Chapter 17: The Power of the Prophet
The NCAA game is divided into two halves, with a 15-minute break at halftime.
After the first half of the battle, both teams returned to their respective dressing rooms to rest.
Cajon was also in the dressing room to sum up the team's performance in the first half and what to look out for in the second half.
'We played really well in the first half and continued to defend at this intensity and the opposition was obviously uncomfortable.
'But it's their home stadium and they're certainly not going to give up easily, so we have to stay focused in the second half.'
……
"Kemba, if you have a chance on the outside in the second half, you can choose to pass."
Cajon said suddenly, speaking to Walker alone.
In the first half, Tang Tian's defensive performance after his debut was already satisfactory to him, but he still had expectations for Tang Tian's performance on the outside.
It's just that this expectation is only his own, so he didn't say it obviously, and with Tang Tian's current status in the team, it is impossible for him to design tactics for him alone.
Walker wiped his sweat and nodded, he scored a lot in the first half, but the physical exertion was not small.
With just over five minutes to go before the start of the second half, Cajon gave his players a final rest and he and Ollie went out first.
Seeing that the two coaches were gone, Tang Tian got up and walked to Walker and sat down.
"Kemba, you were in such good shape in the first half, the opposite side will definitely wrap you up when you come back from the other half, even if you don't do that, they will at least let Clay defend you alone, remember to divide the ball more." Tang Tian said to Walker.
His words were loud, but they were heard by Lamb and Napier in addition to Walker.
They all looked at Tang Tian suspiciously, not knowing why he wanted to say what Cajon had said again.
"I see." To their surprise, Walker nodded earnestly.
The person next to him didn't feel anything, but the feeling of the person in question, Walker, when he heard the two people say, was completely different.
Cajon just gave him a chance to pass more, but Tang Tian said that the opponent's possible strategic adjustment made him watch out for this in advance.
This is the same reason as when Ollie yelled at Oriage, Tang Tian's coaching level in his previous life was higher than that of Cajon and Ollie, and he naturally knew how to make the players understand and accept it as quickly as possible.
"And Alex, don't improve your position to block and dismantle, let Orlander do it, your height has an advantage on the inside, once we can't shoot, you can grab more rebounds in the front court." Tang Tian said to Oriarchie again.
Oriage nodded directly, Tang Tian had mentioned a few words to him when he played Marquette University before, and he had benefited a lot from it until now.
At this time, Lamb and Napier looked at Tang Tian in surprise.
Walker and Tang Tian have a good relationship, and Tang Tian just reminded them, and Walker accepted them and could understand.
But Oriage is also a second-year student! Tang Tian's words just now were almost all in the coach's tone, and Oriage was not surprised at all, and nodded directly without even the slightest hesitation?
"What? Do I have dirt on my face? Tang Tian saw the expressions of the two and reached out to touch his face.
"Nope." Lamb and Napier smiled awkwardly, then turned their heads away.
After halftime, the starters of the two teams continued to appear, and on Kangda's side, Tang Tian was still not in the starting lineup.
In the second half, Washington State University's offense came up, Thompson was still running without the ball, Smith was trying to keep up with UConn, and his teammates were actively helping him defend.
However, just when Kangda's attention was focused on Thompson, the defender suddenly passed the ball to the inside, and while Oriage was pinned down by the pick-and-roll, their center shot directly on the inside.
As soon as they came back in the second half, the home team took the lead.
The margin was narrowed to 11 points.
Tang Tian turned his head at this time and glanced at the bench in the other half, this coach named Bena, what he said before the game was a bit big, but the level was not bad.
Although Thompson was not well defended by Tang Tianfang in the first half, no one dared to despise him, and Benett used this to attract the defense, and then create scoring opportunities for other points, once Kangda was distracted to defend other points, Thompson could also run out of opportunities to shoot directly.
This is equivalent to making adjustments on the basis of the first half of the game, so that the attack has directly changed from a point to a system.
Kangda's offense, Walker's ball-handling.
Sure enough, as Tang Tian said, Washington State University also made adjustments on the defensive end, and they directly asked Thompson to defend Walker.
Ace vs. ace is not common in basketball games, especially in the NCAA, where the ace of the first team is responsible for the team's scoring, and if you defend the opponent's ace, you will definitely be physically exhausted.
Lamb and Napier turned their heads to look at Tang Tian at this time, and the surprised expressions in their eyes were even worse.
The opponent's adjustment was actually given by Tang Tian!
Walker broke through Thompson with a series of changes of direction, and he was faster than Thompson.
However, his successive breakthroughs did not create easy scoring opportunities.
Thompson's defense was surprisingly good.
Benett smiled smugly.
Most people only see Thompson's performance on the offensive end, but ignore his deterrent power on the defensive end.
If you really put your heart into defense, Thompson's defense is not much worse than that Tang Tian on the opposite side!
Walker's final layup deflected off the basket with Thompson's interference, and the rebound was also picked up by Thompson.
The scene erupted in cheers.
Coming back in the second half, the home team gave them hope of winning.
Washington State's offense, the same tactic, this time it was their guard, suddenly held the ball and went inside to score a layup.
The difference was narrowed to 9 points.
Cajon got up and walked to the sidelines, reminding the players to be aware of the other players.
His reaction wasn't too slow.
Cancer's offense, Walker's ball handling continued to be marked by Thompson.
Because it wasn't a bag, Walker had the heart to pass the ball but his teammates didn't have a chance, so this time he opted for a pull-up jump shot that changed backwards.
But Thompson, who is 2.01 meters tall, still gives enough interference after jumping.
"Bang!"
Walker came back in the second half and missed two shots in a row.
But at this moment, Oriache under the basket pressed the interior of Washington State University to grab the offensive rebound, and then passed to Walker.
This second attack was not expected by Thompson, and he did not have time to return to defense.
Walker hits a throw from close range.
The margin was reopened to 11 points.
Benett originally looked proud, and this offensive rebound was obviously unexpected by him.
And at this time, on the bench on Kangda's side, Lamb and Napier already had a ghostly expression when they looked at Tang Tian again.
You must know that Oriarchie went to rush the front court board and Tang Tian told him at halftime.
Tang Tian, do you have the ability to be a prophet of the unknown?!