In the commentary box, Barkley saw that USC got off to a 5-0 start at the start. Barkley couldn't help but smile from ear to ear with joy!
Buckley felt that this was the effect of his poisonous milk taking effect!
However, the Louisville Cardinals are experienced after all, and Terrence Williams didn't have the touch in the opening game, so he no longer forced shots.
Instead, he uses breakthroughs to attract the defense, and then passes the ball to open teammates on the outside.
At this time, Jerry Smith made a three-pointer after passing the ball from the outside.
Then in the next round, Earl Clark also hit a three-pointer from the outside!
However, USC did not show weakness. First, Lian Dao passed Dwight's screen and hit a three-pointer from the outside.
Then there was a breakthrough pass to Dwight, who also made a three-pointer from the outside.
Then Lian Dao interfered with Earl Clark's shot from the outside.
After USC grabbed the rebound, Lian Dao assisted Gibson in hitting a three-pointer from the outside.
USC started the game with four three-pointers, and three of them made them respectively.
14:6.
This immediately prompted Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino to call a timeout.
The feeling here in Southern California is that if the Louisville Cardinals still defend the 2-3 zone, this game may go far.
The Louisville Cardinals, who came back from the timeout, have indeed changed their tactics. They no longer adopt the previous 2-3 zone defense, but a 3-2 zone defense.
This kind of defense is still based on zone defense, but its main defensive focus is on outside players.
This is a tactic the Louisville Cardinals use to counter Southern California's hot outside.
USC still uses a 2-3 zone defense.
Terrence Williams returned from timeout and continued to try three-pointers from the outside.
As soon as he took the shot, he immediately ran inside.
At this time, the advantage of USC's 2-3 zone defense was revealed. At this time, the penalty area was simply a piece of iron.
Terrence Williams simply can't get into a good position.
Lian Dao jumped up and stretched out his hand to collect the defensive rebound, then handed it to Daniel Hackett and then ran all the way.
Lian Dao received a pass from Daniel Hackett on the outside.
Seeing the opponent's 3-2 zone defense, Lian Dao didn't force the shot. He directly passed the basketball to Gibson, shook off Earl Clark's defense, and ran towards the bottom corner.
Lian Dao, who came to the corner, received Gibson's pass and shot a three-pointer from the corner.
There are two weak spots in the 3-2 zone defense, one of which is the corner three-point line.
17:6.
USC has established an 11-point advantage at this time.
Rick Pitino found that the 3-2 zone defense still couldn't prevent Lian Dao's movement, and he really didn't expect that Gibson, the center, could actually pass the ball.
In fact, Gibson's passing is based on a tactical system, and his own passing ability is not very good.
But this is already pretty good. This is not a critical moment to teach Rick Pitino a lesson!
At the same time, Gibson's passing also made the scouts in the audience shine. They really didn't expect that Gibson, who was already a senior, could come up with something new!
Next, Lian Dao started to focus on Earl Clark.
Sure enough, Terrence Williams' previous outside shot failed, which made him no longer choose outside shots.
Instead, the ball was passed to Earl Clark.
Terrence Williams' pass was a little short, which made Earl Clark's reception uncomfortable.
So after getting the ball, I adjusted it and took off to prepare for the shot.
It was time for adjustment, and Lian Dao had already arrived.
The two people took off almost at the same time.
Looking at Lian Dao in the air, Earl Clark looked surprised, but he was already in the air and had to take action.
Although Earl Clark has raised his shot height as much as possible.
But it was still rubbed by Lian Dao's fingertips.
After the collision, Lian Dao hurriedly took two steps back to the inside and then took off a second time.
Accurately predict the landing point of the basketball and get the ball in your hands.
Then there was a wave of passes, and DeMar followed up with a dunk.
19:6.
Next, Terrence Williams finally hit a three-pointer from the outside.
The Louisville Cardinals also increased their defensive intensity against Lian Dao on the outside.
Lian Dao didn't have a better chance to make a move for a while.
At this time, Demar's talent was revealed. He constantly broke through the opponent's perimeter defense and broke through to the basket to complete the score.
The opponent's 3-2 zone defense was unable to deal with DeMar's powerful breakthrough ability for a while.
If the opponent double-teams from the outside, Lian Dao in the bottom corner will immediately receive a pass from Demar.
And relying on Lian Dao's open three-point shooting rate, it was basically a perfect shot.
And if Samardo Samuels on the inside helps defend, Gibson will receive a pass from DeMar, and then dunk easily!
At this time, another weak point of the 3-2 zone defense is highlighted: the basket!
Although the Louisville Cardinals continued to score in the next period.
But Earl Clark was severely restricted by Lian Dao.
Earl Clark was taken care of by Lian Dao on the outside, so he never had a chance to take action.
On the inside, Earl Clark found that his strength could not withstand Lian Dao at all.
So far, Earl Clark's layup has been blocked twice by Lian Dao, and including the previous three-point block, it has been blocked three times.
On the offensive end, Lian Dao's outside output also made Earl Clark lose his temper.
This made Earl Clark look frustrated.
He even wanted to switch defenses with Terrence Williams.
At this time, Rick Pitino also saw something was wrong with Earl Clark.
So, the second timeout of the first half was immediately called.
The score came to 34:18.
"The Louisville Cardinals called a timeout. Earl Clark seemed to have a mental problem. Logically speaking, as a junior, he is unlikely to have problems. But Rick Pitino can definitely find a way to limit sickle."
Barkley continues his unique style of commentary!
But this time he didn't have all the effects of the show.
Because the Louisville Cardinals can no longer find a way to limit Southern California, the outcome of this game is basically decided!
"Rick Pitino should double-team Lian Dao."
"Double team? Charles, did you forget that there is a DeMar in USC?"
"No, Kenny, compared to Demar, they need to restrain sickle first!"
"As for DeMar, Rick Pitino will definitely work hard on the inside."
Barkley still sees the problem very clearly.
After returning from the timeout, it was no longer Earl Clark who defended Lian Dao, but Terrence Williams and Jerry Smith.
As long as Lian Dao holds the ball on the outside, the opponent will form a double-team, and Lian Dao passes to Demar.
Earl Clark's defensive advantage came into play. He directly gave up on Dwight and chose to cover DeMar.
This directly caused Demar's successive attacks to be frustrated.
After DeMar passed the ball to Dwight, Dwight misfired from the outside and missed several shots in succession.
At this time, the Louisville Cardinals actually launched a 10:2 offense during this period.
The score advantage of USC has returned to single digits again.
36:28.
At this time, Barkley looked at Kenny, meaning: It's just as I expected!
Tim called a timeout. Although there were still 3 minutes left before the end of the first half, if the Louisville Cardinals were allowed to chase points, the opponent would probably tie the score in the first half.
"Dwight, please take a rest first and bring a substitute for the second half." Tim first said to Dwight, who had no touch.