Rivers' effort limits Michigan star Harris

IU coach Tom Crean emphasized prior to Thursday's game against Michigan that his players could not get caught up in stopping just one Wolverine player.

But if there was one player Crean probably didn't mind his team shutting down, then it would be Big Ten leading scorer Manny Harris.

And that's exactly what junior guard Jeremiah Rivers did.

Not only did Rivers limit Harris' scoring - he was held to just 13 points - but Rivers also led the defensive charge down the stretch for the Hoosiers in a 71-65 New Year's Eve victory against Michigan.

Rivers' postgame compliments for Harris added to the significance of his ability to shut him down.

"He's one of the best guards we've faced all year. He's up there with (Kentucky's John) Wall and (Maryland's Greivis) Vasquez," Rivers said. "He's so talented. He's one of the hardest guards I have had to go against. I tried to make him as uncomfortable as possible."

Rivers' rather insignificant defensive stats - just 1 block and 2 steals - do not detail his presence against Michigan's 3-point hungry, perimeter offense.

In the first half, Harris, who averages 20.1 points per game, was limited to 2 points as he got in early foul trouble. While he scored 11 points in the second half, Harris had just one field goal in the game's final six minutes.

Not only did Rivers limit Harris' scoring output, but he held him in check in other statistical categories as well. Harris' 1 rebound and 1 assist was far below his season average of 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

Michigan coach John Beilein credited Rivers for limiting his star player and being the vocal leader for the Hoosiers on the defense.

"Rivers did a great job of putting everyone in help defense all the time," Beilein said.

For Crean, that's what he expects from his transfer player from Georgetown.

"Jeremiah Rivers is a high, high level athlete," Crean said. "He's got great feet, he's got great legs, he now has the upper body strength to match that, he's playing with his head up. When you put those combinations in with a will and a tenacity, that's what we need from him."

While the box score might not show Rivers' importance on Thursday, he provided two key plays in the final stretch. With IU holding a 59-56 lead with 2:20 remaining, Rivers deflected the ball from Harris, collected the steal, and would've scored an easy basket had Harris not fouled him.

Despite Rivers' free throw shooting (2-for-5, including missing both free throws off the Haris steal), Crean left him in the game because he needed him on the defensive end and had confidence in him from the free throw line.

"I'm not pulling him out," Crean said. "I see him make (free throws). He's got to look over at me and know that I have incredible belief in him, and I do."

And Crean's confidence paid off. One minute after his steal on Harris, Rives drove the lane, and scored a tough layup on Michigan's DeShawn Sims, who fouled him on the shot.

Rivers made the free throw to give IU a 64-61 lead, and Michigan never had another opportunity to tie the game.

Crean praised Rivers' overall performance, and said Big Ten opponents should expect that for the remainder of the season.

"That's exactly what he is capable of," Crean said. "That's when you become a complete player. You don't become a complete player by getting away from what your main strengths are. Being able to guard and being an athlete and push the ball, those are his main strengths."

For Rivers, he said he enjoyed the challenge of guarding Harris.

"I like to compete," Rivers said. "Go against the best of the best."