In the following two days, everyone regained their form.
Now, the regular season of the Parker Ten League is set to kick off. The first game isn't against USC's archrival, but against the Oregon Ducks.
This USC game is an away game, hosted at the MacArthur Court Arena, home of the University of Oregon.
Since their championship win in 1938-1939, the Oregon Ducks haven't made it to the Final Four and rarely reach the national championship. Therefore, their overall strength isn't formidable. Unless there's a surprise, they're likely to miss out on the NCAA tournament. Their preseason record of 6 wins and 6 losses in 12 games is somewhat underwhelming for the prestigious Parker Ten League.
On Friday, January 2, 2009, the game took place at MacArthur Court Arena.
Lian Dao and his teammates entered the arena. Lian Dao had been there earlier in the morning for practice and to familiarize himself with the venue, but it was empty then.
Now, as they looked around, the stands were packed with spectators. Despite being the home ground of the Oregon Ducks, there were still USC fans in red jerseys scattered throughout. Among them, Lian Dao spotted several fans wearing his jersey number and holding up cheering slogans.
Upon entering the arena, Lian Dao waved to these supporters first. Some might have saved up for months just to attend one of his games.
Lian Dao was determined not to let down these loyal fans.
During warm-ups, Lian Dao continued his routine of making several extremely long three-pointers. DeRozan, with Lian Dao's assistance, also thrilled the crowd with two 360-degree dunks, adding to the lively atmosphere.
The starting lineup for Southern California in this game is: Point guard: Daniel Hackett; Shooting guard: DeMar DeRozan; Small forward: Lian Dao; Power forward: Taj Gibson; Center: Nikola Vucevic.
It was Vucevic's debut, and he was both nervous and excited, audibly breathing heavily on the sidelines to calm himself. Seeing Vucevic's tense expression, Lian Dao walked over and patted him on the back.
"Relax, man. I'll draw the defense for you. Just focus on putting the ball in the hoop when I pass it to you. Believe in yourself!"
Lian Dao's words reassured Vucevic, visibly easing his tension as he nodded in response.
Not saying more, Lian Dao understood that everyone faced similar pressures. To advance further, overcoming such moments was essential.
The Oregon Ducks also announced their starting lineup: Point guard: Tajuan Porter (168cm); Shooting guard: Garrett Sim (188cm); Small forward: LeKendrick Longmire (196cm); Power forward: Joevan Catron (198cm); Center: Michael Dunigan (206cm).
Overall, the Oregon Ducks were shorter compared to USC. Vucevic stood at 2.13 meters, Gibson at 2.06 meters, and Lian Dao at 2.04 meters. Daniel Hackett measured 1.96 meters on the guard line, while DeRozan was officially listed at 2.01 meters.
This game truly exemplified basketball as a sport dominated by giants.
As the players lined up for the tip-off, Oregon's center Michael Dunigan hesitated briefly before complying. Being the tallest on Oregon's roster, he had little choice but to jump.
At the referee's toss, Vucevic deftly tapped the ball to Daniel. Even at the highest point of Dunigan's jump, he only managed to touch Vucevic's wrist.
This sequence underscored a fundamental truth: talent is crucial in basketball.
With the opening possession, Daniel dribbled past mid-court and passed the ball to Lian Dao, reaffirming Lian Dao's role as the team's offensive core. Recognizing Lian Dao's pivotal role, Tim had unanimously endorsed him.
Lian Dao's first action was a three-pointer over LeKendrick Longmire. Lian Dao's remarkable wingspan visibly startled Longmire, who watched with envy.
On the defensive end, USC's substitution of Vucevic had noticeably improved their defensive agility and speed, countering Oregon's smaller, quicker lineup.
Oregon's point guard, Tajuan Porter, observed USC's quick retreat and opted against a fast break, instead slowing the pace to orchestrate half-court offense.
Porter's speed was a standout attribute, compensating for his height of just 1.68 meters. He swiftly maneuvered past Daniel's defense, driving to the basket for a layup.
However, Vucevic contested the shot, swatting Porter's attempt and securing the rebound with his height advantage.
This sequence demonstrated the dynamic play: a graceful layup followed by a decisive block.
After securing the rebound, Vucevic quickly passed the ball to Lian Dao, who initiated a fast break. Oregon's speed advantage was evident as they swiftly retreated on defense.
Facing a double-team, Lian Dao recognized Oregon coach Ernie Kent's defensive adjustment. Knowing Lian Dao's impressive 52.3% three-point shooting, Kent opted for double-teams to force Lian Dao to pass.
Responding cleverly, Lian Dao feigned a three-point attempt to draw the double-team before passing to an open DeRozan cutting to the basket. DeRozan soared over the defense, dunking over Joevan Catron. After the dunk, DeRozan stared down at Catron, his arms folded defiantly, asserting dominance.
Caught off guard, Catron could only wonder if DeRozan had springs in his shoes, awestruck by the ferocity of the dunk.
As the ball went through the hoop despite Catron's block attempt, DeRozan completed a "2+1" play, scoring while drawing a foul.
DeRozan calmly sank the free throw.
Just one minute into the game, USC led 6-0, unsettling the Oregon Ducks' head coach, Ernie Kent. While he anticipated a tough game, he didn't want to suffer a humiliating defeat at home, potentially marking the largest point differential in their history.
Meanwhile, the composed veteran coach Tim observed the game with the ease of a seasoned strategist, almost enjoying it like a spectator with a cup of coffee in hand on the sidelines. Despite wanting to be anxious, the team's strength and talent spoke for themselves.
Next, the Oregon Ducks missed a perimeter shot, and Gibson grabbed the defensive rebound. USC opted not to rush into a fast break, instead passing the ball to point guard Daniel.
They advanced slowly.
Seeing Lian Dao heavily guarded and not calling for the ball, Daniel took matters into his own hands. Using a pick set by DeRozan, Daniel maneuvered past Tajuan Porter and drove straight to the basket. After laying the ball off the backboard, Lian Dao, adorned in his USC No. 1 jersey, cut to the rim, leapt up, extended his arms, and controlled the ball before dunking it.
Though Lian Dao's dunk lacked finesse due to his moderate jumping ability, its raw power and aggression made it a spectacle of intense athleticism.
The dunk momentarily silenced the crowd before erupting into cheers and admiration.
Lian Dao was taken aback by the reception. After all, this was an away game, not at USC's Galen Center Arena.
Had that dunk turned Oregon Ducks' fans against their own team?
Despite scoring only two points, Lian Dao's dunk dealt a severe blow to Oregon Ducks' morale.
Coach Ernie Kent had no choice but to call a timeout promptly.
Disappointed, the Oregon Ducks players left the court, not expecting their home fans to turn on them in such a manner.
It was a significant setback for them.
Ernie Kent tried to boost the morale of his dejected players with motivational speeches, but bridging the gap in overall strength couldn't be accomplished with just a few pep talks. Meanwhile, on Tim's side, players and coaches shared a strong bond, engaging in lively conversations and laughter.