Pittsburgh Xplosion
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Xplosion was a member of the Continental Basketball Association
from 2006–2008. Founded in 2004 as the Pittsburgh Hard Hats as a member of the ABA
, the team, following an ownership change, took the court as the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls. The team became the Xplosion in 2005, and joined the CBA in 2006. It has been replaced in the ABA with the modern day Pittsburgh Phantoms
. The Xplosion played at Pittsburgh Civic Arena and on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh
at the Petersen Events Center
, both in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
.
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="green" | Pennsylvania Pit Bulls (ABA)
|-
|2004-05 || 8 || 9 || .471 || ||
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="black" | Pittsburgh Xplosion (ABA)
|-
|2005-06 || 18 || 11 || .621 || Lost Quarterfinals || Bellingham
122, Pittsburgh 115
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="black" | Pittsburgh Xplosion (CBA)
|-
|2006-07 || 10 || 38 || .208 || Won Quarterfinals
Lost Semifinals || Pittsburgh 119, Indiana
103
Minot
2, Pittsburgh 0
|-
|2007-08 || 29 || 19 || .604 || Won Quarterfinals
Lost Semfinals || Pittsburgh 129, East Kentucky
121
Minot
2, Pittsburgh 0
|-
-induced death of coach Tom Washington, who collapsed on court in the fourth quarter. The game was suspended; assistant coach Pat Blue was tabbed to be the team's head coach for the remainder of the season.
The Pit Bulls played a majority of their home games at Penn State McKeesport
, but later moved to McKeesport High School.
For the 2005-2006 season, the Pit Bulls became the Pittsburgh Xplosion. The team finished league competition with an 18 win-11 loss record, good for second place in the Freddie Lewis Division of the ABA White Conference. The Xplosion were eliminated in the playoffs by the Bellingham Slam
. The team subsequently left the ABA and entered the Continental Basketball Association
, in which it continued to play as the Xplosion through the 2007-08 season.
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, but ceased operations after the 2008 campaign. The Xplosion lasted little longer, folding just prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, citing the down economy.
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
from 2006–2008. Founded in 2004 as the Pittsburgh Hard Hats as a member of the ABA
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
, the team, following an ownership change, took the court as the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls. The team became the Xplosion in 2005, and joined the CBA in 2006. It has been replaced in the ABA with the modern day Pittsburgh Phantoms
Pittsburgh Phantoms (ABA)
The Pittsburgh Phantoms were an American professional basketball team whose office is based in the Pittsburgh suburb of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. The Phantoms were a member of the current American Basketball Association, and began play in December, 2009...
. The Xplosion played at Pittsburgh Civic Arena and on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
at the Petersen Events Center
Petersen Events Center
Not to be confused with Petersen Sports Complex.The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center is a 12,508-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers basketball teams...
, both in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Season By Season
|-|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="green" | Pennsylvania Pit Bulls (ABA)
|-
|2004-05 || 8 || 9 || .471 || ||
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="black" | Pittsburgh Xplosion (ABA)
|-
|2005-06 || 18 || 11 || .621 || Lost Quarterfinals || Bellingham
Bellingham Slam
The Bellingham Slam is a professional basketball team that plays in the International Basketball League. In the past they played in the American Basketball Association. They were originally expected to play in Everett, Washington, but were relocated to Bellingham, Washington under the ownership of...
122, Pittsburgh 115
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="black" | Pittsburgh Xplosion (CBA)
|-
|2006-07 || 10 || 38 || .208 || Won Quarterfinals
Lost Semifinals || Pittsburgh 119, Indiana
Indiana Alley Cats
The Indiana Alley Cats was a member of the Continental Basketball Association . They are based in Anderson, Indiana and formerly played at Anderson High School Wigwam. The team was formerly a part of the American Basketball Association.-2005-2006:...
103
Minot
Minot SkyRockets
The Minot SkyRockets were a team in the Continental Basketball Association. They played their home games at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The team began play in 2005 as the San Jose Skyrockets of the American Basketball Association. The team had a very successful first season, finishing first...
2, Pittsburgh 0
|-
|2007-08 || 29 || 19 || .604 || Won Quarterfinals
Lost Semfinals || Pittsburgh 129, East Kentucky
East Kentucky Miners
The East Kentucky Miners are a professional basketball team in the American Basketball Association that began play as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in the 2007-2008 season...
121
Minot
Minot SkyRockets
The Minot SkyRockets were a team in the Continental Basketball Association. They played their home games at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The team began play in 2005 as the San Jose Skyrockets of the American Basketball Association. The team had a very successful first season, finishing first...
2, Pittsburgh 0
|-
Pittsburgh Hardhats
The Pittsburgh Hardhats were an American Basketball Association team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team was created by Joseph Dydek after he failed to start an NBA team in Pittsburgh. To his surprise, the "Hardhats" were not very financially stable. The team essentially existed on paper only, as it folded prior to the start of the season due to financial difficulties. The team was replaced 12 October 2004 by the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls, who competed in the 2004-2005 ABA season.Pennsylvania Pit Bulls/Xplosion
After the dissolution of the Hardhats, the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls were admitted to the ABA October 12, 2004 to play in the 2004-2005 ABA season. They finished with an eight win-nine loss record, good for 7th place in the Blue Division, but not good enough to advance to postseason play. The team's first game (19 November 2004) was marred by the myocardial infarctionMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
-induced death of coach Tom Washington, who collapsed on court in the fourth quarter. The game was suspended; assistant coach Pat Blue was tabbed to be the team's head coach for the remainder of the season.
The Pit Bulls played a majority of their home games at Penn State McKeesport
Penn State McKeesport
Penn State Greater Allegheny, commonly referred to as PSUGA, is a Commonwealth Campus of the Pennsylvania State University in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Penn State McKeesport, the Penn State Board of Trustees initially voted to rename the campus to Penn State Greater Allegheny...
, but later moved to McKeesport High School.
For the 2005-2006 season, the Pit Bulls became the Pittsburgh Xplosion. The team finished league competition with an 18 win-11 loss record, good for second place in the Freddie Lewis Division of the ABA White Conference. The Xplosion were eliminated in the playoffs by the Bellingham Slam
Bellingham Slam
The Bellingham Slam is a professional basketball team that plays in the International Basketball League. In the past they played in the American Basketball Association. They were originally expected to play in Everett, Washington, but were relocated to Bellingham, Washington under the ownership of...
. The team subsequently left the ABA and entered the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, in which it continued to play as the Xplosion through the 2007-08 season.
Former Pitt stars Antonio Graves, John DeGroat, and Carl Krauser
Carl Krauser
Carlos Isaac Krauser is a United States Virgin Islands professional basketball player. He was a point guard for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers from 2001 to 2006...
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, but ceased operations after the 2008 campaign. The Xplosion lasted little longer, folding just prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, citing the down economy.