After defeating the University of Memphis, Arizona State University successfully advanced to the conference finals.
At this point, there is only one last opponent left from their previously set goal of the semi-finals, and of course their strongest opponent in this division, the University of Connecticut Huskies.
UConn is a team with a very long history. Even their head coach Jim Cahoon has been with the team for 39 years.
Ray Allen, Rudy Gay, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor…
These resounding names are also the best witnesses to the history of this team.
They have won two NCAA championships in school history and are also the favorite team to win this year's championship.
They ranked fourth in the survey at the beginning of the season and have not fallen out of the top five throughout the entire season.
So when the division rankings came out, they were the most aggrieved.
The soul of the team and this year's No. 1 pick, Hasheem Thabeet, said directly in front of the media: "That (first place in the division) should be our position."
Then they took it all out on their opponents.
In the first round, they defeated California State University Northridge by 58 points.
Then in the second round, they defeated the University of Maryland by 30 points and advanced all the way to the finals.
Now they finally have the opportunity to face Arizona State University, which "stealed" their position. This is bound to be an exciting game.
There were two days between the regional semifinals and the final. In order to relieve the pressure on the players, Sandek organized an intra-team table tennis match after training.
Facts have proved that this method is very effective. Amid the laughter, the team members relaxed a lot.
After the extra practice in the evening, Xu Yong, Harden and DeRozan sat on the balcony on the top floor of the arena, chatting while admiring the moonlight.
"They have that big guy inside, it will be very difficult to play." Harden said shaking his leg.
The guy he was talking about was Thabeet.
When they played against Stanford University last season, the Lopez brothers left a deep impression on them in the penalty area, but compared with Thabeet, they were like Howard standing in front of Yao Ming, and they suddenly became miniscule.
Thabeet is 2.21 meters tall, with a wingspan of 2.29 meters and a weight of 121 kilograms. He is simply a giant in the NCAA, as big as the Huskies.
He averaged 6.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game as a freshman, and he showed great success for the first time;
As a sophomore, he averaged 10.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game, making a splash;
As a junior, he averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game this season, showing his sharpness.
DeRozan nodded when he heard this. If a guy like this stands inside, you can't even think about breaking through.
You must know that the NCAA does not have three seconds of defense like the NBA. Thabeet can always squat under the basket.
"He won't be our problem." Xu Yong said at this time.
Harden and DeRozan both turned their heads in confusion upon hearing this.
"That guy's offensive skills are as rough as a dollar's worth of toilet paper. He has no offensive threat in positional battles. We only need to play fast, and his role is very limited. I believe the coach will choose that way." Xu Yong Then he said.
Both of them nodded one after another, and Xu Yong's analysis hit the nail on the head.
If such a giant-level player cannot pose a threat on the offensive end, he will inevitably become a liability on the defensive end due to his slow movement.
And the Devils are the kind of team that can play fast.
"Then we are sure to win?" Harden couldn't help but look forward to it. The final four are exciting to think about.
Xu Yong shook his head and continued: "I am worried about Kemba Walker."
"That first-year guy?" Harden was a little confused.
"He's just a substitute, right?" DeRozan also echoed.
What they said is correct. The first-year Walker is not only a substitute in this UConn team, but he has also not scored more than ten points in the previous few games. Xu Yong is actually worried about such a player.
"Do you still remember Derrick Rose last season and Isaiah Thomas this season? We haven't been able to do much with guards who are good at breaking through." Xu Yong continued.
This is not only a problem of their high outside height this season, but also that they do not have an inside line that can guard the penalty area, which is the legendary black and tough.
Ayers is not that type of player, and neither is Boateng, who comes on the bench.
Harden and DeRozan still didn't care too much. Whether it was Rose or Thomas, Walker was still far behind them.
"But Demar is right, he is just a substitute, and our chances are still greater than theirs." Xu Yong didn't want them to worry too much, and added with a smile.
He was under the impression that the UConn Conference would win the NCAA championship two years later, in 2011.
The current UConn probably hasn't realized Walker's true energy. He is like a boss that has not yet developed. Their chances are naturally high.
Hearing this, Harden and DeRozan looked expectant again in their eyes.
If we really make it to the semi-finals, will the championship be far behind?
…
The next day, the University of Phoenix Stadium was packed with more than 60,000 people, and just like the previous game, the number of Arizona fans still reached 40,000.
Arizona State University's "home field advantage" continues.
Moreover, in the auditorium of this game, scouts from the top teams in the lottery area also came to the scene.
Although Thabeet is already a junior this year, such a Giant player will be the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in any draft.
"Once Thabeet has the ball, flank him. We need to use our speed, switch with them, do the details, and believe in yourselves." Before the game, Sandek once again emphasized the strategic deployment.
As Xu Yong expected, a coach of Sandek's level would not hold back at critical moments.
"Devils! Come on!"
After a final chant and the cheers of 40,000 Arizona fans, the Devils' starters took the lead.
For the Devils, Sandek used the regular starting lineup, with Harden and DeRozan on the outside, Cooksix plus Xu Yong on the striker, and Ayers on the inside.
The Huskies' starters also made their debut soon: point guard No. 12 AJ Price, who is 1.88 meters tall, shooting guard No. 24 Craig Osterley, who is 1.90 meters tall, and small forward who is 2.01 meters tall. No. 4 Jeff Adrian, 2.06-meter power forward No. 21 Stanley Robinson, and center No. 34 Thabeet.
UConn's five starters and three quasi-NBA players are not bad at all in terms of talent.
However, Kemba Walker, like the previous games, did not appear in the starting lineup.
And it’s worth mentioning that their team’s second-leading scorer, Jerome Dyson, who is also an NBA prospect, was injured in February this year. This is why the NCAA organizing committee did not list them as the top seed. main reason.
Thabeet flicked the ball over Ayers' head back to half court, giving the Huskies their first chance.
Thabeet pressed Ayers with his back in the frontcourt and reached for the ball.
When your team has a giant like Thabeet and meets an opponent like the Devils whose center is no more than 2.1 meters tall, it is not appropriate to not dig inside.
Price's passing skills are solid, and he lobbed the ball to Thabeet at the right time.
Thabeet caught the ball, glanced at the position of other defenders, made sure there was no flanking attack, then turned around and hit the board.
But just when he was about to take the ball, he suddenly felt a lightness in his hand. When he looked down, he saw that the ball was gone!
The coach lays out the tactics, but the tactics rely on the players to execute them.
In this round just now, Xu Yong can be said to have perfectly executed Sandek's flanking strategy.
Because he did not attack immediately, but waited for Thabit to turn back before shrinking in to attack, which directly deceived Thabit.
Of course, this is also related to his speed. Although he plays the fourth position, his speed is at the level of a swingman.
After completing the steal, Xu Yong once again perfectly executed Sandek's strategy of playing fast, dribbling the ball directly from the backcourt and launching a fast break!
The cheers of the Arizona fans at the scene could not be stopped.
When all the power forwards on your team can hold the ball and move down the field quickly, you will only have one emotion left, excitement!
Price has been guarding Xu Yong, and he has done a pretty good job without losing his position or risking a steal.
However, when the two sides entered the penalty area, he found that what he had done in front was useless.
Because Xu Yong ignored him and jumped up in front of him like a spring.
"Bang!"
In the sight of the fans, Xu Yong jumped into the air directly over Price's face, and smashed the ball into the basket with one hand through the opponent!
The University of Phoenix Stadium burst into flames.
What a violent style of fighting!
On the bench on the sidelines, Kahun couldn't help coughing with his empty fists in his hands.
This time Ma Wei slapped him directly in the face.
In the Huskies' offense, Thabeet was more determined to get the ball in the low post.
As the player with the highest status and seniority in the team, and also the player who held back the most energy in this game, it was too embarrassing to be stopped at the beginning.
Price continued to feed the ball in. This time Thabeet held the ball and observed Xu Yong's double attack, and quickly completed the shot before Xu Yong's double attack.
It's just that his hand skills were really bad, and Chi Chi's hitting board unexpectedly popped out of the frame!
Fortunately, he was skilled enough and long enough to grab the rebound into his arms and continue to make a hook shot.
Although Ayers was right underneath him, the height difference made him feel like the other person was just air.
Oh no, the more than 70 centimeters between him and the basket is his own exclusive dessert area.
If you can’t score once, you’ll play a second time. If you don’t score, you’ll play a third or fourth time. It’s just a few more shots!
That's what he thought, but the moment he took action, someone broke into his exclusive area.
"boom!"
Before he could react, a big hat hit his head and face.
Slow, too slow!
During the Olympics last year, Xu Yong trained with Yao Ming in the national team, and played offense and defense with Yao Ming's main team as a substitute.
Even Yao Ming, who has gained weight and is still suffering from leg injuries, is much faster than Thabeet.
This is the difference in pure talent.
No wonder this guy didn't produce anything after entering the NBA. With this speed and those buttery hands, he can't play in the NBA at all!
In the fight for the ball on the floor, Cooksix jumped to the ground to grab the ball and threw it to Harden.
The Devils once again hit a fast break, and this time DeRozan followed up with the ball and flew for a layup and scored two points.
0 to 4.
The Devils' opening performance would be at least a nine out of ten.
The scene quickly cuts to Cahoon.
The Devils played very targeted in the opening game. If the Huskies really want to continue to hit the low post like this, they will probably be beaten in the opening game.
In the shot, Cahoon stood up and made a new tactical gesture towards Price.
As a living fossil-level coach, Kahun's reaction speed is not too slow.
After the Huskies advanced into the frontcourt, Price held the ball and Thabeet played a pick-and-roll on the strong side.
This ball showed Thabeet's size very well, and Harden was basically blocked and unable to move.
Moreover, Thabeet also has a good sense of dismantling the ball and quickly cuts to the basket.
Price quickly fed the ball, and Thabeet chose to take action early after seeing that Xu Yong was coming to help defend again.
There was no problem with this choice, but the next second everyone was stunned.
Because after the ball was shot... it didn't even touch the basket or backboard, it just crossed the bridge!
As soon as Xu Yong stretched out his hand, he inexplicably got a steal.
The Arizona fans in the stands were entertained.
The scouts looked at him thoughtfully.
In the opening three attacks, one was intercepted, one was risked, and one crossed the bridge.
Thabeet's offensive ability can't be said to be bad, it's simply nonexistent!
This also makes them have to doubt the possibility of Thabeet becoming the No. 1 pick. After all, Thabeet is also a junior player.
At this time on the court, Harden, who completed a fast break dunk after receiving a pass from Xu Yong, pointed at Xu Yong with a smile.
There was something wrong with what Xu Yong said last night. Thabit's offensive skills were said to cost one dollar of toilet paper. That was disrespectful to toilet paper!
