Armstrong paces SMU past Notre Dame, 83-75

[Mitch McConnell]

March 17, 1988

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Digger Phelps, the coach of the Irish, had a St. Patrick's Day premonition about SMU's Kato Armstrong.
They know about Kato in the Southwest Conference, and now they know about him outside the SWC.

Armstrong, the Mustangs' 6-foot-2 junior point guard, wrecked Notre Dame with a second-half barrage that took SMU to an 83-75 triumph in the first round of the East Regional here at the Dean Smith Center.

Four baskets in a four-minute duel with David Rivers, the Irish's backcourt star, gave the Mustangs the heat they needed to melt down Notre Dame's stronger front line.

"I told David, `Kato's been hiding in the Southwest Conference and you've been getting the publicity he wants,"' Phelps said of the 29-point hammer Armstrong dropped on the Irish.

"He's going to come after you. He'll be juiced up. He wanted the game and he took it over when it counted.

"He wouldn't let their momentum break. When it came to show time, he went one on one at the top of the circle, and he shot over whoever was on him."

Rivers, scoreless in the first 12 minutes of the second half, scored three consecutive baskets but Armstrong answered every time.

His 15-foot jumper with 6:02 to go broke a tie at 62, and SMU led from that point to gain a berth in the NCAA second round on Saturday against Duke, an 85-69 victor over Boston University in Thursday's late game.

Also on Saturday, Syracuse, a 69-55 winner over North Carolina A&T, takes on Rhode Island, which ousted Missouri 87-80. Saturday's two winners advance to next week's regional semifinals at East Rutherford, N.J.

Following Armstrong's surge, Todd Alexander, Terry Thomas and Vernon Perdue then contributed to a 10-2 SMU surge that opened a 76-67 lead with 1:16 to play.

The Irish had a chance to close within three when Perdue missed a one and one at 0:56, but Carlton McKinney snared the rebound and Armstrong added a one and one.

SMU, now 28-6, was out of danger when McKinney broke free for a slam against Notre Dame's press.

The Mustangs defensed Rivers admirably, guarding him with either Armstrong or Alexander and doubling up with the other when Rivers tried to penetrate.

As a result, Rivers, who had 12 points and 9 assists, missed 10 of his 15 shots with 4 turnovers. "They were collapsing on me when I penetrated, and we had turnovers and a hard time finding the open man," said Rivers.

"Kato ran his team very well. It was his chance to show the world he can play with anyone, and he's one of the best point guards in the country."

"Kato has had a lot of great games, hopefully his best one is still to come," SMU Coach Dave Bliss said.

SMU, 16-2 in its last 18 games, endured a 7-for-20 shooting start to lead 37-36 at halftime after Notre Dame hit 65 percent. The Mustangs stayed in it with a 15-14 edge over the nation's No. 1 rebounding team and by an 11-4 turnover margin.

Starting center Glenn Puddy and McKinney drew their fourth personals early in the second half, and the Irish (20-9) took a 50-47 lead.

Then baskets by Thomas and Perdue preceded two straight baskets by Armstrong from the top of the key, and the Mustangs finally established the quicker tempo they favor.

Thomas (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Perdue (9 points, 5 rebounds) furnished enough inside scoring to counter Notre Dame's Gary Voce (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Keith Robinson.

The Mustangs shot 62.5 in the second half and 52.2 for the night in their second game here (they lost 90-74 to North Carolina on the Tar Heels' home court on Dec. 12). Bliss figured that one-game exposure to the surroundings helped.

Now, with still another outing assured, Bliss said, "It's great to be in the NCAAs but it's greater to come for the weekend."

The Houston Chronicle

[Digetydog]

March 17, 1988

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Digger Phelps, the coach of the Irish, had a St. Patrick's Day premonition about SMU's Kato Armstrong.
They know about Kato in the Southwest Conference, and now they know about him outside the SWC.

Armstrong, the Mustangs' 6-foot-2 junior point guard, wrecked Notre Dame with a second-half barrage that took SMU to an 83-75 triumph in the first round of the East Regional here at the Dean Smith Center.

Four baskets in a four-minute duel with David Rivers, the Irish's backcourt star, gave the Mustangs the heat they needed to melt down Notre Dame's stronger front line.

"I told David, `Kato's been hiding in the Southwest Conference and you've been getting the publicity he wants,"' Phelps said of the 29-point hammer Armstrong dropped on the Irish.

"He's going to come after you. He'll be juiced up. He wanted the game and he took it over when it counted.

"He wouldn't let their momentum break. When it came to show time, he went one on one at the top of the circle, and he shot over whoever was on him."

Rivers, scoreless in the first 12 minutes of the second half, scored three consecutive baskets but Armstrong answered every time.

His 15-foot jumper with 6:02 to go broke a tie at 62, and SMU led from that point to gain a berth in the NCAA second round on Saturday against Duke, an 85-69 victor over Boston University in Thursday's late game.

Also on Saturday, Syracuse, a 69-55 winner over North Carolina A&T, takes on Rhode Island, which ousted Missouri 87-80. Saturday's two winners advance to next week's regional semifinals at East Rutherford, N.J.

Following Armstrong's surge, Todd Alexander, Terry Thomas and Vernon Perdue then contributed to a 10-2 SMU surge that opened a 76-67 lead with 1:16 to play.

The Irish had a chance to close within three when Perdue missed a one and one at 0:56, but Carlton McKinney snared the rebound and Armstrong added a one and one.

SMU, now 28-6, was out of danger when McKinney broke free for a slam against Notre Dame's press.

The Mustangs defensed Rivers admirably, guarding him with either Armstrong or Alexander and doubling up with the other when Rivers tried to penetrate.

As a result, Rivers, who had 12 points and 9 assists, missed 10 of his 15 shots with 4 turnovers. "They were collapsing on me when I penetrated, and we had turnovers and a hard time finding the open man," said Rivers.

"Kato ran his team very well. It was his chance to show the world he can play with anyone, and he's one of the best point guards in the country."

"Kato has had a lot of great games, hopefully his best one is still to come," SMU Coach Dave Bliss said.

SMU, 16-2 in its last 18 games, endured a 7-for-20 shooting start to lead 37-36 at halftime after Notre Dame hit 65 percent. The Mustangs stayed in it with a 15-14 edge over the nation's No. 1 rebounding team and by an 11-4 turnover margin.

Starting center Glenn Puddy and McKinney drew their fourth personals early in the second half, and the Irish (20-9) took a 50-47 lead.

Then baskets by Thomas and Perdue preceded two straight baskets by Armstrong from the top of the key, and the Mustangs finally established the quicker tempo they favor.

Thomas (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Perdue (9 points, 5 rebounds) furnished enough inside scoring to counter Notre Dame's Gary Voce (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Keith Robinson.

The Mustangs shot 62.5 in the second half and 52.2 for the night in their second game here (they lost 90-74 to North Carolina on the Tar Heels' home court on Dec. 12). Bliss figured that one-game exposure to the surroundings helped.

Now, with still another outing assured, Bliss said, "It's great to be in the NCAAs but it's greater to come for the weekend."

The Houston Chronicle

I loved that team. They were fun to watch and pretty good. I still cannot believe Kato made the choices he made. He was faster dribbling with the ball than anyone I have ever seen. Including Koncak, still the best Pony I have seen.

[crazy horse]

It seems like it was just yesterday, but that was almost 25 years ago.

It sure will be nice playing in a top conference and being relevant again in BBall. We've wandered in the wilderness for far too long.

[SMU89]

I've got SMU going all the way in my bracket

[Treadway21]

What a great victory that one was. Kato put on an exhibition for St Patty's Day. All you heard about was David Rivers and Kato schooled him.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

What a great victory that one was. Kato put on an exhibition for St Patty's Day. All you heard about was David Rivers and Kato schooled him.

Definitely one of the most memorable days for SMU fans in semi-recent memory. The ESPN announcers still bring up Kato every once in a while with Digger which always makes me do a double-take.

It would have been really great if we would have Lehighed Duke on the 19th.