline.com/ CBA League Site]
* [http://media.www.pointparkglobe.com/media/storage/paper1255/news/2007/10/11/Sports/Professional.Basketball.Team.Makes.xplosion.In.Pittsburgh-3024206.shtml/ Point Park University teams up with Xplosion]
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