I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!

I Came, I Saw, I Conquered! Chapter 23: Tactical Adjustments

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

Curry chewed on his mouthguard and ambled to the free-throw line. He bounced the ball twice, then sank his first free throw.

The paint erupted into chaos. After a scramble, Campbell scooped up the loose rebound. He threw out his elbows, sweeping them from side to side to clear space, then passed the ball straight to Curry without even looking.

Swish!

Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the second half began. Both teams returned to the court.

The Bulldogs had the ball. Curry waved Drew over for a pick-and-roll, but Moore was glued to him, denying him a chance to use the screen.

The overhead screen above the court replayed the play. The fans saw Moore get faked out by Curry and burst into laughter and cheers.

The Bulldogs were playing a 2–3 zone and couldn't cover the free-throw line. Tannell was left unguarded, and the ball swished through the net.

Amid the deafening roar of the Butler fans, the Indiana State players barely made out their coach's instructions.

McKenna dared to have his team play a 3–2 zone because Kerr had shot just 38.6 percent from three over his NCAA career, and hadn't taken many of them. He'd also had Curry guard Kerr first, disrupting his rhythm and shooting touch. McKenna wasn't worried Kerr could shoot the Bulldogs out of the game. And the facts had borne him out: Kerr's shooting hadn't been enough to hurt them. But he hadn't expected Curry to struggle under Moore's suffocating defense.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Curry fought hard against Moore as he stumbled into the frontcourt. His rhythm was completely thrown off, and Moore was on the verge of stealing the ball.

26–37. For the first time, the lead had reached double digits.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

The players nodded in unison. Zhang Yu glanced at Curry and continued laying out the tactics:

26–34.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

Moore bumped Curry twice with subtle little tricks. Irritated, Curry waved for his teammates to clear out so he could take Moore one-on-one.

Swish!

"Understood!" The Indiana State players were riding high and shouted their answer.

Zhang Yu rubbed his chin with his right hand, showing no reaction.

Curry pushed the ball ahead and accelerated toward the frontcourt, but Moore was faster. He cut him off at the side and kept reaching for the ball.

Curry pushed the ball ahead and accelerated toward the frontcourt, but Moore was faster. He cut him off at the side and kept reaching for the ball.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

The Bulldogs had the ball. Curry waved Drew over for a pick-and-roll, but Moore was glued to him, denying him a chance to use the screen.

"Plan B!"

Swish!

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

Moore bumped Curry twice with subtle little tricks. Irritated, Curry waved for his teammates to clear out so he could take Moore one-on-one.

In the visiting team's locker room, McKenna was quite pleased with the adjustments he'd made. He encouraged his players:

But the Bulldogs stuck to their 3–2 zone, completely unfazed. Kerr soon found an opening. Moore had been watching him closely and immediately passed him the ball.

He kept changing direction, trying to shake Moore, but Moore lowered his center of gravity and didn't bite on the fakes. His feet moved quickly as he stayed in front of Curry. Whenever Curry tried to force his way past him, Moore used his experience to tug at Curry's jersey, keeping him from accelerating.

Kerr stopped simply standing outside the three-point line to space the floor. Like an eel, he began moving nimbly without the ball, with Tannell and Woz setting screens for him.

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

In the end, Curry could only rush a three before the shot clock expired. With Moore's hand in his face, the shot missed badly.

"Good job in the first half. We're still ahead, but a six-point lead isn't safe. I need you to keep attacking in the second half and push the lead past fifteen so we can break them completely. I don't want this to come down to the final few seconds. Indiana State is a tough team, and if we drag this out, nobody knows what might happen."

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking:

If that kid played under him, he'd fix all of it.

The first half ended with Indiana State trailing the Bulldogs 36–42, their lead cut to six.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking: "Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Having grown up in a Black neighborhood, Moore knew all the little streetball tricks by heart and used them with ease. Curry, who had never dealt with that sort of thing, couldn't handle him.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

Zhang Yu folded his arms across his chest and gave McKenna a brief, indifferent glance.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

"Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the second half began. Both teams returned to the court.

Curry landed, and Moore swaggered away with a wide-legged strut, drawing boos from the crowd.

As Moore dribbled into the frontcourt, Zhang Yu suddenly stood up and shouted, "Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Moore angrily waved a hand, but didn't dare make too much of a scene. The head referee was watching him like a hawk. This was the Bulldogs' home court, and if Moore complained too loudly or made too big a fuss, the ref wouldn't hesitate to give him a technical and show him what home-court advantage meant.

Moore reached the top of the arc and drove past Graves again. Graves did everything he could to keep up, but the difference in athleticism left him helpless. Mike Green could only come over to help, just as he had before.

As Moore dribbled into the frontcourt, Zhang Yu suddenly stood up and shouted:

Having grown up in a Black neighborhood, Moore knew all the little streetball tricks by heart and used them with ease. Curry, who had never dealt with that sort of thing, couldn't handle him.

Curry remembered vaguely that he'd once read that Curry's first college game had gone poorly too.

26–37. For the first time, the lead had reached double digits.

"Plan B!"

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

Moore bumped Curry twice with subtle little tricks. Irritated, Curry waved for his teammates to clear out so he could take Moore one-on-one.

In the visiting team's locker room, McKenna was quite pleased with the adjustments he'd made. He encouraged his players:

But the Bulldogs stuck to their 3–2 zone, completely unfazed. Kerr soon found an opening. Moore had been watching him closely and immediately passed him the ball.

He kept changing direction, trying to shake Moore, but Moore lowered his center of gravity and didn't bite on the fakes. His feet moved quickly as he stayed in front of Curry. Whenever Curry tried to force his way past him, Moore used his experience to tug at Curry's jersey, keeping him from accelerating.

Kerr stopped simply standing outside the three-point line to space the floor. Like an eel, he began moving nimbly without the ball, with Tannell and Woz setting screens for him.

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

"Good job in the first half. We're still ahead, but a six-point lead isn't safe. I need you to keep attacking in the second half and push the lead past fifteen so we can break them completely. I don't want this to come down to the final few seconds. Indiana State is a tough team, and if we drag this out, nobody knows what might happen."

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking:

If that kid played under him, he'd fix all of it.

The first half ended with Indiana State trailing the Bulldogs 36–42, their lead cut to six.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking: "Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Having grown up in a Black neighborhood, Moore knew all the little streetball tricks by heart and used them with ease. Curry, who had never dealt with that sort of thing, couldn't handle him.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

Zhang Yu folded his arms across his chest and gave McKenna a brief, indifferent glance.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

"Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the second half began. Both teams returned to the court.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Having grown up in a Black neighborhood, Moore knew all the little streetball tricks by heart and used them with ease. Curry, who had never dealt with that sort of thing, couldn't handle him.

Curry remembered vaguely that he'd once read that Curry's first college game had gone poorly too.

26–37. For the first time, the lead had reached double digits.

The Bulldogs had the ball. Curry waved Drew over for a pick-and-roll, but Moore was glued to him, denying him a chance to use the screen.

The overhead screen above the court replayed the play. The fans saw Moore get faked out by Curry and burst into laughter and cheers.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

The players nodded in unison. Zhang Yu glanced at Curry and continued laying out the tactics:

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

Curry pushed the ball ahead and accelerated toward the frontcourt, but Moore was faster. He cut him off at the side and kept reaching for the ball.

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking:

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

A whistle blew. Moore was called for fouling Curry on a three-point attempt, and Curry stepped to the line.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

38–42. The deficit had shrunk to four.

But the ball didn't reach him. Curry appeared in front of Tannell and intercepted it!

But the ball didn't reach him. Curry appeared in front of Tannell and intercepted it!

Curry remembered vaguely that he'd once read that Curry's first college game had gone poorly too.

The players nodded in unison. Zhang Yu glanced at Curry and continued laying out the tactics:

26–37. For the first time, the lead had reached double digits.

McKenna stood up and shouted:

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

A whistle blew. Moore was called for fouling Curry on a three-point attempt, and Curry stepped to the line.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

In the visiting team's locker room, McKenna was quite pleased with the adjustments he'd made. He encouraged his players:

The players nodded in unison. Zhang Yu glanced at Curry and continued laying out the tactics:

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking:

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

Swish!

Zhang Yu shook his head. Did Curry not have a whistle-friendly shooting motion even back in college?

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

In the visiting team's locker room, McKenna was quite pleased with the adjustments he'd made. He encouraged his players:

Indiana State's attack faced the Bulldogs' standard 3–2 zone. Kerr used a screen to get open in the left corner, a weak spot in the 3–2. Moore passed him the ball, and Kerr caught it and immediately shot, without hesitation.

Zhang Yu folded his arms across his chest and gave McKenna a brief, indifferent glance.

A whistle blew. Moore was called for fouling Curry on a three-point attempt, and Curry stepped to the line.

Indiana State's attack faced the Bulldogs' standard 3–2 zone. Kerr used a screen to get open in the left corner, a weak spot in the 3–2. Moore passed him the ball, and Kerr caught it and immediately shot, without hesitation.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

The players nodded in unison. Zhang Yu glanced at Curry and continued laying out the tactics:

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

The paint erupted into chaos. After a scramble, Campbell scooped up the loose rebound. He threw out his elbows, sweeping them from side to side to clear space, then passed the ball straight to Curry without even looking.

In the end, Curry could only rush a three before the shot clock expired. With Moore's hand in his face, the shot missed badly.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

Zhang Yu frowned slightly. The score wasn't what he'd expected. In his mind, his team should have been ahead by at least ten.

The paint erupted into chaos. After a scramble, Campbell scooped up the loose rebound. He threw out his elbows, sweeping them from side to side to clear space, then passed the ball straight to Curry without even looking.

Kerr stopped simply standing outside the three-point line to space the floor. Like an eel, he began moving nimbly without the ball, with Tannell and Woz setting screens for him.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

McKenna stood up and shouted:

26–37. For the first time, the lead had reached double digits.

McKenna stood up and shouted:

In the end, Curry could only rush a three before the shot clock expired. With Moore's hand in his face, the shot missed badly.

Zhang Yu shook his head. Did Curry not have a whistle-friendly shooting motion even back in college?

Kerr stopped simply standing outside the three-point line to space the floor. Like an eel, he began moving nimbly without the ball, with Tannell and Woz setting screens for him.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

Curry pushed the ball ahead and accelerated toward the frontcourt, but Moore was faster. He cut him off at the side and kept reaching for the ball.

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking:

Indiana State had the ball. Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

McKenna glanced nervously at Zhang Yu. He didn't know what Zhang Yu's Plan B was, but he was sure it wouldn't be good news for Indiana State.

A whistle blew.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

38–42. The deficit had shrunk to four.

But the ball didn't reach him. Curry appeared in front of Tannell and intercepted it!

But the ball didn't reach him. Curry appeared in front of Tannell and intercepted it!

Curry remembered vaguely that he'd once read that Curry's first college game had gone poorly too.

The first half ended with Indiana State trailing the Bulldogs 36–42, their lead cut to six.

The players nodded in unison. Zhang Yu glanced at Curry and continued laying out the tactics:

McKenna's brow furrowed. He didn't like Curry's nonchalant manner. Basketball, in his view, should be a game of intense physical contact, a game of hard-nosed battles. And look at this baby-faced kid, shooting threes from way outside and constantly bobbing his head. He just didn't look right.

But the ball didn't reach him. Curry appeared in front of Tannell and intercepted it!

The overhead screen above the court replayed the play. The fans saw Moore get faked out by Curry and burst into laughter and cheers.

26–32. Indiana State cut the deficit by two.

McKenna's brow furrowed. He didn't like Curry's nonchalant manner. Basketball, in his view, should be a game of intense physical contact, a game of hard-nosed battles. And look at this baby-faced kid, shooting threes from way outside and constantly bobbing his head. He just didn't look right.

Curry sprinted after Moore and grabbed his jersey, but he couldn't stop him. Instead, Moore earned an and-one.

Back in the locker room, Zhang Yu waited for the players to drink some water and wipe off their sweat before speaking:

Kerr stopped simply standing outside the three-point line to space the floor. Like an eel, he began moving nimbly without the ball, with Tannell and Woz setting screens for him.

McKenna dared to have his team play a 3–2 zone because Kerr had shot just 38.6 percent from three over his NCAA career, and hadn't taken many of them. He'd also had Curry guard Kerr first, disrupting his rhythm and shooting touch. McKenna wasn't worried Kerr could shoot the Bulldogs out of the game. And the facts had borne him out: Kerr's shooting hadn't been enough to hurt them. But he hadn't expected Curry to struggle under Moore's suffocating defense.

26–34.

McKenna's assistant had seen it clearly from the sideline: the Bulldogs were still playing a zone, but they'd switched from a 2–3 to a 3–2, bringing three players up top. Curry was no longer glued to Kerr, and the Bulldogs had greatly strengthened their defense at the point of attack, sealing off the free-throw-line gap.

Curry came to the frontcourt and tried to call Drew over to set a screen, but Moore's defense was extremely aggressive. He was a seasoned veteran: his defense looked clean, but he had plenty of dirty tricks up his sleeve—tugging jerseys, jabbing ribs, tripping players...

McKenna didn't mind Zhang Yu hearing his instructions. If Zhang Yu tried to counter his strategy, he'd have to change the defensive formation, which was exactly what McKenna wanted. And if Zhang Yu didn't change it, all the better—he could break the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone.

Curry brought the ball to the frontcourt. He tried to call Drew over to set a screen, but Moore's defense was extremely aggressive. He was a seasoned veteran: his defense looked clean, but he had plenty of dirty tricks up his sleeve—tugging jerseys, jabbing ribs, tripping players...

McKenna didn't mind Zhang Yu hearing his instructions. If Zhang Yu tried to counter his strategy, he'd have to change the defensive formation, which was exactly what McKenna wanted. And if Zhang Yu didn't change it, all the better—he could break the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone.

Swish!

If that kid played under him, he'd fix all of it.

Over the next few minutes, Moore's nonstop physical play left Curry looking ragged, and he turned the ball over several times. Indiana State got a few chances thanks to Kerr's movement without the ball, but his shooting percentage wasn't great. He missed several open shots, and the Bulldogs' 3–2 zone didn't pay much of a price.

"Good job in the first half. We're still ahead, but a six-point lead isn't safe. I need you to keep attacking in the second half and push the lead past fifteen so we can break them completely. I don't want this to come down to the final few seconds. Indiana State is a tough team, and if we drag this out, nobody knows what might happen."

"Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Having grown up in a Black neighborhood, Moore knew all the little streetball tricks by heart and used them with ease. Curry, who had never dealt with that sort of thing, couldn't handle him.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

McKenna stood up and shouted:

"Good job in the first half. We're still ahead, but a six-point lead isn't safe. I need you to keep attacking in the second half and push the lead past fifteen so we can break them completely. I don't want this to come down to the final few seconds. Indiana State is a tough team, and if we drag this out, nobody knows what might happen."

"Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Moore dribbled into the frontcourt and faced the Bulldogs' zone defense. Just as he had before the timeout, he feinted a drive, drawing Mike Green over to help, then suddenly bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Tannell, who had stepped up to the free-throw line. Tannell caught it, turned smoothly, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

"Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

The paint erupted into chaos. After a scramble, Campbell scooped up the loose rebound. He threw out his elbows, sweeping them from side to side to clear space, then passed the ball straight to Curry without even looking.

"Keep playing this way in the second half! Kerr, move more without the ball. If those Butler guys go back to a zone, shoot them out of it! Moore, make sure you take good care of that number 30 and teach him a lesson... That Chinese guy seems to have learned only one trick from Rickert—zone defense. He doesn't know how to adjust at all. We should do Butler a favor and help them find a new coach who knows what he's doing. We have to win this game!"

Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the second half began. Both teams returned to the court.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

Having grown up in a Black neighborhood, Moore knew all the little streetball tricks by heart and used them with ease. Curry, who had never dealt with that sort of thing, couldn't handle him.

Curry remembered vaguely that he'd once read that Curry's first college game had gone poorly too.

The first half ended with Indiana State trailing the Bulldogs 36–42, their lead cut to six.

Zhang Yu shook his head. Did Curry not have a whistle-friendly shooting motion even back in college?

Curry pushed the ball ahead and accelerated toward the frontcourt, but Moore was faster. He cut him off at the side and kept reaching for the ball.

Curry pushed the ball ahead and accelerated toward the frontcourt, but Moore was faster. He cut him off at the side and kept reaching for the ball.

Tannell grabbed the rebound after boxing out. Curry shook his head, looking somewhat frustrated with himself, and hurried back on defense.

The paint erupted into chaos. After a scramble, Campbell scooped up the loose rebound. He threw out his elbows, sweeping them from side to side to clear space, then passed the ball straight to Curry without even looking.

Curry came to the frontcourt and tried to call Drew over to set a screen, but Moore's defense was extremely aggressive. He was a seasoned veteran: his defense looked clean, but he had plenty of dirty tricks up his sleeve—tugging jerseys, jabbing ribs, tripping players...