CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77, PRESTI: GOD, DON’T COME IN!

"That inner cut was perfect."

"Who said Kentucky doesn’t have teamwork? They played that beautifully."

"The first two plays revolved around Zeng Xing, and when everyone thought he’d take a three-pointer, he went for a two-pointer instead."

"Zeng Xingyang truly uses his brain to play, making strategic choices based on the opponent’s defensive tactics."

The University of Kentucky fans were incredibly excited, as Kentucky played smoothly in the game’s first two rounds.

Duke University’s Coach K shouted from the sidelines, "Don’t fall for fake moves so easily, watch the spacing."

Coach K, whose full name is Mike Sheissefsky, is a Hall of Fame coach and one of the most renowned active college coaches in the United States.

During his NCAA tenure, his team achieved a 1017-310 record, and in NCAA tournaments, an 87-26 record with four national championships.

On the court, Winslow and Grayson Allen exchanged looks, feeling overwhelmed.

The University of Kentucky had numerous offensive options, and the scouting report on Zeng Xingyang just warned about his three-pointers, but who expected this guy to go inside for two points first?

Duke University’s offense.

They continued to pass the ball on the perimeter.

Soon, Okafor set a screen for Grayson Allen, Winslow held the ball, forced a shot, and then passed it to Grayson Allen.

Grayson Allen, after receiving the ball, quickly shot, and Booker timely rushed over to disturb him.

Yet, the basketball still swished through the net.

to 3

Grayson Allen scored over Booker’s defense.

After scoring, Grayson Allen nodded provocatively at Booker.

Zeng Xingyang found this scene quite amusing.

In a past life, Grayson Allen was surviving with the Phoenix Suns, needing to rely on Booker for his passes.

The Kentucky fans in attendance let out a jeer.

The University of Kentucky’s offense, Duke University’s defense started to contract a bit.

Okafor chose a semi-denial method to restrict Towns from receiving the ball inside.

Towns didn’t get the ball, and Booker initiated a pick-and-roll with Koulistan while Zeng Xingyang positioned himself on the right side as a decoy.

Booker used the pick to change directions and drive to the right.

Neither Allen nor Ojeleye caught up with Booker’s pace, so after observing, Booker chose to stop and take a close-range jump shot.

The basketball formed a small arc.

"Swish!"

It hit precisely.

to 3

Duke University’s offense.

This time, after passing the ball on the perimeter, they got it to Okafor inside.

Okafor held a deep position, used his body against Towns for a turnaround hook shot.

Towns couldn’t disturb this time.

"Swish!"

to 5

Towns’ interior defense was average; his strength was in his physical gifts and athleticism; his awareness and experience in interior defense were still somewhat lacking.

Of course, it’s mainly because Towns often felt he was more like a guard than a center.

When he changes this mindset, he will progress.

This is why scouts aren’t worried about his defensive issues; it’s an area for improvement, showing potential.

While height, wingspan, and athleticism are difficult to enhance.

University of Kentucky’s offense.

Tyler Ulis brought the ball to the frontcourt and passed it to Booker.

Koulistan tried to set a screen for Booker but failed because of Koulistan’s limited offensive ability, leading Ojeleye and Allen to double-team Booker directly.

Booker had no choice but to pass the ball to Zeng Xingyang.

Though tightly marked by Winslow, Zeng Xingyang didn’t consider attacking himself but dribbled a step toward Booker’s direction.

Booker quickly approached to receive a handoff, while Zeng Xingyang set a screen smoothly.

Booker made a low cross-over drive, and Zeng Xingyang quickly bounced outside; Booker passed the ball back to Zeng Xingyang.

Winslow remained tight on Zeng Xingyang, who didn’t have a shooting chance, so he passed it directly to the cutting Koulistan at that moment.

Zeng Xingyang’s passing vision was excellent, and he spotted Koulistan’s opportunity.

Duke University was focused on guarding him and Booker, slackening slightly on others.

Ojeleye was a bit far from Koulistan’s position and couldn’t block him.

Koulistan caught the ball, took steps, sprang into the air, avoiding Ojeleye for a two-handed slam.

"Boom!"

to 5

Koulistan’s favorite offensive method was this kind of easy finish, and Zeng Xingyang set him up perfectly.

"Yeah!!!"

Koulistan gripped the rim with his right hand, pointing to Zeng Xingyang with the left, signaling a great pass.

"Koulistan’s dunk was so fierce."

"Zeng Xingyang’s pass was excellent."

"The Wildcats’ offense is getting smoother and smoother."

The Kentucky fans in the arena cheered, these sounds like waves, one after another.

Zeng Xingyang’s passing skills are often overshadowed by his shooting ability.

It’s hard for him to orchestrate with the ball in his hand, but he thrives in team play.

Reggie Miller said, "Zeng plays very smart; when he doesn’t have an opportunity himself, he finds his teammates."

O’Neal said, "As a big man, I can feel Koulistan is comfortable receiving the ball; it’s a well-placed pass."

Barkley said, "The University of Kentucky’s passing and cutting attack thoroughly disrupted Duke University’s defensive system."

On the court, Koulistan high-fived Zeng Xingyang, "Man, keep passing it to me like that."

"Yeah, always watch for the inner cut," Zeng Xingyang replied.

After a few brief plays against Duke University, Zeng Xingyang realized that although Duke was well-known, the pressure they exert wasn’t as intense as Wisconsin’s.

Wisconsin knew they were inferior to the University of Kentucky in all aspects, so they played to the death.

But Duke University’s team only played with normal intensity, lacking Wisconsin’s do-or-die attitude.

The University of Kentucky fears those who go all out, but not as much with Duke University.

Calipari, on the side, watched Zeng Xingyang growing more pleased by the minute.

Unfortunately, at the end of this season, this guy would enter the draft, which was a bit regrettable.

Even though Calipari has seen many talented players, he still finds Zeng Xingyang, a player who can shoot, defend, and facilitate, rarely one who doesn’t require possession and works hard outside the court.

This is also the difference between the NCAA and the NBA. In the NBA, you can build a team around a few players for a long time, while in the NCAA, you can only build a team around the head coach because the player turnover is too frequent.

Duke University’s offense.

Cook dribbles forward, and on the other side, Winslow is also positioning. At this moment, Winslow feels the pressure.

It is the pressure coming from Zeng Xingyang on both offense and defense.

Winslow no longer holds the dismissive attitude towards Zeng Xingyang as he did at the start of the game. He knows that if he continues to underestimate, he will get crushed!

Duke University’s passing game is fast, Cook passes to Okafor, and Okafor gives the ball to Winslow.

Winslow passes the ball to Allen, Allen raises his hand for a three-pointer outside the arc.

"Iron!"

It missed, but Zeng Xingyang didn’t box out Winslow, who snatched the offensive rebound.

After grabbing the rebound, Winslow turns on the spot and goes up for a layup.

This time, Zeng Xingyang didn’t jump as high as Winslow, and Winslow’s layup scores.

to 7.

Physical talent is inferior, can’t defend this.

Still need to improve.

"Zeng, later you keep positioning, we’ll create opportunities for you," Booker said.

The team’s offensive tactics are being executed successively, boosting Booker’s confidence.

"OK!" Zeng Xingyang nodded.

University of Kentucky’s offense.

Tyler Ulis and Booker, under Duke University’s high pressure, continuously organize and pass around the perimeter.

Towns also comes out to facilitate and hand off passes.

It appears that the University of Kentucky’s tactics are well-organized, seemingly ready for Booker and Towns to finish.

But actually, the few of them from University of Kentucky know clearly, this tactic is to find Zeng Xingyang.

Zeng Xingyang is at the left 45-degree angle, using Koulistan’s screen to run out.

Winslow is blocked off, Tyler Ulis quickly passes the ball over.

This is a very small opportunity; Ojeleye on the switch is a bit slow.

Zeng Xingyang hesitates not at all and quickly catches the ball and shoots the three-pointer.

A standard shooter’s shooting posture.

When Ojeleye arrives, he can only watch the basketball sail through the sky.

The basketball traces a splendid rainbow.

"Swish!"

Right through the heart!!

to 7

"Whoa, Zeng Xingyang’s three-pointer finally came."

"It’s just that simple and clean."

"Kentucky’s tactics are all for Zeng Xingyang."

"Winslow’s defense just can’t exert force."

"Defending positioning for such a three-pointer requires the team to play desperate defense, which Duke clearly hasn’t achieved."

Zeng Xingyang’s shooter-style positioning three-pointer is like a textbook, constantly providing a case for those players still learning to play like a shooter.

"Zeng... Xingyang!" the on-scene DJ shouted Zeng Xingyang’s name loudly.

This is the national attention NCAA finals, every play will be replayed in slow motion for analysis.

The University of Kentucky’s tactics have been clear from start to now, it’s all centered around Zeng Xingyang.

Only once in the middle was Booker doing his own thing.

Zeng Xingyang is both the finisher and facilitator.

With this approach, the University of Kentucky’s success rate is very high, which is enough to show their tactics are succeeding.

Zeng Xingyang supports the University of Kentucky’s offensive system.

After Cook dribbles past half court, Coach K decisively calls a timeout.

...

"F*ck, stop scoring already."

"Aye, scored again."

Far in Oklahoma City, Presti watches the game and sighs.

He really wants to draft Zeng Xingyang.

For this, he doesn’t mind praying to the Almighty for Zeng Xingyang to underperform.

If he continues to play like this, the Thunder will have to pay a huge price to get him.

The more Zeng Xingyang scores, the more frustrated Presti feels watching.

He senses that this gem Zeng Xingyang is being discovered not only by him.

Inside the arena, the big screen keeps playing the highlights of Zeng Xingyang’s game-opening performance.

A very versatile performance.

The crowd loudly chants his name.

On the sidelines, Coach K keeps roaring at the players. He isn’t targeting Winslow personally, he knows to stop Zeng Xingyang’s off-ball movement, timely switching is needed, and the whole team must make concerted effort in defense.

Although the coach didn’t personally call him out, Winslow feels tremendous pressure.

He never thought he’d be dominated this badly.

Now Winslow understands why Zeng Xingyang’s draft position is rising so quickly.

Zeng Xingyang’s inner cuts, facilitates, and shooting leave his defense powerless.

Actually, at this stage, Duke University’s mistake is merely untimely switching, this error isn’t big, but Kentucky seized it, gaining an advantage.

After the timeout, Zeng Xingyang’s offense stalls a bit, but as a decoy on one side, Duke University still dare not relax their attention on him.

Towns and Booker also gradually start pushing.

Towns and Booker pick-and-roll, after receiving the pass, sink-in for a three-point jump shot.

Booker uses horn screen to drill inside, fights for a layup and scores.

Tyler Ulis and Towns pick-and-roll, after the roll, Towns sinks inside to float and score.

On Duke University’s side, it’s Okafor and Allen flourishing inside and out.

Okafor has many dream steps, showcasing various inside basic skills, giving Towns a headache.

Allen today has an excellent hand from the outside.

Their performance allows them to barely resist the University of Kentucky’s firepower.

Zeng Xingyang plays for 12 minutes in the first half and then leaves the court to rest, Calipari puts Lyles on, and Duke University also proceeds with the second lineup arrangement.