UKIT Preview: Rutgers
Rutgers brings a spotless 5-0 record into this year's UKIT and the Scarlet Knights are perhaps the top challenger to Kentucky's title among this year's teams.
Coach Tom Young, in his 10th season at the New Brunswick, New Jersey school, has a veteran team that posted a 20-10 record and placed second in the Eastern Athletic Association a year ago. The EAA has since become the Atlantic 10 Conference with the addition of Penn State, Temple and St. Joseph's and the loss of Pittsburgh.
The Scarlet Knight that makes Rutgers go is 6-9 center Roy Hinson, the team's leading scorer and rebounder.
Hinson,  who's  started every
game in his career, is averaging 15.6 points per game and 5.8 rebounds a contest. The senior from nearby Somerset, N. J., was named honorable mention All-America by the Associated Press last year.
Versatile Kevin Black is second in scoring and rebounding with a 14.2 ppg scoring average and the 6-6 swingman is grabbing 5.6 rebounds per outing.
One of the three Scarlet Knights from Washington, D. C, Black can play small forward or guard and was his team's top defensive player last year.
Forward Clarence Tillman has been a solid player for Rutgers since he transferred from Kentucky. The 6-7 senior averaged
Kevin Black goes up for a shot.
12 points a game the last two seasons and is scoring 10 points a game this season for the Scarlet Knights.
The Philadelphian is also Rutgers' third leading rebounder, averaging 4.8 per game.
In the backcourt, Rutgers starts senior Rich Brunson at point and sophomore Brian Ellerbe at second guard.
The 6-2 Brunson is averaging 6.4 points per game and 5.6 assists a contest. A product of the talent-rich playgrounds ofQueens, N. Y., Brunson is an exceptional ballhandler.
Ellerbe is the Scarlet Knights' only non-senior starting. The 6-1 native of West Seat Pleasant, Md., averaged 7.9 points a game as a freshman and is scoring 7.6 points a contest thus far this season.
Sophomore John Battle is first off the bench at guard. The 6-2 sophomore from Washington, D. C, is a hustling, aggressive player.
Senior Chris Nieberlein gives Rutgers depth inside at 6-8, 225 pounds. Nieberlein spells Hinson at center and can also play forward.
Sophomores Sam Randolph and Chris Remley are also likely to see action. Randolph is a 6-2 reserve guard while the 6-9 Remley comes in at forward.