The most highly coveted guard in the Class of 2011 committed to Duke on September 30th of 2010. Since that day, he has received immense media attention (both good and bad) and has shown himself to be one of college basketball’s most polarizing players. Playing for Duke, this does not surprise.
While both the media and Duke’s own fanbase have been critical of Austin’s play, he has been impressive in his first year out of high school. Rivers started out the year scoring in double figures in 11 of his first 12 games, averaging 16 points and 2.25 assists a game. He sported a 53.3% Effective Field Goal Percentage during this time.
However, starting with the Pennsylvania game on the first day of 2012, Austin hit somewhat of a cold streak, only averaging 8.6 points a game. His eFG% in these 5 games was 40%, 13.3 points below his opening 12-game number. His critics grew louder and felt justified that Rivers’ tendency to look for his shot-first was hurting Duke’s offense. Even Coach Mike Krzyzewski expressed his displeasure when he had Rivers come off the bench for the first time in years in Duke’s game against Wake Forest to open up ACC play.
Rivers told the media that he was pissed, threw tantrums, and reached out to his family to try and find some sort of rationalization for Coach K’s unexpected move. I’m guessing here, but Doc Rivers likely imparted Austin with a coach’s mentality that Krzyzewski was simply trying to motivate the youngster into realizing the immense talent that he possesses.
Like most of the button-pushing methods that Coach K utilizes (he benched Elton Brand in 1999 when he won National Player of the Year), the strategy worked.
Rivers used 14 second-half points to total 20 in that Wake Forest game and has averaged over 18 points in the 7 games since, becoming much more efficient as a shooter with a 58% eFG rate.
College BasketballRivers’ scoring, offensive rating, and both effective and true shooting percentages have been on an upward trend since his benching and he is clearly rounding into the player that many, including he, believed he would be in college.
The pinnacle of his recent play was obviously the 3-pointer he hit against North Carolina to give the Blue Devils a win in Chapel Hill. Everytime I watch the replay (I’ve probably done so at least 30 times since Wednesday) I can’t help but smile, not only for myself but for Austin as well.
Let’s watch it again, shall we?
photo credit to dukeblueforever
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