(12-15-2016 10:13 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote: (12-15-2016 08:29 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: Men are currently 8-2, women are 6-2 (hoping to go 7-2 tonight). I tried doing some quick research to see our best combined men's and women's NC records in basketball but I got tired of going back and forth between the men's and women's fact books online.
It looks like the best recent NC records for the men have been 12-4 (1991-92), 9-3 (2011-12) and 8-2 (2002-03). In 2004-05, we went a combined 13-8 for the men and women - that actually might be the highest combined W-L percentage (?) as some of the better men's years were just average women's years, and vice-versa.
In any case, we're probably looking at an unofficial record or near-record as the remaining non-conference games for both the men and women (outside of Pitt) aren't that tough it appears. Of course that's assuming the women do win tonight (and as of this post, they're in a dogfight).
IIRC, the 1981-82 was 8-4 before they played their 1st conference game (against Phi Slama Jama in Hakeem's 1st collegiate game.
Those 8 wins including beating U. of San Francisco on the road (led by future NBA starters Quintin Dailey and Bill Cartwright) and winning the Rainbow Classic in Maui (cheerleaders did not get to make that trip) which included a win over ACC's NC State.
Not knocking this year's team, who has tremendous promise, but when you talk about best non-conference start you should probably factor in the level of non-conference competition (which is independent of our conference - - - that said 8-2 is better than 8-4, so let's beat Pitt).
That 1981-82 team was led by seniors Ricky Pierce, Bobby Tudor and Willis Wilson. They had an exceptionally good cheerleading squad that year as well.
Rick, I remember that 1981/82 team well - as that was our Senior year and I attended just about every home game that year, as you obviously did as well. Besides the names you mentioned, Kenny Austin was also on that team. Steve Trauber was a walk-on around that time period, although he may have not played that particular season. Also, I think Kyle Frazier was the team's student manager.
In my mind, that was one of Rice's strongest teams, even though we only finished with an overall record of around 0.500. The SWC was packed that year. The Cougars were one year away from becoming Phi Slamma Jamma - but were still loaded with talent and made it to their first of 3 straight Final Fours. That was the year Rob Williams was their star, and Akeem (later Hakeem) was just a Freshman. Drexler and Michael Young were sophomores. Besides UH, Texas and Arkansas were also top-ranked teams. In fact, we beat the number 5 ranked Texas team by around 40 points at Autry that season. I think that game was the highlight of the season, not counting the Rainbow Classic championship. TCU had Darryl Browder back then - a super point guard who always seemed to light us up. We lost two heart-breaking games to them that year - both by 1 point. Tech and Baylor were also very strong. Bottom line, there's no comparison to the schedule that team played versus the ones played by post-SWC teams.
I have a quick Rainbow Classic story. My Dad was stationed at Schofield Barracks during the late 60's, early 70's (where the book/movie "From Here to Eternity" took place). I was age 10 thru 12 during those years. At that time, holiday basketball tournaments barely existed. The most prestigious one in the country was the Rainbow Classic, which was always held between Christmas and New Year's, and invited 6 teams from around the country to play. Those 6 teams were joined by the University of Hawaii and whichever military base team was leading the Armed Forces league at the time of the tournament. Schofield, Tripler, the Kaneohe Marine base, Barbers Point Naval Base, SUBPAC (Submarine Pacific), etc., all had teams. My Dad would often take me to see those Armed Forces league games - which were top-notch, as the teams were often loaded with former college players who had been drafted and were now in the service. He also would buy us tickets to attend Rainbow Classic games. Our first year there we got to see Pete Maravich's LSU team play SUBPAC in the opening game of the tournament. SUBPAC got beat, but they "held" Pistol Pete to 34 points. The next night Maravich lit up St. John's for 55 points. In the finals, LSU was stunned by a spunky Yale team, losing something like 85-82. Still, Maravich was the toast of the town. Everybody in Hawaii caught Pistol Pete fever.
In the following years we got to see Villanova (with Howard Porter and Chris Ford), Minnesota (with Dave Winfield and Ron Behagen), and a lot of other top teams play. So, when Rice ended up going to, and winning, the Rainbow Classic, it meant the world to my Dad and I. We both could relate to what a big deal that was. I'm trying to think of any Rice team that has accomplished something like that since - and can't really think of anything that matches what that team did.
