Chapter 1 Don't Be Affected by Your Opponent's Opening

"Don't be affected by your opponent's opening state. They can't maintain this shooting percentage all the time, maintain the defensive intensity, and attack the basket more on the offensive end." Calhoun shouted loudly to his players at this time.

The noisy environment of more than 70,000 people at the scene made it difficult to calm down. Even an old coach like him seemed a little uneasy.

Tang Tian's mind was also racing at this time.

Duke's offense is too well-matched inside and out, and Coach K's tactical system is already very mature, using pick-and-rolls, mismatches and other basic basketball tactics to create opportunities and give players enough freedom on the court.

Coach K is also the head coach of the US team. Whether it is the US team or Duke, this tactical system is very suitable for this type of talented team.

It's really a bit difficult for UConn to limit their offense.

Compared to defense, the best way for them to change the situation is to play offensively and use offense to drive defense.

"Kemba, that Plumlee does a good job of defending in the paint. Try to finish with mid-range shots or floaters when facing Kelly." When he came on the court, Tang Tian pulled Walker aside and told him.

With Duke's lineup, Kelly is their best breakthrough on the offensive end.

After the timeout, neither side made any adjustments to their lineup.

In UConn's offense, Tang Tian continued to pick-and-roll for Walker. After Walker broke away from his opponent Kelly, he ducked down and broke through inside. One step inside the free throw line, he made a sudden stop and threw a floater away from Kelly.

This move of his has the style of his idol Parker.

Plumlee pounced out desperately to help defend.

"Bang!"

The ball passed Plumlee's defense and hit the front of the basket and popped out.

However, with Plumlee out on the help defense, Oriakhi was left open under the basket, and he seized the opportunity to score a putback.

UConn finally continued to score.

The UConn fans at the scene cheered, and Calhoun's timeout had an immediate effect.

Duke turned around and played a配合, and Singler received a pass from Smith and drew a foul on Oriakhi again.

After making both free throws, Duke still led 11-4.

Tang Tian continued to pick-and-roll for Walker in the frontcourt. Walker played Kelly again, and this time Walker seized the opportunity and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

6 to 11, a 5-point difference.

Although they failed to contain Duke's offense, they also scored successively after the timeout, keeping the point difference close.

After consecutive offensive successes, UConn's aggressiveness on the defensive end was significantly improved, and the zone defense was done very well.

Irving took a three-point shot after Kelly's pick-and-roll on the outside, and Tang Tian jumped up to interfere.

"Bang!"

Irving's three-pointer was interfered with and missed, and Oriakhi grabbed the defensive rebound.

Walker held the ball to counterattack. Duke directly double-teamed. Walker made a mistake in passing the ball in the double-team. After Smith got the ball, Duke counterattacked. Irving received a pass from Smith and took another three-point shot.

Lamb rushed back and desperately interfered.

"Bang!"

Irving missed consecutive three-pointers, and Tang Tian grabbed the rebound.

UConn countered with a fast break, but Walker's three-pointer after catching the ball in the frontcourt also failed to hit.

After each team launched a wave of offense, both teams' shooting percentages were declining.

Coach K reacted very quickly, and seeing that Irving wasn't feeling well, he directly called Seth Curry up from the bench.

When Irving was out due to injury, Curry was the team's starting point guard.

Curry dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, passed the ball to Smith, and then ran without the ball around the screen.

Like his brother Stephen Curry, Seth is also a combo guard who can play with and without the ball.

UConn was playing a 2-3 zone at this time. Curry got a chance with the help of his teammates' continuous screens. Smith made a pass with anticipation, and Curry took a dry three-point shot after receiving the ball.

Roscoe Smith's defense was half a beat slow, and the block he pounced out to interfere with was limited.

"Swish!"

Curry's first three-point attempt from the outside was accurately pocketed.

The Duke fans at the scene cheered and raised their hands.

Stephen Curry's three-point performance in the NCAA is still fresh in the minds of fans. Now that his brother is a popular rookie in the league, this three-pointer from the younger brother is to keep up with his brother's pace.

In UConn's frontcourt offense, Lamb ran out for a chance, but his mid-range shot after receiving the ball still missed. His touch wasn't online tonight.

This is also the most disadvantageous thing for UConn compared to Duke. If a player on Duke's team isn't feeling well, they can directly replace him with a player of similar strength, but no one can replace him on UConn.

NCAA generally only has a few talented players in a school, but Duke isn't like that. That's the most rogue thing about it.

Plumlee grabbed the defensive rebound, and Smith dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and continued to signal Curry to run.

This time UConn's defense kept up, and Curry didn't have a good shooting opportunity after receiving the ball.

Plumlee took the initiative to set a high pick.

Curry was very smart. At the moment the pick-and-roll formed, he directly pulled up for a three-pointer before Walker could get around it.

"Swish!"

Curry's cold-blooded three-pointer went in again!

"Woah! The Curry family are all three-point sharpshooters!" Barkley couldn't help but exclaimed in the commentary booth.

Curry's two three-pointers instantly turned the 5-point difference into 11 points!

Three-pointers are really the most lethal weapon.

Calhoun didn't call another timeout, but signaled the players to switch back to man-to-man defense.

11 points is already a very dangerous point difference for UConn. If they can't continue to score, the game may really be blown out directly in the first half as Barkley said.

"Come on! Connecticut Huskies!"

The UConn fans at the scene shouted to cheer for UConn.

Tang Tian continued to pick-and-roll for Walker in the frontcourt. This time Duke didn't switch, and Walker seized the opportunity to pass the ball back to Tang Tian.

Tang Tian received the ball, but Kelly flew out and desperately blocked it.

Also a stretch four, Kelly can be said to know Tang Tian very well. As long as he pounces on him, it will be difficult for Tang Tian to hit the ball.

Kelly's judgment was correct, but he underestimated Tang Tian's basketball IQ.

After seeing Kelly pounce so thoroughly, Tang Tian took the ball and dribbled one step to the side, directly letting Kelly fly past him.

After Kelly disappeared from sight, he aimed at the basket and shot.

Open three-pointers can only have a high shooting percentage if they are not interfered with by defense, but it doesn't mean that he can only squat there and wait to catch the ball for a three-pointer. This kind of shot after shaking people away is also undefended.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian's three-pointer was a clean swish, returning an answerball to Curry!

The point difference returned to 8 points.

The UConn fans at the scene cheered continuously.

This three-pointer was quite critical, pulling UConn, which was almost on the edge of the cliff, back abruptly!

In Duke's offense, Smith's breakthrough pass after the pick-and-roll was seen through by Tang Tian. Tang Tian pounced out and directly snatched the ball. After stealing the ball, he threw the ball to Walker.

Walker received the ball and quickly advanced. He opened up Curry with a layup in the frontcourt and banked it in!

11 to 17, after Curry scored two consecutive three-pointers, UConn immediately responded with a wave of 5-0!

"Haha, Charles, what did I tell you? Walker's ability, Tang's energy, this University of Connecticut team is really not weak!" Smith finally felt proud and said with a loud laugh at this time.