Duke Great Hack Tison: 1942-2026
TL;DR
Hack Tison, a key player for Duke's early Final Four teams, has died at age 83. He was instrumental in Duke's basketball history during the 1960s.
Key points
- Hack Tison passed away at age 83
- He was a key player for Duke's first Final Four teams
- Tison played during the early Vic Bubas era
- Duke lost to UCLA in the 1964 championship game
LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 22: Hack Tison #31 of the Duke Blue Devils drives to the basket against the Loyola Ramblers during the semifinal game of the NCAA Men"u2019s Basketball Tournament held at Freedom Hall on March 22, 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky. Loyola defeated Duke 94-75 to advance to the finals. (Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Haskell āHackā Tison, a mainstay of Dukeās first Final Four teams in 1963 and 1964, has passed away. A war baby, Tison was born on November 16, 1942, and came to Durham early in the Vic Bubas era.
He was a freshman in 1962-63, but the rules of that day would not allow him to compete on the varsity until he was a sophomore.
Duke went with an unusually large team for that era, starting Tison and Jay Buckley, both 6-10. It worked great until the Blue Devils ran into UCLA in the NCAA championship game, and the much smaller Bruins pressed Duke relentessly, winning with relative ease, 98-83.
Tison and Duke would get back to the Final Four the next year, but in 1965, NC State won the ACC tournament and got the sole conference bid.
This was when State legend and recently retired coach Everett Case was dying from cancer, and the Wolfpack, understandably, wanted to send him out with a championship.
Tison was then taken in the 6th round by the Boston Celtics. However, he said he was tired of the travel, and ended his playing career.
A couple of points here. While on the one hand, he had the chance to join the greatest sports dynasty of all time, the NBA didnāt really pay much then. He said he got a better offer from IBM, and he took it.
And second, the sixth round sounds low, but itās not. There were only nine teams in the NBA in 1965. Tison was the 56th player taken, which would be a second-round pick today. He had a feasible career path: back up Bill Russell and then transition into a starter (playing against Russell for several years would make the rest of the NBA look easy).
He just didnāt want to take the paycut.
We understand that Tison was in failing health for some time, and the end is inevitable for all of us. Itās just a question of when. From what we understand, Tison was well-loved by his teammates, with at least one visiting him in his final days.
If youād like to sign his Tribute Wall, please go here. Weāre sure his family would be glad to know that Duke fans remember.
- From Dukeās Past to Present: The Tison Legacy of Overcoming
- Catching Up With the Players From the 1964 NCAA Championship Game
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Q&A
What were Hack Tison's contributions to Duke basketball?
Hack Tison was a significant player for Duke during their first Final Four appearances in 1963 and 1964, helping to shape the program's early success.
When did Hack Tison play for Duke University?
Hack Tison played for Duke University starting in the 1962-63 season, when he was a freshman but could not compete on the varsity team until his sophomore year.
What were the circumstances of Duke's 1964 NCAA championship game loss?
Duke lost to UCLA in the 1964 NCAA championship game, with a final score of 98-83, as UCLA's smaller team effectively pressed Duke throughout the match.
