Duke Basketball: Why Austin Rivers Will Lead the Blue Devils into the Tournament

If you didn’t see Austin Rivers lead his team to victory last Wednesday night, you might not quite understand the forthcoming assessment.

I’ll save you the “shot heard around the world” references, as that phrase is probably a little worn-out and seems to have deviated too far from its original derivation from the American Revolutionary War.

With Duke down two points and the final seconds ticking down, Austin Rivers coolly pulled up to the three-point line and drained a shot over North Carolina forward Tyler Zeller.

Duke won by one point on North Carolina—their ACC rival who was ranked higher than them at the time—in stunning fashion, led by a game-high 29 points and buzzer-beater from freshman Austin Rivers.

This was a huge game not only for Duke but for Rivers, who has been in the spotlight this season for allegedly not living up to his hype as a top recruit.

Rivers quieted his critics with a phenomenal performance on a huge stage and this won’t be an isolated instance. This kid was born to shine.

Experience

We often tag freshmen as inexperienced, and rightfully so. Many players come out of high school having been the best player on the court and in some instances, the only good player on the court.

Although Rivers has had his share of freshman follies, his performance against North Carolina not only proved his ability to play at high level, but also gave him a priceless experience.

If he can come up big in the clutch against a huge rival on the road, he’s prepared to carry Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

Game Plan

Coach K and his staff found an effective way to attack North Carolina, a team that out-rebounded the Blue Devils significantly and had a big frontcourt advantage, by playing to Duke’s strengths of shooting.

The Blue Devils shot 36 three-point attempts, making 14 for a percent of 38.9 and scoring half of its points via the three ball.

With a successful game plan enacted, Rivers understands how to lead the Blue Devils to victory.

If opposing offenses try to cheat the perimeter, Duke can still go inside to Mason Plumlee or Ryan Kelly.

Desire

It sounds simple to say, but Rivers has the desire to win and that will lead Duke into the tournament.

The desire to win may seem like a fundamental trait in all sports, but it isn’t. Rivers has a genuine, raw desire to win that gives him a competitive edge.

He’s not the kind of player who gets discouraged or who backs down from a challenge.

Rivers is the kind of guy who will lead his team to victory. Cool, calm, collected. Clock waning, draining three’s. 

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