The Augusta Groove
are a team in the Premier Basketball League that previously played in the Continental Basketball Association and the modern American Basketball Association. Formerly, the team was known as the Charlotte Krunk
in the ABA, where they played at Charlotte, North Carolina's Cricket Arena, and the Atlanta Krunk
of the CBA.
|
CHARLOTTE KRUNK TICKETS
|
History
2005-2006: Charlotte
The franchise began operations in
2005, but was forced to suspend operations between
December 2005 and
January 2006 when other teams in its division shut down.
Team owner Duane "
Spyder-D" Hughes announced the suspension of operations in an emotional letter on the team's website, thanking the city of Charlotte and the businesses that helped his team. In the letter he announced plans for a celebrity basketball game, and youth concert to be held at Cricket Arena.
2006-2008: Atlanta and CBA
On
August 7,
2006, the team announced they would be moving to the
Continental Basketball Association as the
Atlanta Krunk. On the 21st, they announced that they would by playing at the
John H. Lewis Gymnasium at
Morris Brown College.
[1] Finally, on the 24th, they announced they would be called the Atlanta Krunk Wolverines in honor of Morris Brown's athletics program, now discontinued.
[2]
Prior to the 2007-2008 season, the team changed their name back to
Atlanta Krunk
. The Krunk also added a majority owner,
Freedom Williams.
Next, the owners announced their new head coach, former
Georgia Tech and
NBA standout
Kenny Anderson. As a general manager, the owners and coach selected Vincent Smith, a basketball trainer who is also the brother of
TNT basketball analyst
Kenny Smith.
The team then revealed that they had signed
Grayson Boucher, known as "The Professor" during his days on the
And 1 streetball tour. Further, the team added the brother of
Stephon Marbury, known as "Zeck" Marbury according to the team's website and the CBA, or "Zech" or "Zach" Marbury from his NBA days.
[3] [4].
In another announcement prior to the 2006-2007 season,
Starbury, Stephon Marbury's clothing company, was revealed as the designer of the Krunk uniforms.
[5]
Some footage has also been shot for a reality show about the Atlanta Krunk, featuring owners Freedom Williams, Duane "Spyder D" Hughes, and other team personnel and players.
[6] Plans for the release of the show have not yet been announced.
2007-2008 Season
The Atlanta Krunk made it through the season with the assistance of new owners. After the John L. Lewis Gymnasium was deemed unsuitable for CBA games, the team finished its schedule on the road. The Krunk ended the year 9-41, including nine forfeit losses.
The season was noted for the lack of payment of players, and an ever-shifting roster after the first month due to financial woes. The Krunk appeared on the road without uniforms, and completed one road trip with just five players.
2008-present: Augusta Groove and PBL
2008-2009
The team was purchased by
Gary Perry,
Lavon Mercer, and
Ricky Brown in the middle of the '07-'08 season, and looked to relocate elsewhere in Georgia. Leading candidates were
Columbus (where they would play at the
Columbus Civic Center) and
Augusta (where the venue would be the
James Brown Arena). Augusta was chosen and the team was renamed the
Augusta Groove
.
[7] However, the James Brown Arena was ruled out as a home.
[8]
On
June 5,
2008 the team announced its move to the Premier Basketball League.
[9] and on
July 10, the Groove announced they would be playing at the
Christenberry Fieldhouse on the
Augusta State University campus.
[10] This did not hold, as on
November 12, they announced they would play in the gym at
Richmond Academy.
[11] The team finished the year with a .500 record amid controversy about player pay
[12] and remuneration for hotel stays
[13].
Season by Season Records
Note:
W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win–Loss %''
| Season
| W
| L
| %
| Playoffs
| Results
|
| Charlotte Krunk
|
| 2005-06
| 0
| 0
| .000
|
|
|
| Atlanta Krunk
|
| 2007-08
| 9
| 41
| .180
|
|
|
| Augusta Groove
|
| 2008-09
| 10
| 10
| .500
|
|
|
| 2009-10
| 0
| 0
| .000
|
|
|
| Totals
| 19
| 51
| .271
|
|
Current roster
Head Coach:
Rick Brown
| #
|
| Pos.
| Ht.
| Player
| Acquired
| College
|
| -
|
| PG
| 6'0
| Lansen Leach
| 2008
| Elizabeth City State
|
| -
|
| SG
| 6'3
| Roderick McGahee
| 2008
| Saddleback College
|
| -
|
| SG
| 6'3
| Oliver Ottley
| 2008
| Augusta State
|
| -
|
| PG
| 6'1
| Cory Sims
| 2008
| Northern Illinois
|
| -
|
| SG
| 6'4
| Kenny Thomas
| 2008
| Aiken Tech
|
| -
|
| SF
| 6'5
| Demetrius Howard
| 2005
| Augusta State
|
| -
|
| PF
| 6'8
| AJ Millien
| 2008
| Idaho State
|
| -
|
| SF
| 6'5
| Donielle Davis
| 2008
| None
|
| -
|
| PF
| 6'6
| Kedrick Johnson
| 2008
| Lee University
|
| -
|
| C
| 6'10
| Calvin Roland
| 2008
| Virginia Commonwealth
|
| -
|
| C
| 6'8
| Kenny Curtis
| 2008
| North Carolina Central
|
| -
|
| C
| 6'9
| Laterrance Casey
| 2008
| Paine College
|
2009 Season Schedule
| Date
| Opponent
| Home/Away
| Score
| High points
| High rebounds
| High assists
| Location/Attendance
| Record
|
| January 3
| Rochester Razorsharks
| Home
| 116-127
| AJ Millien (33)
| AJ Millien (7)
| Cory Sims (8)
| Richmond Academy
| 1-0
|
| January 10
| Wilmington Sea Dawgs
| Away
| 97-116
| AJ Millien (29)
| AJ Millien (8)
| Donielle Davis, Laterrance Casey, Lansen Leach, & Demetrius Howard (1)
| Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center
| 1-1
|
| January 11
| Mid-Michigan Destroyers
| Away
| 145-129
| AJ Millien (38)
| AJ Millien (17)
| Calvin Roland (4)
| Bay City Western high school
| 2-1
|
| January 17
| Buffalo Stampede
| Home
| 124-135
| AJ Millien (24)
| AJ Millien (14)
| Cory Sims(3)
| Richmond Academy
| 3-1
|
| January 19
| Battle Creek Knights
| Away
| 98-107
| AJ Millien (38)
| Calvin Roland (12)
| Lansen Leach (5)
| Kellogg Arena
| 3-2
|
| January 24
| Detroit Panthers
| Away
| 131-115
| AJ Millien (29)
| AJ Millien (18)
| Lansen Leach & Cory Sims (6)
| Groves High School
| 4-2
|
| January 31
| Mid-Michigan Destroyers
| Home
| 119-125
| AJ Millien (44)
| AJ Millien (18)
| Lansen Leach & Cory Sims (4)
| Richmond Academy
| 5-2
|
| February 6
| Wilmington Sea Dawgs
| Away
| 109-110
| Donielle Davis (29)
| AJ Millien (12)
| Cory Sims & Donielle Davis (2)
| Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center
| 5-3
|
| February 8
| Wilmington Sea Dawgs
| Home
| 100-91
| AJ Millien (22)
| AJ Millien, Demetrius Howard, & Kendrick Johnson (7)
| Lansen Leach (6)
| Richmond Academy
| 5-4
|
| February 14
| Buffalo Stampede
| Away
| 129-119
| Demetrius Howard (33)
| Calvin Roland (11)
| Cory Sims (10)
| Koessler Athletic Center
| 6-4
|
| February 16
| Rochester Razorsharks
| Away
| 119-121
| Donielle Davis (40)
| Kendrick Johnson (11)
| Cory Sims (7)
| Blue Cross Arena
| 6-5
|
| February 22
| Chicago Throwbacks
| Home
| 105-119
| Demetrius Howard (25)
| Donielle Davis (10)
| Cory Sims (7)
| Richmond Academy
| 7-5
|
| March 1
| Wilmington Sea Dawgs
| Home
| 104-87
| Demetrius Howard (25)
| Kendrick Johnson (9)
| Cory Sims (4)
| Richmond Academy
| 7-6
|
| March 5
| Wilmington Sea Dawgs
| Away
| 97-111
| Donielle Davis (27)
| Calvin Roland (10)
| Cory Sims (7)
| Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center
| 7-7
|
| March 7
| Buffalo Stampede
| Home
| 113-126
| Rodderick MacGhee (21)
| Cory Sims & Demetrius Howard (7)
| Lansen Leach (10)
| Richmond Academy
| 8-7
|
| March 8
| Rochester Razorsharks
| Home
| 117-99
| Donielle Davis (26)
| Cory Sims (9)
| Cory Sims (7)
| Richmond Academy
| 8-8
|
| March 14
| Rochester Razorsharks
| Away
| 109-123
| Donielle Davis (23)
| Calvin Roland (12)
| Cory Sims (8)
| Blue Cross Arena
| 8-9
|
| March 15
| Detroit Panthers
| Away
| 136-132
| Cory Sims (35)
| Demetrius Howard (9)
| Cory Sims (7)
| Groves High School
| 9-9
|
| March 21
| Detroit Panthers
| Home
| 119-123
| Cory Sims (29)
| Kenneth Curtis (9)
| Cory Sims (9)
| Richmond Academy
| 10-9
|
| March 22
| Battle Creek Knights
| Home
| 122-97
| Demetrius Howard (24)
| Kenneth Curtis & Calvin Rowland (7)
| Cory Sims (9)
| Richmond Academy
| 10-10
|
See also
References
- http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3366830
- http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3367917
- << Atlanta Krunk Cba Basketball - "Every Game Is A Show!" >>
- NY Knicks | In The Paint
- << Atlanta Krunk Cba Basketball - "Every Game Is A Show!" >>
- << Atlanta Krunk Cba Basketball - "Every Game Is A Show!" >>
- Augusta in running for franchise
- Groove may be playing at ASU
- Premier Basketball League Welcomes Augusta Groove
- Groove to play at ASU
- Hoops team finds new home court
- Financial troubles threatening team
- Hotel seeks money from Groove