The preseason is about to begin, and USC's first game is against the UC Irvine Anteaters.
UC Irvine belongs to the Big Western Conference and ranked fifth in the conference last season. Historically, UC Irvine has not made it to March Madness or produced any NBA stars. Most of their players are juniors and seniors with average talent.
For USC, facing such an opponent in the season opener is more about training and fine-tuning their lineup.
The game took place at the USC Galen Center Basketball Arena, not at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as commonly thought.
Many people associate USC with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, given its historical significance as a venue for two Olympic Games. However, the Memorial Coliseum is an outdoor stadium and not suitable for indoor basketball.
Southern California has a dedicated basketball venue in the Galen Center. While smaller than the Memorial Coliseum, the Galen Center can accommodate between 9,000 to 18,000 spectators, making it a standard basketball venue.
The starting lineup for the opener was Marcus Simmons, DeMar DeRozan, Dwight Lewis, Taj Gibson, and Keith Wilkinson. DeRozan played as the starting shooting guard, while Gibson took the starting power forward position.
This away game was packed with spectators as soon as they entered the arena. The atmosphere was electric, filled with constant whistles and cheers that could rival an NBA game.
Even before the game began, the excitement in the air was palpable. Once the game started, the fans' cheers and shouts were deafening, echoing throughout the arena.
This is the essence of American basketball culture. Even at the beginning of the season, the intensity rivaled that of the NBA. During March Madness, it would surpass even NBA games. On NCAA Finals day, all NBA teams pause to acknowledge the importance of college basketball.
For Lian Dao, this was his first time experiencing the arena atmosphere since his rebirth. Feeling the vibrant basketball ambiance of NCAA competition once more, Dao was exhilarated.
[The NCAA league is underway, and Novice Task 2 has been released:
1. Win the 'Parker Ten League' division championship.
2. Defeat an opponent in the divisional competition and acquire their game jersey (must be a player who can enter or is currently in the NBA).
Rewards:
1. Randomly increase one talent attribute potential to 94.
2. Obtain a jersey talent draw. ]
Hearing the system prompt after more than two months, Lian Dao focused deeply to review the tasks.
Task 1 seemed achievable—a shared goal for Lian Dao and the team. However, Task 2 presented a challenge. Winning against opponents required not only securing victories but also outperforming them statistically, with the opponent being a future or current NBA player.
Hey, sickle, what's the matter? Feeling a little nervous? Take it easy buddy, you've got this!" DeRozan said, patting Lian Dao's shoulder reassuringly as they stood together.
"Um, I'm fine, just really excited," Lian Dao replied, withdrawing his focus from the system and following DeRozan to the bench.
As the game began, Wilkinson secured the ball off the jump ball, passing to DeRozan who swiftly drove to the basket and executed a powerful dunk. On the defensive end, Gibson made a crucial block, leading to Marcus passing to Lewis for a successful layup.
The fans in attendance were left stunned. Was this the top 15 team in the nation? They displayed incredible strength right from the start!
This defensive counterattack set the tone for the entire game. Despite the opposing coach's tactical adjustments after timeouts, the disparity in talent between the two teams was evident.
While the opponents managed to score, USC widened their lead continuously. Despite the Anteaters' defensive experience, USC's relentless physical play caused their defensive line to crumble. The game highlighted a clear truth: in the face of superior talent, experience often counts for little.
USC dominated with over 80 points against the Anteaters.
In NCAA games, teams have 35 seconds per attack, and the game lasts 40 minutes with 20-minute halves.
This game's slow pace typically results in lower scores. Few teams exceed 70 points in NCAA competition, with most hovering around 50-60 points.
Ultimately, USC triumphed 85-52 in their season opener.
It sounds like USC had an impressive start! Here's a revised version:
Four USC players reached double figures in scoring, with strong contributions from others as well. DeRozan led the team with 24 points, along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Gibson also stood out with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Lian Dao played 15 minutes as Lewis' substitute and had an excellent performance, making 4 out of 5 three-point attempts for 12 points and 6 assists, though he didn't record any rebounds or blocks.
The team's strong start in the opener has boosted confidence among all the players, setting the stage for continued success in the upcoming games.
In the first four preseason games, USC faced relatively weaker opponents, which made them experiment with different lineups. During these games, Lian Dao averaged 15 minutes per game, scoring 8.4 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, dishing out 5.4 assists, and blocking 2.3 shots per game on average.
In their fifth preseason game, USC faced off against their rivals, the Missouri Tigers.
Missouri opened with a stifling 2-3 zone defense, frustrating DeRozan who was blocked twice by their power forward, while USC's perimeter shooters struggled to find their range. Breaking through such a defense required effective outside shooting, but USC's shots weren't falling, forcing them to refocus on defense and halt Missouri's relentless attacks.
However, USC's defensive efforts fell short as they struggled to contain Missouri's sharpshooter, DeMarre Carroll. By halftime, USC found themselves trailing by a substantial 17 points, with the score at 25-42.
Despite their superior overall strength, USC's complacency after four easy wins had become their Achilles' heel. Offensively disjointed and defensively unfocused, they allowed Missouri to dominate the first half.
In the locker room, Tim erupted in frustration, delivering a fiery speech.
"Your defense is worse than an old lady sweeping the street! Lewis, are you sleepwalking out there?"
Tim then turned to his tactical board, addressing Lian Dao, "Sickle, you're going in the second half. I need two things from you: shut down their scorer and score for us. Do you understand?"
"Yes, coach. That guy can't handle me," Lian Dao replied confidently, energized by the prospect of making a difference.
With determination and fire in his eyes, Lian Dao was ready to turn the game around.
During the timeout, the two commentators in the booth kept the audience engaged with their analysis of the current game situation.
"So far, the Missouri Tigers are in the lead, and the USC Trojans haven't found their rhythm yet. They seem to be struggling against the opponent's zone defense, and their outside shooting is ice-cold," commented Smith, observing the game closely.
"They're heavily reliant on individual offense without anyone stepping up to organize their play. It works against weaker defenses but falls apart against teams like Missouri with solid defensive setups," added Haskell, nodding in agreement with his colleague.
"And on the defensive end, USC has struggled to contain Missouri's forward, DeMarre Carroll, who's been incredibly efficient with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, along with 4 rebounds and 2 blocks," Smith analyzed further, highlighting the defensive lapses on both sides.
"I wonder what adjustments Coach Tim will make during halftime to turn things around. It'll be interesting to see," mused Haskell, anticipating the strategic shifts.
"As the game resumes, let's see how both coaches tweak their strategies," Smith said, sitting up as the players prepared to return to the court.
"Missouri hasn't changed much in their lineup, but USC has subbed in their Asian player, Lian Dao, replacing starting small forward Lewis," noted Haskell, observing the substitution.
"I remember this No. 1 from the previous game. He's got a solid three-pointer and passing skills. Looks like Coach Tim wants him to break through with his shooting," Smith remarked, passing over Lian Dao's game data.
"Yeah, his dribbling is pretty slick too. His high school coach mentioned he excels in dribbling, shooting threes, and passing, though he's not known for physical play," added Haskell.
"Looks like this kid might surprise us," Smith chuckled.
"Well, let's hope this wonder boy can spark USC's comeback," Haskell concluded optimistically.