History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
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- ARD
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History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I've often heard that in the 70s (and maybe the 80s?), URI would play a number of regular season "home" games in Providence. (The picture above is URI/St. Johns at the Civic Center from 1976) I have heard anecdotally that it was where "big games" would be played, as well as maybe being part of a regular weekend schedule where weeknight games would be at Keaney and weekend games in Providence (or some variation like that). The season-by-season pages at CBB reference list all home games in the 70s as being at Keaney, but a few of them have jpegs of actual schedules from the time, and the notations on those indicate nearly half of the home games were held at the Providence Civic Center at some point.
I was wondering if anyone has more specifics about this...when it started, how it actually worked, how/why it ended. Were games only held at the CC, or did they have them earlier at the Rhode Island Auditorium? Were they well attended? Were they more (or less) likely to be carried on local (or national) TV? I'm just interested; like I say, there's reference to it in lots of places but no real solid details. I'd love to hear about any sources people have or have found, or firsthand experiences from back then.
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- Frank Keaney
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Puck,
URI moved some games to the Providence Civic Center so that they could draw bigger crowds and therefore attract higher caliber teams to R.I. to play. URI did not play all of their games in the PCC.
When we did have games there the school often provided busses at no cost for students to make the round trip.
In 1976 URI played #1 ranked Michigan with Ricky Green, Phil Hubbard, Steve Grote in the 1st round of the Industrial National Bank Classic at the PCC. Industrial National Bank became Fleet Financial and later taken over by Bank of America.
PC played Texas in the other first round game.
In the 1st game many PC fans came early to get a look at Freshman Sly Williams who they lost on the infamous Amtrak Train ride from New Haven to Providence but Sly got off at the Kingston Train Station and enrolled at URI. This infuriated Dave Gavitt and PC Alumni.
Sly scored 32 points against the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines. PC fans booed Sly at the start of the game but Sly got more and more cheers as the game went in. Gavitt was not cheering.
Sly was amazing. Excellent left handed shooter with superb accuracy around 10-15 feet from the hoop. Sly could also hit from long range. Excellent rebounder, passer and defender.
Sly made the All Tournament Team as just a Freshman.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/vault.si.c ... dly-little
URI moved some games to the Providence Civic Center so that they could draw bigger crowds and therefore attract higher caliber teams to R.I. to play. URI did not play all of their games in the PCC.
When we did have games there the school often provided busses at no cost for students to make the round trip.
In 1976 URI played #1 ranked Michigan with Ricky Green, Phil Hubbard, Steve Grote in the 1st round of the Industrial National Bank Classic at the PCC. Industrial National Bank became Fleet Financial and later taken over by Bank of America.
PC played Texas in the other first round game.
In the 1st game many PC fans came early to get a look at Freshman Sly Williams who they lost on the infamous Amtrak Train ride from New Haven to Providence but Sly got off at the Kingston Train Station and enrolled at URI. This infuriated Dave Gavitt and PC Alumni.
Sly scored 32 points against the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines. PC fans booed Sly at the start of the game but Sly got more and more cheers as the game went in. Gavitt was not cheering.
Sly was amazing. Excellent left handed shooter with superb accuracy around 10-15 feet from the hoop. Sly could also hit from long range. Excellent rebounder, passer and defender.
Sly made the All Tournament Team as just a Freshman.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/vault.si.c ... dly-little
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- Ernie Calverley
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
........it was a mistake.......no?
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- ARD
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I absolutely hated attending URI games at the PCC. From everything to paying for parking to sitting in those horrible seats.
Pictures of Pee Cee all over and those awful stickers to cover the floor.
At the time it was the only way big schools would play us. Seen some really amazing talent come in. Just never felt like a home court advantage.
Even the games against Pee Cee where it was URI home game had Pee Cee logos on the court.
I always said we should forever be great full for the Ryan Center. On campus, comfort, free parking makes the Ryan center amazing.
I do wish more people would go to games but the games where it’s packed is an amazing atmosphere and experience.
So many other schools would love to have an arena on campus like the Ryan Center. Yes I’m talking about you Pee Cee.
Pictures of Pee Cee all over and those awful stickers to cover the floor.
At the time it was the only way big schools would play us. Seen some really amazing talent come in. Just never felt like a home court advantage.
Even the games against Pee Cee where it was URI home game had Pee Cee logos on the court.
I always said we should forever be great full for the Ryan Center. On campus, comfort, free parking makes the Ryan center amazing.
I do wish more people would go to games but the games where it’s packed is an amazing atmosphere and experience.
So many other schools would love to have an arena on campus like the Ryan Center. Yes I’m talking about you Pee Cee.
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- Art Stephenson
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
The only thing I remember was taking the from school stopping at the store on rte 2 and piling out of the bus on the west exchange off ramp because of traffic..
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- Cuttino Mobley
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Rhody v Pee-C games were not allowed to be held in Kingston any longer once it was built.
Some years they were called "neutral" site games, but from at least the mid-80's until 2002,
they were home-and-home, with the designated home team switching every year.
Rhody home games were odd years, and Friars home games were even years...
(Note that the 2020 game could have been on Smith Hill, but they scheduled FDU instead.)
Sometime in the 90's, they painted the Friars logo on the court, but kept the original sections,
with the Civic Center logo, for Rhody home games or the NCAA Tournament rounds held there.
But when Dunkin' Donuts purchased the naming rights, they said we couldn't use them any longer.
So the last Rhody "home" game there, in 2002, saw the Rams "host" the Friars and the logo at
midcourt was their hideous mascot.
2003 finally saw the Friars travel back to Kingston for the first time in about 30 years.
They stayed in a hotel in Newport (!) and iirc, a big snowstorm threatened to close the bridges.
They would then have been forced to drive around the Bay, back up through Providence, to get
to the game. But the state was able to get the bridges clear, and a massive crowd saw Rhody
win a thrilling game by 10 points. I'm thinking 87-77 was the final. Good times!
Some years they were called "neutral" site games, but from at least the mid-80's until 2002,
they were home-and-home, with the designated home team switching every year.
Rhody home games were odd years, and Friars home games were even years...
(Note that the 2020 game could have been on Smith Hill, but they scheduled FDU instead.)
Sometime in the 90's, they painted the Friars logo on the court, but kept the original sections,
with the Civic Center logo, for Rhody home games or the NCAA Tournament rounds held there.
But when Dunkin' Donuts purchased the naming rights, they said we couldn't use them any longer.
So the last Rhody "home" game there, in 2002, saw the Rams "host" the Friars and the logo at
midcourt was their hideous mascot.
2003 finally saw the Friars travel back to Kingston for the first time in about 30 years.
They stayed in a hotel in Newport (!) and iirc, a big snowstorm threatened to close the bridges.
They would then have been forced to drive around the Bay, back up through Providence, to get
to the game. But the state was able to get the bridges clear, and a massive crowd saw Rhody
win a thrilling game by 10 points. I'm thinking 87-77 was the final. Good times!
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- Ernie Calverley
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
During the Harrick years we played a lot of great games at PCC. Plus Jim was earning a piece of the gate so he wanted more butts in seats than he could get at Keaney. My all time favorite Rhody game at PCC was the 1987 game when Silk, Tommy and Co just ran the Friars off the court. Think we won by 20+. Chiesa was their coach.
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- Ernie Calverley
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
......Gordie Chiesa......was that the worst ever PC hire......?
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- Ernie Calverley
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Him and Keno
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- Abdul Fox
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
It was always funny for the URI-PC game when it was Rhody's home game. Inevitably there would be many PC fans complaining that URI fans were sitting in their season tix seats for the game. They couldn't understand why!!!
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- Carlton Owens
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Similarly, it used to piss me off when mental-hospital inmates were in prime seats in the Ryan Center. One year, a couple of them were acting like typical Fryuh Faih-weathah Faithful — swearing their heads off. Little Red, having had enough, told them, “HEY! SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!” To everyone’s surprise, they did.
I still think that anyone who gives his tickets to anyone associated with the mental hospital should have his season-ticket privileges revoked permanently.
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- Art Stephenson
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
for me, the memory that stands out the most for Rhody having 'home' games at the PCC was in 1996, UMASS came into town #1 with Camby, Travieso, Padilla, Bright, Dingle. Even though I thought it was BS that URI had to play PC up there as a home game every other year, that place was loud as hell for the UMASS game...13,000+ i think
I think my dad hated UMASS cause of Calipari maybe more then he hated PC at the time. I think it was on ESPN and the game was at 9pm, becasue I remember on the drive up with the old man, he said 'hey I cleared it with your mother, you arent going to school tomorrow since tonights game will end late'. Rhody lost 64-59...they always got it to a one possession game, but couldnt get the lead late. I hated Donta Bright even more after that game, always thought he was cheap and played a little dirty
I think my dad hated UMASS cause of Calipari maybe more then he hated PC at the time. I think it was on ESPN and the game was at 9pm, becasue I remember on the drive up with the old man, he said 'hey I cleared it with your mother, you arent going to school tomorrow since tonights game will end late'. Rhody lost 64-59...they always got it to a one possession game, but couldnt get the lead late. I hated Donta Bright even more after that game, always thought he was cheap and played a little dirty
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- Kenny Green
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I kind of liked those games. Remember URI was playing their home games at Keaney - max 3500 capacity. They had to pay Daddy-O some $$$ and where they needed additional cash from the tickets - they played at PCC. Some really big games - I have fond memories of some big ones Xavier / UMASS. I think Lamar's first game was at the PCC vs TCU - we were tied near the end of the game. The rest of the team just spread the floor and Lamar was 1 on 1 from the beyond the key and took his man and drove to the hoop with a smooth finger roll finish to win the game. Lamar was all smiles.
The Ryan Center is without a doubt a much better home court advantage but having the pregame and postgame options that Providence provides - it was nice to get rev'd up prior to the game.
The Ryan Center is without a doubt a much better home court advantage but having the pregame and postgame options that Providence provides - it was nice to get rev'd up prior to the game.
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- Carlton Owens
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
IIRC, Damont Collins came up big that night. Damont was one of my favorites — he played much bigger and tougher than his size, generously listed at 6-7, 220.wpbrown8267 wrote: ↑3 years ago for me, the memory that stands out the most for Rhody having 'home' games at the PCC was in 1996, UMASS came into town #1 with Camby, Travieso, Padilla, Bright, Dingle. Even though I thought it was BS that URI had to play PC up there as a home game every other year, that place was loud as hell for the UMASS game...13,000+ i think
I think my dad hated UMASS cause of Calipari maybe more then he hated PC at the time. I think it was on ESPN and the game was at 9pm, becasue I remember on the drive up with the old man, he said 'hey I cleared it with your mother, you arent going to school tomorrow since tonights game will end late'. Rhody lost 64-59...they always got it to a one possession game, but couldnt get the lead late. I hated Donta Bright even more after that game, always thought he was cheap and played a little dirty
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- Jeff Kent
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Back when I was a photographer for the Cigar I would have to go up to the games at the pcc and leave at halftime to get back to the Union. I’d then spend a few hours processing the film as quick as I could to get the shots to the reporters. First time it was around 2am when I got done. Couldn’t figure out how to get out of the union because the main doors were all locked. Someone eventually showed me the back way out. Seats at pcc were great. Sat right on the court(butt actually on the floor) opposite the cheer leaders. Too bad the team wasn’t better.
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- Frank Keaney
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
23 in that pic is Jiggy Williamson, my all time favorite Ram. Stanley Wright is on the right.Puck Frovidence wrote: ↑3 years ago
I've often heard that in the 70s (and maybe the 80s?), URI would play a number of regular season "home" games in Providence. (The picture above is URI/St. Johns at the Civic Center from 1976) I have heard anecdotally that it was where "big games" would be played, as well as maybe being part of a regular weekend schedule where weeknight games would be at Keaney and weekend games in Providence (or some variation like that). The season-by-season pages at CBB reference list all home games in the 70s as being at Keaney, but a few of them have jpegs of actual schedules from the time, and the notations on those indicate nearly half of the home games were held at the Providence Civic Center at some point.
I was wondering if anyone has more specifics about this...when it started, how it actually worked, how/why it ended. Were games only held at the CC, or did they have them earlier at the Rhode Island Auditorium? Were they well attended? Were they more (or less) likely to be carried on local (or national) TV? I'm just interested; like I say, there's reference to it in lots of places but no real solid details. I'd love to hear about any sources people have or have found, or firsthand experiences from back then.
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- Art Stephenson
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Great thread! We did get Washington State and DePaul to come to Keaney but most of the quality games were in Providence. Best dunk game was when we beat the Friars 86-42. I had an usher stand next to my seat because I was giving Mullaney? to much flack. For you trivia guys, I sponsored a contest on the chat board as to who would score the last points at Keaney. I was a Dino Daniels foul shot. Great memories !
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- Tom Garrick
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
My first game at the PCC was 1998 vs Kenyon Martin and Cincinnati, don't remember if I took the bus up or got a ride from campus. A week in advance sitting at 2-0 with this to be Cincy's first regular season game, it seemed like a dream matchup between Odom and Martin. However the previous Saturday Rhody got curb-stomped by a mediocre PC team 87-63, and the Cincy game did not go much better (70-53 loss). The first signs that Odom would not offset the losses of Tyson and Cat. Although the team rallied to win 7 of their last 9 including the famous Temple buzzer-beater to get into the tourney.
The only part I liked about the civic center games was the quick walk from Trinity Brewhouse across to the game.
The only part I liked about the civic center games was the quick walk from Trinity Brewhouse across to the game.
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- Sly Williams
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I never liked the URI "home" game at the dunkin dump. Saw many good games there though both vs. PC as well as other opponents, including Texas in one of Penders' first seasons there. While the games were exciting, I'm much happier with the Ryan Center and would much rather play there.
That 1993 game vs. UMass that went down to the wire with URI winning a close one was one of the best - a close 71-68 win over #19 UMass. One of the loudest I've ever heard at the dunk, but when Damont Collins if memory serves went to the line to shoot free throws late, you could hear a pin drop, followed by huge cheers after each shot fell. It gave Rhody the lead for good.
That 1993 game vs. UMass that went down to the wire with URI winning a close one was one of the best - a close 71-68 win over #19 UMass. One of the loudest I've ever heard at the dunk, but when Damont Collins if memory serves went to the line to shoot free throws late, you could hear a pin drop, followed by huge cheers after each shot fell. It gave Rhody the lead for good.
Last edited by steviep123 3 years ago, edited 1 time in total.
Bleed Keaney Blue!
”I'm not coming there to be in the top 3 of the Atlantic 10. I'm coming to win the damn thing!”
”I'm not coming there to be in the top 3 of the Atlantic 10. I'm coming to win the damn thing!”
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- Frank Keaney
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I was at that game too. It was in '79, so Gavitt was the PC coach then.neil wrote: ↑3 years ago Great thread! We did get Washington State and DePaul to come to Keaney but most of the quality games were in Providence. Best dunk game was when we beat the Friars 86-42. I had an usher stand next to my seat because I was giving Mullaney? to much flack. For you trivia guys, I sponsored a contest on the chat board as to who would score the last points at Keaney. I was a Dino Daniels foul shot. Great memories !
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- Tyson Wheeler
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Here Is what I found in my data base on URI at the PCC. Sorry for the eye test. Note seasons are sequenced by column descending, but in three separate pages. Our last "home" game there was a 71-59 loss to PC on Dec. 1, 2001 in Jim Baron's first season . The Ryan Center opened the next season, 2002-03.
1976-77 1979-80* 1981-82 1985-86 Record: 13-13 Record: 15-13 Record: 10-17 Record: 9-19 LaSalle 4,290 Connecticut 7,136 Rutgers 5,107 No home games at PCC Providence 12,150 Old Dominion 5,691 West Virginia 2,426 Syracuse 7,642 Syracuse 8,770 Pittsburgh 3,548 1986-87 Connecticut 6,207 St. John’s 5,710 St. Bona. 3,720 Record: 20-10 Providence 9,142 Duquesne 3,103 1977-78 St. Joseph’s 3,629 Rutgers 2,604 Record: 24-7 1982-83 1980-81** Record: 9-19 1987-88 Connecticut 5,194 Record: 21-8 Record: 28-7 South Carolina 6,132 Holy Cross 2,202 Wake Forest 3,257 Weber State 4,880 Providence 13,005 Providence 12,150 Duquesne 5,303 1983-84 GW 5,450 Connecticut 7,765 Record: 6-22 Rutgers 7,124 1978-79 Pittsburgh 7,799 Record: 20-9 Holy Cross 9,790 Providence 7,238 1988-89 St. Bona 6,593 West Virginia 3,336 Record: 13-15 Brigham Young 7,011 LaSalle 6,994 LaSalle 7,646 1984-85 Brown 3,126 Detroit 8,016 Record: 8-20 U. of DC 5,912 Providence 11,716 Connecticut 8,469 West Virginia 2,669 * Last season played home and home series with PC ** Last season played home and home series with UConn ************************************************************** 1989-90 1993-94 1996-97 S. Francisco 7,867 Record: 15-13 Record: 11-16 Record: 20-10 La Salle 6,613 GW 8,670 Providence 10,107 Providence 13,031 Minnesota 9,266 Temple 8,893 Rutgers 7,124 Wake Forest 6,975 St. Joseph’s 7,368 UMass 10,771 Massachusetts 7,820 Massachusetts 12,931 1990-91 Record: 11-17 1994-95 1997-98 1999-2000 Record: 7-20 Record: 25-9 Record: 5-25 No homes games at PCC Arizona 5,563 Providence 12,681 Tulsa 4,317 1991-92 Massachusetts 13,100 UNLV 6,429 Providence 8,906 Record: 22-10 GW 4,452 Ohio 5,571 Xavier 4,583 Rutgers 4,857 Massachusetts 12,412 St. Joseph’s 3,438 Providence 12,285 UAB 5,052 California 6,536 Temple 5,349 Texas 12,022 Temple 8,485 UMass 5,335 1995-96 Xavier 6,229 1992-93 Record: 20-14 Record: 19-11 2000-01 Providence 12,543 1998-99 Record: 7-23 Massachusetts 12,512 Va. Common. 4,053 Record: 21-13 Xavier 5,655 Xavier 4,113 Massachusetts 13,106 Cincinnati 7,719 UMass 4,355 Texas 6,020 Wisconsin 7,021 GW 3,255 *************************************************************** 2001-02 Record: 8-20 Providence 6,095
Last edited by Obadiah 3 years ago, edited 2 times in total.
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- Ernie Calverley
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Saw many a URI "home" game at the PCC back in the old days versus the following opponents - UConn (ECAC-NE finals), PC, Holy Cross, Syracuse, St John's, Texas, UMass, Wake Forest, Arizona, UAB, Rutgers, St Joe's, Xavier, GW, Charleston (NIT), Minnesota, UNLV, California, Temple, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, and Tulsa. Used to buy the PCC mini pack in the 90's for all the games there.
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- Jeff Kent
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Just to add to the memory...wasn't there but watched on TV...the man guarding Lamar was TCU All American and future NBA player Lee Nailon... most memorable was the smile on Lamar,s face as he approached Nailon at the foul line and with one quick move went around and dropped the finger roll... knew then we had a live oneURIFIJI wrote: ↑3 years ago I kind of liked those games. Remember URI was playing their home games at Keaney - max 3500 capacity. They had to pay Daddy-O some $$$ and where they needed additional cash from the tickets - they played at PCC. Some really big games - I have fond memories of some big ones Xavier / UMASS. I think Lamar's first game was at the PCC vs TCU - we were tied near the end of the game. The rest of the team just spread the floor and Lamar was 1 on 1 from the beyond the key and took his man and drove to the hoop with a smooth finger roll finish to win the game. Lamar was all smiles.
The Ryan Center is without a doubt a much better home court advantage but having the pregame and postgame options that Providence provides - it was nice to get rev'd up prior to the game.
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- Art Stephenson
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Before the dunk in the sixties, the rams had home and homes with Fordham, St. John’s and Manhattan at Keaney. Anyone with me at the great rainout against St. John’s?
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I think that was the 93 game at the dunk, Damont was early 90's if my memory serves me right. Although completely agree with you, played a lot bigger . Him and ARD were very similar, small PF playing a lot bigger, both were pretty tough tooRhode_Island_Red wrote: ↑3 years agoIIRC, Damont Collins came up big that night. Damont was one of my favorites — he played much bigger and tougher than his size, generously listed at 6-7, 220.wpbrown8267 wrote: ↑3 years ago for me, the memory that stands out the most for Rhody having 'home' games at the PCC was in 1996, UMASS came into town #1 with Camby, Travieso, Padilla, Bright, Dingle. Even though I thought it was BS that URI had to play PC up there as a home game every other year, that place was loud as hell for the UMASS game...13,000+ i think
I think my dad hated UMASS cause of Calipari maybe more then he hated PC at the time. I think it was on ESPN and the game was at 9pm, becasue I remember on the drive up with the old man, he said 'hey I cleared it with your mother, you arent going to school tomorrow since tonights game will end late'. Rhody lost 64-59...they always got it to a one possession game, but couldnt get the lead late. I hated Donta Bright even more after that game, always thought he was cheap and played a little dirty
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- Carlton Owens
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
You're right, Damont graduated in 1993. Antonio had a better handle -- in fact, he used to help bring the ball up against a press -- but Damont was more like a little bull in a china shop.
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- Tom Garrick
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I actually took a charge from Damont in a pickup basketball game at Mackal on a fast break. While it was happening I said "Oh, shit." loud enough to get a good laugh from everyone. He missed the dunk, got the rebound, and dunked it for real while I was still on the ground. Good times.Rhode_Island_Red wrote: ↑3 years ago You're right, Damont graduated in 1993. Antonio had a better handle -- in fact, he used to help bring the ball up against a press -- but Damont was more like a little bull in a china shop.
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- Michael Andersen
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
We played Texas when Penders was coaching. We blew the out. Loudest I’ve ever heard the civic center was when I believe Samuel got fouled on a dunk. Place went crazy.
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- Jeff Kent
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
In the 70s we played 2 games at the Dunk each year. Each had a home game. In ‘78 we played 3. Split during the regular season and beat PC in the ECAC final to win the automatic bid to the Dance when there were only 32 teams
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
ramster wrote: ↑3 years ago Puck,
URI moved some games to the Providence Civic Center so that they could draw bigger crowds and therefore attract higher caliber teams to R.I. to play. URI did not play all of their games in the PCC.
When we did have games there the school often provided busses at no cost for students to make the round trip.
In 1976 URI played #1 ranked Michigan with Ricky Green, Phil Hubbard, Steve Grote in the 1st round of the Industrial National Bank Classic at the PCC. Industrial National Bank became Fleet Financial and later taken over by Bank of America.
PC played Texas in the other first round game.
In the 1st game many PC fans came early to get a look at Freshman Sly Williams who they lost on the infamous Amtrak Train ride from New Haven to Providence but Sly got off at the Kingston Train Station and enrolled at URI. This infuriated Dave Gavitt and PC Alumni.
Sly scored 32 points against the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines. PC fans booed Sly at the start of the game but Sly got more and more cheers as the game went in. Gavitt was not cheering.
Sly was amazing. Excellent left handed shooter with superb accuracy around 10-15 feet from the hoop. Sly could also hit from long range. Excellent rebounder, passer and defender.
Sly made the All Tournament Team as just a Freshman.
Saw Sly play in HS. CT and New Haven in particular was a basketball hotbed back in those days.
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- Frank Keaney
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
And then the Big East was born...UCH21377 wrote: ↑3 years agoramster wrote: ↑3 years ago Puck,
URI moved some games to the Providence Civic Center so that they could draw bigger crowds and therefore attract higher caliber teams to R.I. to play. URI did not play all of their games in the PCC.
When we did have games there the school often provided busses at no cost for students to make the round trip.
In 1976 URI played #1 ranked Michigan with Ricky Green, Phil Hubbard, Steve Grote in the 1st round of the Industrial National Bank Classic at the PCC. Industrial National Bank became Fleet Financial and later taken over by Bank of America.
PC played Texas in the other first round game.
In the 1st game many PC fans came early to get a look at Freshman Sly Williams who they lost on the infamous Amtrak Train ride from New Haven to Providence but Sly got off at the Kingston Train Station and enrolled at URI. This infuriated Dave Gavitt and PC Alumni.
Sly scored 32 points against the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines. PC fans booed Sly at the start of the game but Sly got more and more cheers as the game went in. Gavitt was not cheering.
Sly was amazing. Excellent left handed shooter with superb accuracy around 10-15 feet from the hoop. Sly could also hit from long range. Excellent rebounder, passer and defender.
Sly made the All Tournament Team as just a Freshman.
Saw Sly play in HS. CT and New Haven in particular was a basketball hotbed back in those days.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/vault.si.c ... dly-little
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- Carlton Owens
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
I remember that game against Detroit in 1979. Detroit had future NBA players Earl Cureton, Terry Duerod and (IIRC) John Long. Sly went off for 44, and he scored 28 of our last 32 points. Detroit couldn’t do anything with him if they threw a net over him.
Proudly supplying the Internet with online wisecracks, impertinent comments and loathing of all things mental hospital since 1996.
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- Art Stephenson
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Red, I think we lost that game by 1 or 2 points.
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- Frank Keaney
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- Frank Keaney
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
This was a great game that I attended loved every second of itbigappleram wrote: ↑3 years ago During the Harrick years we played a lot of great games at PCC. Plus Jim was earning a piece of the gate so he wanted more butts in seats than he could get at Keaney. My all time favorite Rhody game at PCC was the 1987 game when Silk, Tommy and Co just ran the Friars off the court. Think we won by 20+. Chiesa was their coach.
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- Lamar Odom
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Didn’t Dick Vitale coach Detroit then?
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- Frank Keaney
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Vitale left in1977.
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- Tom Garrick
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
As most know, the atmosphere at the Civic Center sucked. This was for many reasons over the years:
1) URI was bad for most of the 1980's.
2) Seats were too far from the court...not cozy like Keaney.
3) Lack of student section. Most students weren't coming to Providence for a random URI vs. Rutgers game in February.
4) Too much PC stuff everywhere.
5) It was too big. 2,600-3,600 fans in that arena gave bad Rhody teams no homecourt advantage.
The number of times I can remember thinking "this is great" are few and far between. (When Bryan Mitchell got into the fight, that arena got loud and intense. I do remember that.) PC and UMASS (in the hey day) were the only times it would fill up. I realize that the only way that they could get Wisconsin and Cincy was to play there...and it was about getting TV exposure for those games. But playing at the PCC was not a good thing for the program.
My positive...Caserta Pizza before the game!
1) URI was bad for most of the 1980's.
2) Seats were too far from the court...not cozy like Keaney.
3) Lack of student section. Most students weren't coming to Providence for a random URI vs. Rutgers game in February.
4) Too much PC stuff everywhere.
5) It was too big. 2,600-3,600 fans in that arena gave bad Rhody teams no homecourt advantage.
The number of times I can remember thinking "this is great" are few and far between. (When Bryan Mitchell got into the fight, that arena got loud and intense. I do remember that.) PC and UMASS (in the hey day) were the only times it would fill up. I realize that the only way that they could get Wisconsin and Cincy was to play there...and it was about getting TV exposure for those games. But playing at the PCC was not a good thing for the program.
My positive...Caserta Pizza before the game!
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- Carlton Owens
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Re: History: Rhody Home Games In Providence?
Great game! I attended with my dad and a friend, very fond memories. I was just a kid, so I didn't really know the feeling, but I think it was like being high, floating out of the center after that game. My dad, my friend and I had a hard laugh when we overheard a very angry friah's fan saying "Chiesa couldn't run a deli!" Good times!bigappleram wrote: ↑3 years ago During the Harrick years we played a lot of great games at PCC. Plus Jim was earning a piece of the gate so he wanted more butts in seats than he could get at Keaney. My all time favorite Rhody game at PCC was the 1987 game when Silk, Tommy and Co just ran the Friars off the court. Think we won by 20+. Chiesa was their coach.
Go Rhody!!!
Birthplace of 'Fastbreak Basketball'
Birthplace of 'Fastbreak Basketball'