David Rivers is one of the best – arguably the premier point guard in the country.
“Sometimes I even amaze myself. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of my creativity,” noted Notre Dame’s senior All-America candidate.
The 6-0 jitterbug takes a 23.5 scoring average into Saturday afternoon’s nationally televised, non-conference basketball battle against 12-4 Kansas. NBC tipoff is 1:35 p.m. at Joyce Center.
“Once you practice enough and begin to get really good, it appears natural,” Rivers noted.
Rivers, who exploded for 32 points versus Louisville, 34 against St. Joseph’s and 31 against Lafayette, has convinced many he’s truly “a natural.”
“The whole court is David Rivers’ environment,” said Irish caoch Digger Phelps, whose unranked squad owns a 9-4 mark. “It’s his living room. He’s comfortable there. When he came out of the womb, a basketball came with him. His game is full-court. Sometimes I just sit at practice and laugh because I don’t understand how he does the things he does. I have total confidence in him. He’s got the green light. It’s his game.”
Last Sunday on national TV, Rivers hit five of five three-point shots and popped in 26 points in a 77-71 loss to DePaul at Joyce – Notre Dame’s first loss in five tries at home.
That effort didn’t catch Kansas coach Larry Brown by surprise. He’s always loved Rivers.
“He’ll be a great pro,” Brown said of the Jersey City, N.J., native who survived three-hour surgery to repair a 15-inch hip-to-hip gash in August of ’86. He’s flourishing in his second full season following the severe car accident that nearly ruined his career.
“The (pro) game will be faster, even more to his liking,” Brown explained. “He’s a scorer, a durable kid who can handle pressure by himself. It’s silly to pressure him full-court.
“He’s shooting 43 percent and he handles the ball all the time,” continued Brown. “I don’t think we can stop him. WE’ll put different people on him to stay fresh. If he hits a few shots, we can’t panic.”
Last year, Rivers scored 13 points on three of eight shooting in ND’s 70-60 loss at Kansas. He hit seven of seven free throws and also totaled six assists.
Not vintage Rivers. Especially humbling when compared to KU phenom Danny Manning, who scored 40.
“Turgeon did a good job on him last year,” said Brown, referring to the graduated Mark Turgeon, “but I don’t think he was as offensive minded last year with (Donald) Royal and (Scott) Hicks (who’ve graduated).
“All our guards can cover. They all do a good job on the ball. Scooter (Barry), Clint (Normore) and Otis all play the ball well. But whether they can play the caliber of Rivers is another question.”
Junior Otis Livingston may get the opening call on Rivers. He’d welcome the challenge.
“That’s why I wanted to come to the Div. I level,” said the former El Camino (Calif.) juco player. “To go up against the best players. He’s definitely one of the best.”
Because of Rivers, the rest of the Irish tend to be ignored. Phelps will likely start 6-9 sophomore Keith Robinson (9.6 points), 6-6 junior Mark Stevenson 912.8), 6-9 senior Gary Voce (8.3), and 6-2 sophomore Jamere Jackson (3.0). Scott Paddock, a 6-9 sophomore, is averaging 4.3 tallies.
“They’ve got a great kid in Robinson,” Brown said of the player who scored 15 versus DePaul. “And Jackson is a fine guard. If we played them at home I’d think our chances would be better. But we’re going there.”
Brown knows all about ND’s 11,418-seat arena.
“I’ve been to Notre Dame twice at UCLA,” said Brown, “and played there in the NCAA’s (KU lost to Auburn at Joyce three years ago).
“It’s loud, but I don’t think it’s any more difficult than a lot of other places. The first time I went there, I wanted our team to shoot free throws into the student body before the game and during the half.
“The kids voted me down because when you warm up, the student body throws toilet paper at you. I let the kids win. We missed free throws in the guts of the game into the student body and lost. The next year I won out. We shot frree throws into the student body the first half and won the game.”
