Chapter 5 Evenly

The quarter-finals invitational tournament officially began on the second day of the North Carolina. The players of the teams participating in the invitational tournament are all students, so this pre-season invitational tournament is about speed and results are quickly obtained in the shortest time. The quarter-finals invitational tournament also adopts a single-game elimination system, with the eight teams fighting each other. The teams that played the finals only had three games before and after. Half of the teams returned home after the first day of the invitational tournament.

Eight teams were distributed on four courts, and the game started at the same time. Missouri's opponent was indeed the University of Maryland.

The University of Maryland belongs to the NCAA Atlantic Coast League. This is a famous NCAA league, and the famous North Carolina and Duke are affiliated with this league. Three teams in one league squeeze into the NCAA quarterfinals to show the strength of the league. Being able to stand out in such a strong league and even reach the quarterfinals, it also shows how strong the University of Maryland is. The ace of the team, Kiken Martin, does have an arrogant capital.

Since it was not a home game, and the more famous teams such as North Carolina, Duke, Connecticut started the game at the same time. At the beginning of the game, there were only a limited number of local people watching the game, except for the fans who went out with the team. A small part of the stadium, which was enough to accommodate 10,000 people, was empty. Chen Yinhao and Cheng Haonan both sat at the closest to the stadium. When the teams on both sides often, Chen Junhao clearly heard someone calling his name in Chinese. Following the sound, the two were sitting behind his bench, waving the air sticks used to cheer him on with a smile.

"Come on, A Jun!" "Come on!" The two of them stood up and raised their right palms. Chen Junhao smiled and raised his fists, and the fists and palms hit each other, everything was silent.

The camera in the hand of a keen Chinese reporter flashed repeatedly and grabbed this scene.

After players from both sides often started to warm up. Chen Junhao, who was shooting on the court, felt clearly, and a scorching gaze was staring at him behind him. Turn around and look, Kiken Martin!

Chen Junhao laughed, shrugged and turned back. Kiken-Martin, he really never ended!

Mario grabbed the basketball and whispered in a low voice: "That guy has been watching you since the beginning."

Chen Junhao glared at him: "It's not the trouble you've caused."

Mario laughed and said, "I'm the one who messed with the trouble, but his target is you. Don't weaken the majesty of our Missouri."

Chen Junhao raised his hand and threw the basketball in his hand towards the basket and said lightly: "You don't have to worry about this, you should worry about yourself. When you arrange the tactics later, the coach will probably arrange for you to guard Martin."

"I?"

"That guy is taller than mine. Do you think the coach will let me do such a thankless thing?"

Mario was so proud that he said: "Come on, who is afraid of whom?"

The warm-up ended and the game began. As Chen Junhao expected, Smith sent a player to mark Kiken-Martin to be Mario, who was of the same height and size.

Soon Mario realized what it means: the enemy was very jealous when they met. During the game, Kiken-Martin saw that he was really the little devil who mocked him yesterday. The murderous aura in his eyes made Chen Junhao, who was watching from the side, worried about Mario.

Neither side tried his best in the game just now. The point guards of both teams controlled the rhythm, and the players on both sides were carefully testing each other.

In addition to point guard Keane Martin, the starting player of the University of Maryland basketball team (Turps) is a big black player Casano in the center position, a tall and thin black youth Kifu in the power forward position, and a small forward Anderson Chen Junhao's opponent is Blake of the University of Maryland and a small white player. One hundred and ninety centimeters tall is not short, but the University of Maryland, which has an average increase of more than 197 centimeters, can only be a "small man".

A team that can stand out in the Atlantic Coast League has many strong teams, its strength cannot be underestimated. A team that can squeeze into the quarterfinals in the NCAA is even more powerful.

Although it seems that Kiken Martin's provocation is not taken seriously, Chen Junhao did not underestimate the enemy, and he has never underestimated his opponent. There must be a reason why a strong team is a strong team. Just like Missouri has Jason Anthony, Mike Carman, and Chen Junhao. Although Kiken Martin is the team's ace, with his irritable and irritable personality, it is hard to believe that Maryland can reach this day without checks and balances and assistance from his strong teammates. Casano, Kivo, Anderson, and Blake, each of these four people is not an ordinary role.

Especially, the Blake in front of him is 190 cm tall, not particularly strong, not particularly fast, not particularly high in jumping, and not particularly outstanding in appearance. Such a person can only be described as ordinary. However, Chen Junhao instinctively felt the opponent's danger from his opponent's sudden change of direction and passing the ball.

The opponent's information flashed through Chen Junhao's mind: "Blake, a sophomore student at the University of Maryland, is 190 and weighs 80 kilograms. Until last year, he was a substitute at the University of Maryland. After he was promoted to the second grade, he gradually settled in the main position in the team..." Such a resume is really ordinary among college players. Ninety percent of the players in the entire NCAA are role players, and ninety percent of the players are only able to get a chance to play in the team after they are second grade in college.

Is Blake a player like this?

Chen Junhao didn't believe it!

Five minutes after the start of the game, the game continued to advance smoothly. Chen Junhao, who controlled the ball in Missouri, relied on the active and large-scale passes to create opportunities. Anthony and Carman were still the sharp swords of Missouri's offense, and they made consecutive moves and made consecutive shots.

Martin controls the ball in Maryland. Although he has experienced the episode like yesterday, after the game begins, he still shows the style that a strong team ace should have. He calmly controls the team's offensive rhythm, and sees the opportunity and breaks through to the inside. He successfully breaks through Mario several times in a row. Every time he succeeds in his breakthrough, Missouri's inside is always in chaos. Whether passing the ball or attacking by himself, the University of Maryland always has the opportunity to shoot easily. Missouri's defensive tactics are joint defense to assist with man-to-man defense. Mario's performance is just as he knows: he can't stand shoulder to shoulder with Keene Martin for the time being.

Five minutes after the time went by, both sides made changes at the same time. After the coach of the University of Maryland on the sidelines stood up and waved his hand, the University of Maryland on the court quickly accelerated.

Martin rushed over with the ball, and the other players quickly moved and cut into Missouri's defensive lineup. Mario stepped forward to block Martin. Chen Junhao's eyes quickly swept across the court and immediately dropped his defensive teammates and went forward to assist with double-teams. He raised his right hand to stop Martin's shooting basket, and blocked Martin's pass route to Blake with his left hand. Anthony, who was defending the inside, shifted the cover at the same time to make up for the gap left by Chen Junhao.

Three-two mixed joint defense!

Let’s see how Maryland deals with it. “Ba, bha…” Martin dribbled the ball along the three-point line and moved to the right. Chen Junhao and Mario followed up and kept the double-team position.

Kifu, who was entangled with Kaman, suddenly retreated outward and rushed towards Martin. Mario cut across and blocked, and the originally airtight encirclement immediately appeared. "Bang!" The ball started, and Martin's thick body rushed over like a whirlwind, squeezing from between the two of them. One step, two steps, holding the ball with both hands, jumped up, and the ball in the air crossed his right hand, "Swoosh" sent an arc with one hand, "Swish!" the ball entered.

"Boom..." As the basketball passed through the basket, there was a burst of cheers in the stadium. He seized the opportunity to cut between the two people, made a layup directly, and shot one-handed pole in the air. Such a goal is definitely a reflection of perfect skills. Even Missouri fans did not hesitate to applaud such goals.

After scoring the goal, Martin landed on the ground with his feet, turned around, and glanced at Chen Junhao and Mario, proudly said: "How is it!" Defeat two hateful guys at once, don't mention how happy he feels now.

Chen Junhao smiled faintly and did not respond. Mario shrugged and said, "No, no matter how beautiful the ball is, it will only have two points!"

Martin didn't expect Mario to say anything good, so he snorted coldly and returned to defense.

Chen Junhao looked at Martin's back and sighed: "What a great character. Although his personality is extremely poor, his basketball skills are really nothing to say."

Missouri had already driven the ball at this time. Anthony took the ball and took it in his hand and said, "Don't you know it all the time? Don't act so unexpectedly. It's our turn to attack. The time for mutual testing has passed, and it's time to put on our attack formation."

"Then let's get on!" Chen Junhao raised his hand, "Swoosh!" Anthony's ball was passed into his hand.

"Let's go!" Chen Junhao shook his right arm and issued an order. Anthony, Carman, Pierce, and Mario quickly cut into the defensive formation of the University of Maryland, leaving Chen Junhao to control the ball and press the opponent's field without any rushing.

Martin and Blake, who were defending outside the penalty area, looked at each other, and Martin stepped forward and said, "I'll do it!" and said, and forced him to go up.

One-on-one at the three-point line, the University of Maryland's ace guard personally stared at the Missouri point guard, which was a direct conversation between two of the top point guards in the NCAA today. The TV station's camera, the audience's eyes were focused on the two of the duels.

Chen Junhao, who was controlling the ball, was calm and composed. With the sound of "pa, pum" the basketball went back from behind for a week and then back to his left hand. He bent his knees slightly, sank his shoulders, and turned his left foot toes gently stepped on the ground.

Martin opened his arms and focused, his eyes unbounced.

"Ba, bha, bha..." The sound of dribbling suddenly accelerated, and Chen Junhao leaned forward with his knees and kicked the ground...

It's about to break through!

Martin's tense nerves responded with the flow, and stepped out his left foot...

"Bang!" The basketball pulled back from under his crotch, and withdrew his body forward, "Swoosh!" The basketball instantly slid across an arc and steadily flew into the basket under the astonished eyes of everyone.

Goals, scores, three-pointers!

The whole audience was silent, and the audience looked at the basketball falling from the basket for a long time and didn't know what to react. It was supposed to be a breath-taking showdown that ended so simply before the audience breathed in? Why did the ball enter the basket?

On the court, Chen Junhao shrugged at Martin and turned around. Other players from Missouri on the court also cheered and hugged him.

"Ba, bha, bha..." Sparse applause sounded, and most of them were still inexplicably - how did Martin take the initiative to give up the shooting gap?

"Good ball, beautiful..." The commentator cheered afterwards, but it is unknown whether the ball is really worth it.

Although it was not what the audience expected, it is undeniable that the goal was made neatly.

Martin, who was irritated by Chen Junhao's ridiculous shrugging, should be furious, or he should also be like a substitute on the sidelines of Maryland, and felt angry: Is that a sneak attack?

However, Martin did not. His dark face seemed to be a piece of cold black iron without a trace of expression, and the eyes looking at Chen Junhao's back were full of surprise and shock: he was indeed focused on his defense just now without any slackness, and such a defense should be impeccable. But when the opponent bent his legs slightly, leaned forward slightly, and changed the dribbling speed, he couldn't help but rush out first. What a great fake move!

In the eyes of others, they may think that their defense just now is simply a rookie who just played basketball. Unless they personally experience it, who can truly understand the power of it? What a terrible guy. Kiken Martin put away his last slight contempt for Chen Junhao and cheered up his spirits and raised his fighting spirit: I must not lose, and the University of Maryland cannot lose!

"Pass the ball to me!" Kiken Martin raised his hand and asked for the ball, and Blake passed the ball to him. "Let's go!" Kiken Martin dribbled the ball first.

The positional offense tests the overall offensive and defensive strength of the teams on both sides. Martin, who dribbled the ball, did not directly come to Chen Junhao for one-on-one offensive and defensiveness. As the leader of a strong NCAA team, he knew better when he could not have a fight for his will.

The University of Maryland attacked, and at this time the game started, they finally had to form their attack formation.

Missouri's attack formation for the University of Maryland is just like Maryland's attack formation for the Missouri. It is not familiar with and does not understand.

The NCAA's players change very quickly every year, and the team's strength is also changing. For example, after North Carolina won the championship last year, all five players in the main lineup entered the NBA. If there were no good new players joining, North Carolina would have fallen into the ranks of second-rate teams this year. Among Maryland's lineup that won the quarterfinals last year, only Kiken Martin and inside center Casano were left. The other three are the new main players this year. Now everyone in Missouri knows the strength characteristics of Martin and Casano in the Maryland lineup. However, no one knows the strength of the other three, such as Blake's strength and characteristics. Especially Smith, who is devoted to training, has no time to investigate Maryland.

However, unless Smith completely overturns previous tactics, these strong teams generally continue their traditional tactical style. The traditional style of the University of Maryland is: excellent point guards, excellent center players in the interior, and precise shooting from the outside.

Precise shooting from the outside?

"Swoosh!" Martin's pass through Mario's head and hung up under the basket. Casano took a step and jumped into the air to catch the ball. However, Caman, who was responsible for the inside defense, had already stuck his position at the inside basket. Even if Casano successfully got the ball, he could not complete the shot.

"Swoosh!" The basketball sent a straight line and flew straight to the outside in the neutral position - Kasano's straight pass in the air!

Suddenly a figure flashed from the outside, and a figure appeared there, catching the ball, taking a step back, shooting "swoosh!" A perfect arc basketball flew steadily towards the basket, "swhoosh!" with a crisp sound of entering the net.

The action was done in one go, and Blake shot.

Beautiful! What a quick shooting action! Chen Junhao just helped Mario double-team Martin. Blake from the outside was officially the only gap in Missouri's defense. Maryland was able to use the inside center as a response hub. The ball was in no way to say! Martin, Casano's ball was passed beautifully, and Blake moved just right. Such a ball was a model of tactical cooperation.

However, when Missouri was amazed at the clever cooperation with his opponent, Chen Junhao's cold gaze was quietly locked on Blake. He received the ball, took a step back, completed the shooting, and made the action so fast that he didn't want to be real, and it was so fluent that it made people shy. Chen Junhao is also a top three-point shooting player, so he naturally understood what such a shooting meant. If the ball was not accidental just now, then Blake would be a top three-point shooting player.

However, Chen Junhao still had a faint expectation deep in his heart: hope is just like this. (Subtext: hope is just like this, otherwise this game will be difficult to play!)

In the sixth minute of the game, after the opening, both sides' shooting percentages were quite high, and they each scored fifteen points, and the score was temporarily equal.

The offense and defense have changed positions, and it is Missouri's turn to attack again.

This time it was Mario who dribbled the ball, and Chen Junhao received the ball from the three-point line. Blake stepped forward to defend Mario, and Martin stayed behind to mark Chen Junhao.

Casano, who was in the inside, defended Kaman around the front, and Kifu entangled with Pierce outside the penalty area. Anthony ran without the ball and changed directions continuously, but he could not get rid of Anderson who was staring at him. Maryland's staring at him was very tight.

Chen Junhao raised his hands and made a catch move, but when he exchanged his eyes with Mario, he blinked his eyes jokingly. Mario understood it, "Pais..." in the dribbling posture, dribbling with his right hand accelerated to the right. At the same time, Chen Junhao on the three-point line suddenly moved across the cross-cutting, and Anthony, who was in the inside, seemed unable to ask the guards to run out to the outside line, all of which were vocal.

"Bang!" Mario, who pretended to break through, suddenly passed the ball, and the floor ball was passed to Chen Junhao. Chen Junhao, who was moving, received the ball, cut inside, and intertwined with Anthony who was out. "Swoosh!" Anthony ran out of the three-point line, but Martin and Anderson blocked Chen Junhao alone in the three-point line.

Basketball, where is basketball? Martin and Anderson suddenly found that Chen Junhao, who was standing in front of them, was empty-handed.

The answer was soon found. Anthony took a step and then rose up, and the basketball in his hand drew an arc and flew into the basket with a "swoosh". It was just a simple outside pick-and-roll cover!

Is it simple? Not simple! The catching, pick-and-roll, pass, and the trinity is completed in an instant. How many people in the NCAA can complete it so easily?

On the court, Anthony, Chen Junhao and Mario celebrating with high fives. The Missouri Tigers were very excited, "Beautiful job!" Missouri fans outside the court cheered loudly. Cheng Haonan, who was watching the game on the sidelines, Chen Yinhao stood up even more exaggeratedly, waving the air stick and screaming happily.

The University of Maryland basketball team also did very well. The defense was excellent and the attack was wonderful. The two sides were evenly matched, showing a high-level confrontation to the audience. The University of Maryland took Keene Martin as the core, cooperated with the inside Casano's inside attack and Blake's long shot from the outside; mainly used active pass cover, and cooperated with Martin's personal breakthrough ability to create scoring opportunities, and the offensive efficiency was extremely high. The Missouri Trident performed well, and the internal and external lines combined with the offense blossomed in multiple points, and the efficiency was equally excellent. For two teams with strong offense and weak offense, the opponent's defense was a little worse.

The pace of the game in the first quarter was very fast, and both sides continued to have high offense efficiency and the scores rose all the way. The coaches of the two teams also tacitly agreed and did not call the timeout. The game scene was exciting, and the cheers in the stadium were louder and louder.

The first ten minutes of the game ended, with a score of 27:25, and Missouri led by two points. Considering that this is a college-level basketball game, such a score is quite high.

A brief timeout. The coaches on both sides were catching up on the time to make tactical adjustments. The five players who started were all sweating profusely and were panting in the chair.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the coaches of both sides were unanimous and appeared as substitutes first. After all, the preseason was a preseason, and there was more excitement than intense. If this was a playoff tournament, how could the coaches of both sides have such a tacit understanding?

After the game continued, the coaches of the two teams stared at the game on the court, while the starters resting on the bench were whispering to exchange opinions.
To be continued...