Good article by Brian Fonseca on the team to last win a game in NCAA tourney. The forgotten team. That team should be recognized. Always wanted to see John Battle or Hinson get recognized at the RAC. Two of our better pro players.
1982-83 team
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That was my time as a student and those were my teams. Never missed a game. Used to love watching Battle play. Names like Brunson, Black, Ellerbe, Tillman are players I've not thought of in a long time. Would love to see this Team recognized at the RAC.
Great Story. My first season as a fan and freshman. Attended both games in Hartford. If you told me I would have to wait this long for another NCAA win I never would have believed you.
Student Season tickets right behind RU bench. I was basically in the huddle. Fun team.
Battle played over 10 years in the NBA. Hinson had a wonderful career which was cut short by a major knee injury. I think James Bailey had a better NBA career than Roy did. He was I believe the 6th pick in the first round of the 1979 NBA draft and he played about 10 years. James and Roy were the two best centers that ever played at RU. We were spoiled from 1975 through 1983 with an outstanding center.
Those guys are right ...they should have been honored ...much more to add later
Those student season tickets behind the Bench were great !! Memory is fuzzy but I think it was maybe $50 for the full season ?? Like you said... awesome location to be right behind the bench like that as a student. Also a group of us drove up to Hartford on a cold rainy night for that NCAA win against SW Louisiana state. Great memories. Amazing that it was our last ever NCAA win. And Battle was an amazing athlete,, the kid could jump through the roof.
No mention of Chris Remley. Those were teams from my years of attending RU as well.
My Dad got us season tickets for the 81-82 season and I fell in love with those teams. Black, Tillman, Neiberlein, Ellerbe, Brunson, Hinson, Battle, etc. That was the start of a 38 year obsession with Rutgers Basketball. Rutgers should have a special night to honor them.
My time as well. I somehow landed cheap student season tickets a few rows behind the RU bench ... those days are gone. That was the team that got me hooked on RU hoops. Hinson was coming into his own, Black and Ellerbe were solid in the backcourt and Battle was the electrifying freshman off the bench. The RAC rocked during those A10 showdowns. Early in the season I remember seeing a freshman from St John's named Chris Mullin that could shoot the lights out and saying to my friend's, "this kid's pretty good. He may turn out to be something."
Wow! Great find, Colonel! The video quality is awesome.
I was just a kid, but I remember those old ESPN graphics and theme song. What a walk down memory lane. Thanks for posting this.
Our time (early to mid 80s) was truly the Golden Era of College Basketball. Remember as a freshman watching the NC Game between UNC and Georgetown - Michael Jordan as a freshman, James Worthy, Sam Perkins vs. Sleepy Floyd and Patrick Ewing as a freshman. Was living in Campbell at the time.
Year after year the games got better and better. Never forget watching Villanova playing a perfect game against Georgetown in the 85 NC. Was watching the game in my frat house. Ed Pickney was a monster during that Tournament run. And who could forget that 83 Tournament with NC State/Jimmy V's run leading up to the NC Game against Phi Slama Jama. Good times and great games.
I was a drunken Rutgers student at the Meadowlands when we upset UCLA. I remember starting a "Cito" chant for Tillman because former major leaguer Clearence "Cito" Gaston was the only other person I knew of who's name was Clarence. I still believe it spurred them on to victory.
Bailey has a longer career due to Hinson's career ending injury but by every statistical category, Hinson topped Jamin James.
Min's - 30 vs 19
PPG - 14.2 vs 8.8
Reb's - 6.8 vs 5.0
FG% - 49.9 vs 48.5
FT% - 74.1 vs 70.3
Of course that doesn't take into account the teams they played on or how they were used.
UCLA brought their cheerleaders. Don't recall any other details,for some reason.
Great story! So sorry to hear about Sam Randolph... That '82-83 team was fun to watch. So many memories. RU beat the Pac-10's Stanford and Oregon at the RAC in December '82. Hinson was a shot-blocking machine... 11 vs. Stanford and 10 vs Oregon!
In the article, Pikiell said...
“I’m disappointed to hear that, but we would love to have them back. We’re building a Rutgers basketball family, and they are a very big part of it. I’m going to work to have them back.”
Here's a suggestion: Pikiell, Hobbs, and RU marketing needs to arrange a promotional day next season surrounding the 1982-83 team. National Anthem singer: Regina Belle, a Rutgers grad and Battle's wife.
Let's go, guys! Make it happen!
“I’m disappointed to hear that, but we would love to have them back. We’re building a Rutgers basketball family, and they are a very big part of it. I’m going to work to have them back.”
Here's a suggestion: Pikiell, Hobbs, and RU marketing needs to arrange a promotional day next season surrounding the 1982-83 team. National Anthem singer: Regina Belle, a Rutgers grad and Battle's wife.
Let's go, guys! Make it happen!
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The RAC did not have the proper sub-flooring in those days.. they basically played on concrete. Probably cut their careers short.
I get their frustration... but do they think any of the powers "remember" any team that won one game in the Tourney? Why is it a one-way street? What did any of them do for Rutgers after leaving? We have recent players who have come back, got involved.
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So true. NBA players complained about the floor all the time when the Nets played there for four seasons (1977-78 until 1980-81).
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I remember the poster of Battle on an Army Tank!!!!
Great article and have said to others that Battle and Hinson need to be honored. And Joey they are our two best pros. Hinson was better in NBA than Jammin James. Remember game at Meadowlands and beating UCLA. Was a great game.
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That was my freshman year and by the time the game played, I was in a beatup RV on my way to Ft. Lauderdale. Figured no big deal to miss this one, as I was sure there would be plenty of NCAA tourney games to watch in the years ahead.
Sounds familiar.. not sure if I was in Ft. Lauderdale or Bermuda.. but same deal.. plenty more to come. And in the last appearance, I said I'd make it for the 2nd game after we surely would beat ASU. My only Rutgers NCAA was up in Providence.. and I didn't even stay for the famous GTown-Princeton game (that Princeton should have won, that 3 point shot was a FOUL!). but I had to race back home to hit up bars late.
When he was still in N.J. in1992 & 1993 Roy was the analyst on NJN’s games which were just about the only TV coverage we got back then. He wasn’t a polished announcer but Roy was an enthusiastic homer.
I was at that last victory over SW Louisiana on a horrible rainy night on March 18, 1983 in Hartford. I also returned Sunday March 20, 1983 when we lost to St. John's led by Chris Mullin. The first half was back and forth but they had Mullin hit every key shot in the second half. I sure hope we can win tomorrow over Maryland and make it back to the NCAA. 29 years is long enough.
I am very sorry to hear that Sam Randolph passed away in an automobile accident. I also didn't know that.
I am very sorry to hear that Sam Randolph passed away in an automobile accident. I also didn't know that.
Okay....
First off this article is dead nuts ...I can explain this ...NOT justify it...but explain it
The foundation of the 1983 NCAA team was a group of five seniors, four of which came in the same class (Roy Hinson, Kevin Black, Rich Brunson, Chris Neiberlein) and Kentucky transfer Clarence Tillman. These guys arrival came at the end of the era ...when the last of the 76 final four guys (James Bailey and Basel Anderson) graduates in 1979, with a sweet 16 appearance and James Bailey draftee 6 or 7 (I forget which) in the first round
While returned Kevin Troy for two years and Daryl Strickland for one...it was thought of rebuilding time for Rutgers after the 70s produced such amazing results and Rutgers was all of the sudden a frosh team
Rutgers fans were used to winning...and the freshman group in 1979-1980 was competitive at times (losing to top five Syracuse at home by 5, and playing UNC in overtime in the garden )...but played like ...freshman ...and finished 14-14
More relevant, to the fans, this was a group thar was suited to play in the half court and the days of “run Rutgers run” was not what these guys did. Ton young knew that ...and he played a much slower pace.
The Soph year for the group was a frustrating year. They played a million close games against great team...losing by 1 on the road to at Johns, two at home to duke, 5 to Bobby Knight and national champ Indiana, 7 to national runner up UNC, and a lot of other close losses. They had a winning record at 16-14, but lost so many close games that it cost them a NIT bid. The ncaa was still 40 Teams back then, and had it been today’s 68....that team probably gets a NIT bid
The team turned the corner the junior year....and had a lot of great wins. John battle was an out of control freshman, Brian Ellerbe filled in for Rick Brunson who missed most of the year..:and Chris remmley was the 8th man. Best St. John’s and Chris Mullen, best Top 10 UCLA and number 6 West Virginia, Pitt, and others. At 19-9, this was a ncaa team if the field was 68 (and not 40)...probably a 10 type seed...but played in the NIT, beating Iona then losing Purdue
That particular team ../really slowed it down. Played a lot of games in the 50s and 60s. And thought it was successful, in the era of the very soon to explode big east and television ...the combination of slowing it down and the big east quick growing popularity ...really left Rutgers scrambling for attention even though on the court it won and was a tough out
The entire team returned for 1982-1983 except for Darius griffin ...and set their goal for one thing. NCAA. Team committed to playing the half court game around Roy hinson protecting the rim ...and played him into a first round pick. John battle emerged. Team emerged ...and matured. But this time, snuck up on no one. Nationally ranked Louisville in the garden decided it needed 12 minutes of second half four corners to beat Rutgers ...and Greg Jones and west va on CBS would not let Rutgers have another RAC moment. The team, in the newly named Atlantic 10, would race out to a 20-4 start ...but not be nationally ranked. It beat up on everyone real good, but unlike 81-82, didn’t have a marque win. The team lost a couple down the stretch ...and played temple and some coach named John Chaney ...who got best Rutgers in Atlantic 10 semi finals
Rutgers has to sweat it out ../the ncaa went to 48 teams that year. Most Ru fans were sure that the big east popularity and the lack of a marquee win on their resume would send Rutgers back to the NIT.
Rutgers name for called at the 9 seed ...setting up the game that would become the last ncaa win in program history...
Rutgers fans ...however, had bigger eyes set....seeing that if they won, they would draw the one ..St. John’s
They wanted St. John’s...the new York team that stole all of the thuder in the big east under Louie carneeca. The same Louie that stole the 1979 sweet sixteen game from us in Greensboro...and a likely return to the final four. The same at Johns that Rutgers beat the year before by a dozen in the RAC
Rutgers played a good game against St. John’s ...and really had them on the ropes in the first half ...up maybe 8 points. Like 1979, Rutgers didn’t get the kill and let Chris Mullin and St. John’s hang around ...who took a late first half run to reverse the Rutgers 8-9 point lead to a 1 point St. John’s lead. A hobbled Roy Hinson left Rutgers with far fewer offensive answers and St. John’s pulled away late for the win
That was a very good Rutgers team. The problem was ...and how history unfairly perceives it, was it wasn’t the pizazz of the 70s teams with Phil, Eddie, Mike,and Hollis. It was a grind it out half court team. Combine that with the flair of the big east, the entire program was overshadowed...and that team especially
It was a very good team ...that perhaps needed a bit tougher schedule to get them more ready.
But certainly ...the Roy Hinson era has been long over looked and deserves its due at the RAC pronto
First off this article is dead nuts ...I can explain this ...NOT justify it...but explain it
The foundation of the 1983 NCAA team was a group of five seniors, four of which came in the same class (Roy Hinson, Kevin Black, Rich Brunson, Chris Neiberlein) and Kentucky transfer Clarence Tillman. These guys arrival came at the end of the era ...when the last of the 76 final four guys (James Bailey and Basel Anderson) graduates in 1979, with a sweet 16 appearance and James Bailey draftee 6 or 7 (I forget which) in the first round
While returned Kevin Troy for two years and Daryl Strickland for one...it was thought of rebuilding time for Rutgers after the 70s produced such amazing results and Rutgers was all of the sudden a frosh team
Rutgers fans were used to winning...and the freshman group in 1979-1980 was competitive at times (losing to top five Syracuse at home by 5, and playing UNC in overtime in the garden )...but played like ...freshman ...and finished 14-14
More relevant, to the fans, this was a group thar was suited to play in the half court and the days of “run Rutgers run” was not what these guys did. Ton young knew that ...and he played a much slower pace.
The Soph year for the group was a frustrating year. They played a million close games against great team...losing by 1 on the road to at Johns, two at home to duke, 5 to Bobby Knight and national champ Indiana, 7 to national runner up UNC, and a lot of other close losses. They had a winning record at 16-14, but lost so many close games that it cost them a NIT bid. The ncaa was still 40 Teams back then, and had it been today’s 68....that team probably gets a NIT bid
The team turned the corner the junior year....and had a lot of great wins. John battle was an out of control freshman, Brian Ellerbe filled in for Rick Brunson who missed most of the year..:and Chris remmley was the 8th man. Best St. John’s and Chris Mullen, best Top 10 UCLA and number 6 West Virginia, Pitt, and others. At 19-9, this was a ncaa team if the field was 68 (and not 40)...probably a 10 type seed...but played in the NIT, beating Iona then losing Purdue
That particular team ../really slowed it down. Played a lot of games in the 50s and 60s. And thought it was successful, in the era of the very soon to explode big east and television ...the combination of slowing it down and the big east quick growing popularity ...really left Rutgers scrambling for attention even though on the court it won and was a tough out
The entire team returned for 1982-1983 except for Darius griffin ...and set their goal for one thing. NCAA. Team committed to playing the half court game around Roy hinson protecting the rim ...and played him into a first round pick. John battle emerged. Team emerged ...and matured. But this time, snuck up on no one. Nationally ranked Louisville in the garden decided it needed 12 minutes of second half four corners to beat Rutgers ...and Greg Jones and west va on CBS would not let Rutgers have another RAC moment. The team, in the newly named Atlantic 10, would race out to a 20-4 start ...but not be nationally ranked. It beat up on everyone real good, but unlike 81-82, didn’t have a marque win. The team lost a couple down the stretch ...and played temple and some coach named John Chaney ...who got best Rutgers in Atlantic 10 semi finals
Rutgers has to sweat it out ../the ncaa went to 48 teams that year. Most Ru fans were sure that the big east popularity and the lack of a marquee win on their resume would send Rutgers back to the NIT.
Rutgers name for called at the 9 seed ...setting up the game that would become the last ncaa win in program history...
Rutgers fans ...however, had bigger eyes set....seeing that if they won, they would draw the one ..St. John’s
They wanted St. John’s...the new York team that stole all of the thuder in the big east under Louie carneeca. The same Louie that stole the 1979 sweet sixteen game from us in Greensboro...and a likely return to the final four. The same at Johns that Rutgers beat the year before by a dozen in the RAC
Rutgers played a good game against St. John’s ...and really had them on the ropes in the first half ...up maybe 8 points. Like 1979, Rutgers didn’t get the kill and let Chris Mullin and St. John’s hang around ...who took a late first half run to reverse the Rutgers 8-9 point lead to a 1 point St. John’s lead. A hobbled Roy Hinson left Rutgers with far fewer offensive answers and St. John’s pulled away late for the win
That was a very good Rutgers team. The problem was ...and how history unfairly perceives it, was it wasn’t the pizazz of the 70s teams with Phil, Eddie, Mike,and Hollis. It was a grind it out half court team. Combine that with the flair of the big east, the entire program was overshadowed...and that team especially
It was a very good team ...that perhaps needed a bit tougher schedule to get them more ready.
But certainly ...the Roy Hinson era has been long over looked and deserves its due at the RAC pronto
It was something to see Hinson rise up from the paint and swat away shot after shot.
+1
This is my childhood team. It was the first season that my dad started to bring me to games. I was very young, but old enough to remember. Hinson and Battle were larger than life to me back then.
I haven't forgotten them. My husband and I were in Hartford for both games - sat down next to Bill Raftery in a bar after the first game and chatted with him for a bit. I hope Pikiell arranges some type of recognition in the near future - that was a really good team and John Battle is one of our all time favorites.
Back in HS Roy blocked one of my shots from the deep corner and I swear he had a foot in the lane. It was humbling to see the ball 3 rows back in the stands . The Sultan of Swat.