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Rivers Named ACC Rookie of the Year
3/6/2012 2:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman Austin Rivers claimed all 62 votes from the Atlantic Coast Conference media to become just the second player in league history to earn unanimous ACC Rookie of the Year honors. In 37 years of the ACC Rookie of the Year Award, Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) is the only other player to grab the accolade in unanimous fashion.
“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Rivers. “Working hard throughout the season and having great teammates and coaches has really helped me and I am going to share this award with them. Individual awards are great but at the same time we are all focused on winning championships as a team and that is what I want to win.”
Rivers, a nine-time ACC Rookie of the Week, led ACC freshmen in points (15.3 ppg.), minutes (32.9 mpg.), starts (30), field goals (159), free throws made (102), free throw attempts (159), double-figure scoring games (27) and 20-point games (8). He also finished the regular season second in three-point field goals (54) and steals (29) among freshmen.
Rivers is the sixth Blue Devil to earn ACC Rookie of the Year accolades and the first since Kyle Singler took home the honor in 2008. Chris Duhon (2001), Gene Banks (1978), Mike Gminski (1977) and Jim Spanarkel (1976) were Duke's other winners of the ACC ROY Award.
Rivers also earned All-ACC first team honors on Monday, becoming just the seventh freshman in league history named to the all-conference first team. He is on pace to become just the third freshman in Duke history and first since Johnny Dawkins (1983) to lead the team in scoring.
“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Rivers. “Working hard throughout the season and having great teammates and coaches has really helped me and I am going to share this award with them. Individual awards are great but at the same time we are all focused on winning championships as a team and that is what I want to win.”
Rivers, a nine-time ACC Rookie of the Week, led ACC freshmen in points (15.3 ppg.), minutes (32.9 mpg.), starts (30), field goals (159), free throws made (102), free throw attempts (159), double-figure scoring games (27) and 20-point games (8). He also finished the regular season second in three-point field goals (54) and steals (29) among freshmen.
Rivers is the sixth Blue Devil to earn ACC Rookie of the Year accolades and the first since Kyle Singler took home the honor in 2008. Chris Duhon (2001), Gene Banks (1978), Mike Gminski (1977) and Jim Spanarkel (1976) were Duke's other winners of the ACC ROY Award.
Rivers also earned All-ACC first team honors on Monday, becoming just the seventh freshman in league history named to the all-conference first team. He is on pace to become just the third freshman in Duke history and first since Johnny Dawkins (1983) to lead the team in scoring.
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