BE*** Charlotte Coliseum (11,666) Notre Dame vs. Middle Tenn. St. (recordtecord vs. ND) 1. North Carolina (29-3/3-11) 9. M ichigan (19-11/6-9) 2:30 p.m. EST Time 2. Syracuse (26-63-3) 10. W. Kentucky (28-86-1)

3. Purdue (24-449-20) 11. N.C. State (20-14/4-2) Series First meeting 4. TCU (23-64st gam e) 12. M. Tenn. St. (22-6/1st game)

F?ankinPs Notre Dame 18th (AP) 5. Notre Dam e (22-7) 13. Marshall (25-31-0) S Middle Tenn. St. unranked 6. Florida (21-10/ 1st gam e) 14. Northeastern (27-6/ 1st game) TV and Radio 7. West Virginia (23-73-3) 15. Ga. Southern (20-10/1st game) Tickets Game is sold out ESPN Cable, 8. Navy (26-54-1) 16. Pennsylvania (13-1348-2) WNDU-TV Ch. 16 NCAA History WSBT-AM 960, WNDU-AM 1500 SB Irish Extra NCAA Tournament TheX H t WObserver LO d VC1 Thursday, March 12, 1987 From tragedy to tourney Rivers returns from injury to lead Irish into NCAAs

By DENNIS CORRIGAN secured he knows it was all curious. They want to know. I Sports Editor worth it. looked at it in that way. I didn’t think of it as being a negative. For Notre Dame’s David “It was something that I was I tried to see the positive side Rivers, the 1986-87 basketball enthusiastic about doing b» of it just to keep me from being, season has been a long climb. cause I knew it was geared to I guess, bored.” getting better and my getting Barely more than six months back on the court,” says Looking back now, Rivers ago, Rivers was in a hospital Rivers. “So all the rehab and gives credit to the extended fighting for his life. Now he’s the training was for this. It was Notre Dame family for giving once again leading the Irish for us getting an NCAA bid and him the strength to continue. fight for a national title. having a shot at the title.” “When I was having a crisis, On Aug. 24, 1986, Rivers and It wasn’t until Oct. 6 that everyone was there for me,” former Irish teammate Ken Rivers began to run on a track says Rivers. “No matter what Barlow were involved in an and Nov. 1 that he began to it was I needed, there was auto accident in which Rivers shoot and have limited partic­ someone there to give it to me. was hurled through the window ipation in practice. Finally on Coach Phelps was there, the of the van Barlow was driving. Nov. 16, he was able to practice guys on the team were there as Rivers suffered a 15-inch cut to full speed. were families around South his abdomen and underwent Bend. It helps out a lot because three hours of surgery. He saw 34 minutes of play in you know there are people out Notre Dame’s opening loss to there pulling for you and He remained in the hospital un­ Western Kentucky. Less than praying for you. It keeps your til Sept. 2 and into the Notre two weeks later, he went the spirits up.” Dame infirmary until Sept. 13. full 40 minutes in Notre Dame’s At the time, basketball was not near upset of Indiana. From But just as he started to show a priority, recovering from the then on he began to show im­ signs of getting over his acci­ accident and trying to keep up provement, scoring 16 and 20 dent, Rivers tore a thigh with classes was. points in wins over Cornell and muscle in late December and Brigham Young. But as he sprained an ankle (he still On Sept. 21, Rivers began a progressed, Rivers had to deal wears a water cast on it) in Jan­ long and trying rehabilitation with reporter after reporter uary against Creighton. Both program which included tread­ who was writing a story on his injuries hampered his effec­ mill work, limited weights, miraculous recovery. tiveness and the Irish struggled riding an excercise cycle and into the last week of January later jogging and shooting in a “Yes, I was (tired of talking with a 9-5 mark. Rivers now ad­ swimming pool. Through it all, about the accident),” says mits to feeling a little Rivers kept his perspective, Rivers. “But you’ve got to look frustrated. Gre8 Koh» and worked to get back on the at it this way, they’re doing see RIVERS, page 3 Rivers’ soaring layup over Miami’s Kevin Presto symbolized his court. Now with an NCAA berth their job. I guess people are rise from near death to a a shot at a national title. Hicks’ fills roles for ND as career draws to close

By TERRY LYNCH bound Irish team. spot with Stevenson, Royal, average during his sophomore “I think this year I had to take Sports Writer and Rivers being the main guys year. Hicks is second to Rivers a different role out on the court But there’s been a lot more to on offense,” said Head Coach in steals with 33, and is third than last year,” said Hicks. Sometimes success is just a it than that. Scott Hicks wasn’t Digger Phelps. on the team in rebounding, “Last year we had Tim matter of waiting your turn. in a van accident in the sum­ averaging 4.2 boards a contest. Kempton, Kenny Barlow, Jim mer and doesn’t have a 15-inch “I think he just has a lot of con­ He lead the team in scoring in Dolan and Joseph Price and For guard Scott Hicks, it is this scar across his stomach. But fidence right now. We’ve just an early-season loss to Indiana now this year with David, formula that has led the senior when The Accident happened, let him go all year and he’s with 18 and in the upset of 15th- Mark, and Donald, I just take Irish co-captain from In­ Hicks found himself in a played very, very well.” ranked Duke with 19. a different role and look at it a dianapolis to grab his share of strange position - alone in the different way. the limelight in his final court backcourt. Hicks responded in the back- But for all of the statistics, campaign. Hicks’ solid play in court this season by averaging Hicks has viewed his role this “I think my role is to do what the backcourt with teammate “I just think Scotty knew this 11.2 points per game, way year as just a matter of filling is needed at a particular time. David Rivers has been a con­ year that we needed more above his 5.4 average last year in the voids left by year’s stant force on the tournament- scoring from the second guard and slightly higher than the 8.8 seniors. see HICKS, page 2 Irish Extra, pages 2-3 Hicks chases Tourney dream

continued from page 1 “Guards are more abundant in “I’m just going on what the the NBA right now. A lot of NBA guys have told me, and If I have to shoot an outside teams go with the one guard they’re all in love with Royal, jumper, then I’ve got to hit it. and four players, so that makes They think they can use him as If I have to go to the boards or it a lot tougher. a small forward or even a play the point or whatever the guard.” case may be, then I’ve got to be prepared and go out and do Royal also sees Hicks’ emer­ it. gence as a matter of time. “When you’re a senior, every­ “It’s a matter of just waiting one looks at it as your most im­ your turn,” said Royal. “With portant year,” continued David’s accident, it was a dif­ Hicks. “But by just being a ficult situation for him to get senior, that means that Donald in. But he made the best out of it. He went out and proved it.” Greg Kons and I have to lead by exam­ ple.” Head Coach Digger Phelps - "We're not done yet, baby!" Combined with co-captain For Hicks, the story of his Donald Royal’s team-leading season is still being written. 15.6 points per game, these two There’s still more one step to ND’s NCAA history seniors will be missed by next take before it’s all over. year’s team. But some other Year Finish people might welcome the two “Our goal at the beginning of 1953 East Regional runnerup players in the basketball world. the season was to go as far as 1954 East Regional runnerup we can in the tournament - and 1957 Midwest Regional 3rd place Will Hicks play in the NBA? that’s a national champion­ 1958 Mideast Regional runnerup ship,” said Hicks. If we play hard and do what we have to 1960 Mideast Regional 1st round “Obviously, that’s hard to say Scott Hicks 1963 Mideast Regional 1st round right now,” says Phelps. do, we can capture the dream. 1965 Midwest Regional 1st round 1969 Mideast Regional 1st round 1970 Mideast Regional 4th place 1971 Midwest Regional 4th place 1974 Mideast Regional 3rd place 1975 Mideast Regional 4th place 1976 Midwest Regional semifinals 1977 East Regional semifinals 1978 NCAA Finals 4th place 1979 Mideast Regional runnerup 1980 Midwest Regional 2nd round 1981 East Regional semifinals 1985 Southeast Regional 2nd round 1986 Midwest Regional 1st round

Robert Jones Hick’s soaring drives and rebounds have been a hallmark of his four years in an Irish uniform

NCAA Tournament Lists

How Conference Teams Have Fared In Most Consecutive Seasons In NCAA Greg Kohs Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament Men's Basketball Tournament In an act typical of the closeness of the Irish basketball team NCAA Division One, 1980-1986 Division I, current through 1985-1986 and its fans, Hicks introduced his mother to the crowd following W ins L o s s e s P e rc e n t! his final game at the ACC North Carolina 12 years Atlantic Coast 66 31 .680 (one title,1982 ) Big East 53 30 .639 G eorgetown 8 years Southeastern 38 28 .576 (one title,1984 ) The Observer Big Ten 37 31 .544 Metro 30 13 .W8 Kentucky 7 years Irish Extra Editor Dennis Corrigan Villanova Irish Extra Design...... Matt Breslin Big Eight 24 20 .545 7 years Southwest 20 15 .571 (one title,1985 ) Sun Belt 12 20 .375 Alabama-Birmingham 6 years The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. The Observer is published by the students of the PAC-10 11 19 .367 Alabam a 5 years University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College. Subscriptions may be purchas­ Atlantic Ten 10 11 .476 North Carolina A&T 5 years ed for $40 per year ($25 per semester) by writing The Observer, P.O. Box Q, Notre Western Athletic 10 12 .455 Dame, Indiana 46556. St. John's 5 years The Observer is a m em ber o f The Associated Press.All reproduction rights are reserved. SOURCE: NCAA NEWS Otxenw Graphic/Geoffrey Sauer SOURCE: NCAA and SFS Reeearch OU «v» GropNc/Geoffrey Sauer Rivers’ recovery spurs ND wins over top-ranked foes

continued from page 1 Marquette to close out that bad. To go out, be able to play month and then began a and come up with the victory “It was frustrating, but it February unlike any other in was a very special moment.” wasn’t frustrating to the point Notre Dame history. On Feb. where I would dwell on it be­ 1, the Irish defeated top-ranked The Irish dropped two close cause I was coming from what North Carolina. Rivers was key games on the road the following I had experienced in the acci­ in the win, coming up with weekend, but haven’t lost dent,” says Rivers. “I sort of jumpers in clutch situations, laughed at the minor injuries. usually with the Tar Heels’ I didn’t really put that much Ranzino Smith in his face, in “When I was having a crisis, emphasis on them because I leading the Irish to their 60-58 everyone was there for me. had come back from near upset. It helps out a lot because you death. An ankle injury isn’t know there are people out that bad.” “ (The North Carolina win) was there pulling for you.” As if Rivers’ basketball - David Rivers frustrations weren’t enough, the University announced that it was converting River’s since. Upsets of Duke and residence hall, Howard, into a DePaul on the ACC court fol­ women’s dormitory in the fall lowed, as did road victories of 1987. over Utah, Marquette and Dayton. Rivers had 21 at Mar­ “ I think they should have let us quette and 22 in a home win know a year in advance, but over Miami. In a season once that’s the way they did it,” filled with adversity, Rivers commented Rivers of the deci­ bounced back to average 14.7 sion. “I really didn’t feed into points per contest and hand out that much. I had other things 153 assists - the second-highest to occupy my time. I was dis­ season total in Notre Dame his­ appointed because I liked tory. It has been a tough season living in Howard. I’ve created for Rivers, but now he looks some relationships with cer­ David Rivers back on it in a way that also tain people around, and now looks ahead to the NCAA we’re going to be broken up be­ very big because I had lost to Tournament. cause of that. That’s the admin­ them the last two years,” istration. I’m not going to get recalls Rivers. “I wanted to involved in that.” win. My father was up here for the first time to see me play. I But when the final week in Jan­ knew it was going to be a mo­ “Well . . . I’ve always been uary began, the Irish began to ment for him and myself. I taught to expect the unex­ heat up. They beat Dayton and really wanted that one pretty pected.” Blue Raiders not awed by Irish

By DENNIS CORRIGAN It will probably be a fun role to the starting five all have Greg Kohs Sports Editor be the underdog.” double-figure scoring Rivers fought back to resume his role as Notre Dame’s floor averages. leader - “This was what it was all for.” CHARLOTTE, N.C. - When According to Stewart, who Notre Dame takes to the court has a record of 62-31 in three Thursday afternoon to face the years at Middle Tennessee St., Irish Statistics Blue Raiders of Middle Tennes­ his squad will not bow out meekly. see St., it will be facing a team Through Sunday it doesn’t know much about and “We don’t want ot be PLAYER G-S MIN-AVG FG(3P)-FGA PCT FT-FTA PCT REB AVG PF A BK ST TP AVG has nothing to lose. Donald Royal 25-25 912-36.5 115-196 .587 160-195 .821 175 7.0 82 33 10 26 390 15.6 satisfied just being in the David Rivers 29-28 1059-36.5 147(14}-334 .440 119-142 .838 108 3.7 71 153 4 42 427 14.7 Tournament. We want to prove Scott Hicks 27-27 913-33.8 128(1 )-263 .487 45-72 .625 114 4.2 67 56 9 33 302 11.2 there is a reason why (the Mark Stevenson 29-28 943-32.5 119(1)-254 .469 62-80 775 112 3.9 39 44 4 14 301 10.4 ‘I don’t think we’ll be in Sean Connor 23-4 446-19.3 82(12)132 .470 16-22 .727 44 1.9 35 18 1 8 152 6.6 NCAA) put us there.” Gary Voce 29-29 798-27.5 48-95 .505 39-53 736 187 65 75 13 14 14 135 4.7 awe,” said Blue Raider head Jamere Jackson 25-0 251-10.0 21(51-51 .412 14-22 .636 21 0.8 28 12 1 5 61 2.1 coach Bruce Stewart Sunday The Blue Raiders have Scott Paddock 28-3 305-10.9 21-35 .600 7-15 .467 85 3.1 38 7 a 1 49 1.8 after he learned his squad plenty of ammunition. Senior Joe Fredrick 23-1 124-5.4 14-26 .538 3-5 .600 6 0.3 23 6 0 5 31 1.3 Chris Nannl 7-0 7-1.0 0-2 .000 4-6 .667 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 4 0.6 would be facing the Irish. In­ guard Duane Washington keys Tony Jackson 20-0 52-2.6 3-5 .600 3-6 .500 9 0.5 )4 0 1 1 9 0.5 stead, it should be a motivator their fast-paced attack. In ad­ Steve Nicgorski 8-0 8-1.0 1-6 .167 2-5 .400 4 0.5 1 0 0 1 4 0.5 for us. We will obviously be the dition to averaging 10.4 points Michael Smith 20-0 72-3.6 2-10 .200 4-8 .500 9 0.5 3 7 0 2 6 0.4 underdog since they are the a game himself, Washington Team 89 3.1 fifth seed. We’ve been the fa­ had 248 assists on the season. NOTRE DAME 29-29 5875-202 681(33)1409.483 478-631 .757 963 33.2 476 349 50 152 8873964.6 vorite in nearly every game With an assist total like that, OPPONENTS 29-29 5875-202 668(48)1463.457 316-461 .685 765 26.4 564306 58 159 11700 58.6 we’ve played since Christmas. it’s easy to see why the rest of

NCAA Tournament Lists Most Losses by Only Centers Who Division I Appearances in the I I 1 1 Jerry Lucas O h io S ta te Villanova 1985 25-10 1 (1960-1962) North Carolina State $ Paul Hogue C in cin n ati 1983 26-10 (1961-1963) Rusty Clark North Carolina | Indiana 1981 26-9 (1967-1969) M arquette 1977 25-7 1 Lew Alcindor UCLA Louisville 1986 32-7 (1967-1969) Michigan State 1 Bill Walton UCLA 1979 26-6 (1972-1974) Kentucky 1958 23-6 1 Akeem Olajuwon H o u sto n | City College of New York (1982-1984) 1950 24-5 Patrick Ewing G e o r g e t o w n O regon 1939 29-5 (1982,1984-1985) SOURCE Modem Encyclopedia of Basketball SOURCE: Modem Encyclopedia of Basketball Observer Graphic/Geoffrey Sauer and the Sporting News OteeryBf Graphic/Geoffrey Sauer Irish Extra, page 4 NCAA Pairings

Regional First Round S eco n d Round Semifinals Regional Finals Final Four National Championship March 12-13 March 14-15

G eorgetow n

Bucknell 16

K entucky 8 1 Ohio St. 9

Clem son 4

S.W. Mo. St. 1 3 Southeast

Providence 6 Louisville, Kentucky March 19&21 UAB 11

Illinois 3

Austin Peay 1 4

New Orleans 7

BYU :Q

A labam a 2

N.C. A&T 15 M arch 28 N. Carolina 1

P enn 16

N avy 3

Notre Dame 5

Mid. Tenn. St. 12 East F lorida 6 East Rutherford, New Jersey

N.C. St. 11 March 19&21

P u rd u e 3

N eastern 14

W Virginia 7

W. K entucky *0

Syracuse 2 Ga. Southern 15 tf M arch 30 Idaho St. 16

G eorgia g

Kansas St. 9

V irginia , 5

W yoming 1 2

UCLA 4 C. M ichigan 1 3 West Oklahom a 6 Seattle, Washington Tulsa 11 M arch 20& 22

P itt

M arist 1 4

U T E P 7

Arizona 1Q |

Iowa 2

Santa Clara 15 M arch 28 ■My* 1 Fairfield 16

A uburn 3

San Diego 9

Duke 5

Texas A&M12 Midwest St. John's 6 Cincinnati, Ohio M arch 20 & 22

D epaul 3

8 LSUIO T em ple 2

Southern 15

First and second round sites

Atlanta, Georgia Charlotte, North Carolina Salt Lake City, Utah Indianapolis, Indiana 1 M arch 13 & 15 M arch 12 & 14 M arch 12& 14 M arch 12 & 14

Birmingham, Alabama Syracuse, New York Tucson, Arizona C hicago, lllinc M arch 12 & 14 March 13&15 M arch 13 & 15 8 M arch 13 & 45