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Former Blue Devil Offers Advice to This Year’s Duke Basketball Team

By Chris Brown

Dec 16, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; LA Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) walks around the court during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Clippers won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; LA Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) walks around the court during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Clippers won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Duke guard Austin Rivers provides insight into Duke Basketball’s up-and-down season and offers advice to the current players.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers recently opened up about the inconsistency of this year’s Duke Basketball team. The former Blue Devil admits he has been frustrated watching the Blue Devils this year and offered some solid advice for the players going forward for the remainder of the season.

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Rivers knows the highs and lows of being a Duke Basketball player. He made one of the greatest plays in Blue Devil history completing a huge comeback to beat UNC, but lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Lehigh. The former Blue Devil expressed his frustration watching the team almost losing to Wake Forest saying, “They should be beating those teams by 20, 30 points”. He also says there should be no excuses with injuries or Coach K’s absence, because “They just need to step up. All those guys were McDonald’s All-Americans”.

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Rivers also offers profound advice and insight into Coach K’s punishment of the team, Luke Kennard becoming a more vocal leader, Harry Giles’ setbacks, and messages for the potential one-and-done players on this year’s roster. Ultimately, Austin Rivers wants the team not to take anything for granted. Depsite becoming a solid NBA player, he cites how he still has regrets about not making it farther in the NCAA Tournament.

Austin Rivers averaged 15.5 points per game in his lone season with the Blue Devils earning 2012 ACC Rookie of the Year. He was drafted 10th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2012 NBA Draft. The former Duke guard is having a career NBA season averaging 12.0 points and 2.8 assists per game.

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Duke Basketball has failed to live up to their extremely high preseason expectations, but still have time to turn things around. The Blue Devils are currently 18-5 and 6-4 in the ACC and have won three straight. Duke will be back in action this Thursday with a rivalry showdown against UNC in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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