69novels Chapter 24: The Aftermath of the First Battle: USC's Dominance and Oregon's Despair
Chapter 24: The Aftermath of the First Battle: USC's Dominance and Oregon's Despair
Oregon Ducks' loyal fans watched with disappointment as the atmosphere on both benches was starkly different.
In recent years, the Oregon Ducks have repeatedly disappointed their fans. Their last appearance close to the semifinals dates back to 2002. Even after reaching the quarterfinals in the 06-07 season, they have seen a decline in subsequent seasons. Last year, they barely made it into the top 64, only to be eliminated in the first round by Mississippi State University.
In their first regular season game, the Oregon Ducks fell behind 0-8, leaving fans bewildered. If the game hadn't just started, many fans would likely have already left.
Although morale improved after the timeout, the Ducks employed a passing and cutting style of play similar to Princeton University's tactics. This tactic requires strong teamwork, relying on continuous passing, movement, and off-ball movement to create scoring opportunities.
However, the Oregon Ducks' passing execution has been less than satisfactory. USC's tight inside and outside defense has made it difficult for the Oregon Ducks to find open shots. Their third turnover was intercepted by DeRozan, who quickly launched a fast break and dunked, marking the complete failure of head coach Ernie Kent's tactical adjustments.
More than three minutes into the game, shooting guard Garrett Sim finally sank a crucial three-pointer, giving Oregon their first point of the game.
At this point, the University of Southern California was leading 14-3.
Lewis was substituted ten minutes into the game, with USC leading 28-12. Afterward, Oregon's head coach hesitated to rely on his starters. Even after Lewis left the game, DeRozan shouldered the offensive burden, showcasing his McDonald's All-Star abilities – hitting mid-range jumpers and completing various spectacular dunks.
Despite Lian Dao resting on the bench, the Oregon Ducks were unable to close the gap.
At the end of the first half, USC led by a commanding 49-32, a 17-point advantage.
At the start of the third quarter, USC fielded a "small ball lineup": point guard Daniel Hackett, shooting guard Lewis, small forward Lian Dao, power forward Gibson, and center Vucevic.
This lineup excels at scoring, with the entire team possessing excellent three-point shooting ability. Even Vucevic has developed a consistent three-point shot, a skill he honed during his summer training camp. Big men typically have a softer touch, which also helps Vucevic maintain accurate shooting from beyond the arc.
In the third quarter, USC focused on improving their outside shooting, catching their opponents off guard. Within just ten minutes, USC made numerous three-pointers with a remarkable 53.8% success rate. Lian Dao made three, Vucevic contributed two, and Daniel and Lewis each made one.
The score quickly widened to 77-48, with USC holding a massive 29-point lead and effectively securing the victory.
With little hope of a comeback, Oregon Ducks head coach Ernie Kent substituted all his starters. Similarly, Tim also replaced the USC starting lineup.
Oregon narrowed the gap with their bench players, but USC maintained their lead throughout. Ultimately, USC defeated the Oregon Ducks 83-62, securing a resounding 21-point victory.
本场比赛，连道得到21分、4个篮板和8次助攻。德罗赞贡献17分、5个篮板和3次抢断，吉布森得到11分、10个篮板和2次助攻。武切维奇首次首发，得到9分和8个篮板。三人合计贡献了全队三分之二的得分。
A strong start boosted the team's morale, with Lian Dao especially pleased. On the bus back to the hotel, the team members chatted enthusiastically about their hobbies, ranging from the charm of freshman girls to the skills of upperclassmen, and even their admiration for cheerleader Selena's figure…
Recently, the University of Southern California defeated the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers on the road, achieving a two-game winning streak to start the new season and making a good start.
USC's next opponent is a formidable rival, ranked third in ESPN's power rankings, namely their arch-rival UCLA.
All the players and coaches at USC are taking this upcoming game very seriously. UCLA has always been a nightmare opponent for USC, and this game will be a true test of USC's strength.
UCLA, ranked third in ESPN's power rankings, owes its success this season not only to its illustrious history but also to its well-coordinated perimeter play. Interestingly, their first two opponents this season were the Oregon State Beavers and the Oregon Ducks—albeit in reverse order.
Both games ended in overwhelming victories for UCLA, showcasing their dominance. However, despite UCLA's strength, we still found weaknesses in their game footage. Last season, even with a star like Westbrook, they struggled against Derrick Rose's Memphis team, failing to reach the national semifinals for the second consecutive year.
With Westbrook entering the professional league, UCLA's perimeter defense has lost a key pillar on both ends of the court. Although Holiday is averaging 10.3 points per game in the preseason and performed reasonably well in the first two regular season games, his scoring inconsistency remains—highlighting his lack of experience compared to Westbrook last season.
However, UCLA's biggest weakness this season appears to be their interior defense. In their preseason losses, they were frequently exploited by opponents' strong interior offense—a strength they excelled in last season, thanks to Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who combined for 16.6 rebounds per game, while also contributing significantly in scoring and assists.
This season, with Love and Mbah a Moute moving to the professional league, UCLA's interior strength has clearly declined. While players like Alfred Abaya and Nikola Dragovic are talented, their basketball IQ and physical strength are not comparable to their predecessors, making UCLA's interior defense vulnerable.
However, underestimating UCLA would be a mistake. Head coach Ben Holland has led the team to success since taking over in the 2003-04 season. Despite losing several key players this year, Holland's strategic vision has still led UCLA to a 10-2 preseason record and a perfect 2-0 start to the regular season.