After five seasons in Carolina, the team that arrived in St. Louis, and took the name Spirits of St.

Louis was almost an expansion team as many of the stars in Carolina did not come with the team in St. Louis.

The Spirits had a very young team as they signed college stars Marvin Barnes, Gus Gerard and Maurice Lucas. On the court they struggled early in the season, which included a 97-92 loss to the Memphis Sounds in the team's first game at the Checkerdome on October 18th.

Of the Spirits rookies, nobody shined more than Marvin Barnes, who averaged 24. 0 ppg and 15.

6 rebounds per game, and was named ABA Rookie of the Year. The Spirits struggles continued throughout the season as they finished with a record of 32-52.

Despite their poor record the Spirits made the playoffs, by finishing third in the Eastern Division. In the playoffs the Spirits would face the defending champion New York Nets, losing the opener 111-105.

The Spirits would rebound to win Game 2 in New York 115-97. As the series shifted to St.

Louis, the young Spirits played their best basketball of the year, winning the next two games, taking a 3-1 series lead. They would go on to win the series in five games to reach the Eastern Division Finals.

Things would not go as smoothly in the Division Finals, as the Kentucky Colonels jumped out quickly and went on to win the series in five games.