"Assistant Coach"

4-2, Georgetown University took the lead again.

Cahoon stood up and walked to the sidelines, his expression far from relaxed.

He had hoped to use Tang Tian's speed advantage for Help Defense. Tang Tian had played smart as well, but the absolute strength gap in his matchup against Monroe meant the results had fallen short of expectations.

On UConn's possession, Walker drove inside, but his Mid Range jumper still missed, and Monroe grabbed another Defensive Rebound.

Monroe's presence in the paint was too intimidating. It forced UConn to avoid driving and focus more of its offense on mid-range and long-range shots.

Unfortunately, Walker's touch was not particularly good this game.

On the other end, Monroe went straight to the low post, took a pass from his teammate, and backed O'Riaqi down.

After a series of spins, he banked in a shot. O'Riaqi was at too much of a disadvantage physically and could offer only limited interference.

The ball went off the glass and into the basket. Georgetown University led 6-2.

The score was not rising quickly, but with Monroe on the court, the gap was still slowly widening.

It was like a millstone. It had no sharp edge, yet it could gradually grind things flat and wear them away.

Around the ten-minute mark of the first half, Georgetown University led UConn 17-9, an eight-point advantage.

The score was not high, and the gap was not huge, but UConn simply could not catch up.

From the opening tip, Georgetown University had pressured UConn until they could barely breathe.

UConn called a timeout. Cahoon held the tactics board but did not speak for a while.

He had prepared many things before the game, including starting Tang Tian at Power Forward and using 2-1-2 help defense. But before the absolute strength gap in the paint, none of it had worked.

"Old man, how about we double-team Monroe?" Ollie suggested when he saw Cahoon staying silent.

"Monroe can pass." Cahoon shook his head.

If Monroe had merely been a powerful big man, Cahoon would have had a hundred ways to handle him. But like Georgetown University's great predecessors, Ewing and Morning, Monroe was an all-around center who could score and pass. If they doubled him, Georgetown University's entire offense would come alive.

The best way to defend Monroe was to have someone who could hold his ground against him, but unfortunately, UConn did not have that kind of player right now.

Ollie's suggestion was rejected, and Cahoon said nothing else. UConn's timeout was about to be wasted just like that.

"We can shoot threes," Tang Tian said at that moment.

The moment he spoke, everyone's eyes turned toward him.

The coaches were discussing tactics. Players generally were not allowed to interrupt, and if anyone did, it would usually be a Team Core like Walker.

Yet most of the looks directed at Tang Tian were not reproachful, but questioning.

Whether against Marquette University or Washington State University, Tang Tian had shown more or less a talent for coaching in the past.

"You mean using the new tactic?" Cahoon understood what Tang Tian meant.

He had considered it earlier, though he had not said anything. The new tactic was not yet practiced enough, and using it carried considerable risk.

Tang Tian nodded. Monroe was only dominant in the paint; he could not possibly defend all the way outside the three-point line. With Monroe ruling the paint, running a three-point tactic was the best option.

However, UConn currently had only one reliable three-point shooter, Tang Tian. Walker, Lamb, and the others were inconsistent, so if they were going to shoot threes, they could only use the new tactic.

"But that still doesn't solve the defensive problem," Ollie reminded him.

"Three points will always be one more than two, won't they?" Tang Tian said with a smile.

Cahoon nodded after hearing that. In their current situation, refusing to try meant a slow death. If they tried, and their Outside three-pointers started falling, UConn would still have a chance to seize back the initiative.

After the timeout, neither team made any Substitution Adjustment.

"Looks like Cahoon has no answer for Monroe either," the commentator could not help saying when he saw UConn make no substitutions.

"Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice," the color commentator sighed beside him.

With the situation unfavorable, the DJ began to rally the crowd to cheer for the home team.

"Thump, thump!"

"Let's go, Connecticut!"

"Thump, thump!"

"Let's go, Connecticut!"

The crowd's cheers did have an effect. UConn's players on the court had clearly raised their fighting spirit.

Tang Tian set a pick for Walker in the frontcourt. After using the screen, Walker found himself matched up against the opposing Power Forward.

Georgetown University did not send Help Defense, allowing Walker to drive inside. They had absolute confidence in Monroe.

But at that moment, UConn launched the second wave of their offensive set.

Tang Tian moved along outside the three-point line toward the right corner. Lamb, who had been stationed high on the right wing, suddenly came over to set an off-ball screen for him.

That screen caught the defender switching onto Tang Tian completely.

The tactic came so suddenly that Georgetown University could not react in time. The guard failed to keep up, and by the time Tang Tian reached the corner, he was wide open.

Walker whipped a pass over.

Tang Tian caught the ball without hesitation and fired immediately.

The moment the ball left his hand, every eye in the arena was drawn to it.

This was UConn's first three-point tactic since the opening, and whether it went in was crucial.

Swish!

A crisp sound echoed through the arena.

Tang Tian's Open Three-Pointer went straight through the net!

A huge cheer erupted from the crowd.

That three was exactly what they needed!

UConn had suddenly cut the deficit to five!

As Tang Tian ran back on defense, he slapped hands with Walker.

The Open Three-Pointer skill was fixed, but people were adaptable. His Off-ball Movement was not as good as Thompson's, but with the right tactics, he could still create opportunities.

Even Novak, after joining the Knicks, had reached the peak of his career once Head Coach Mike D'Antoni designed tactics for him.

This kind of ability depended on tactics, but with tactics, it could become a weapon.

Not to mention, Tang Tian was much faster than Novak.

Cahoon could not help clenching his fist. Tang Tian was not merely good in training session; he could execute just as brilliantly in an actual game!

On Georgetown University's possession, UConn still did not double-team, allowing Monroe to go one-on-one.

Monroe powered his way to the basket, only to be stopped by an O'Riaqi foul.

Because it was the seventh to ninth team foul, Monroe was sent to the free throw line for a one-and-one.

The arena was filled with distracting noise.

Monroe dribbled the ball a few times and took a deep breath before shooting.

Clang!

His free-throw percentage for the season was only a little over sixty percent, far from reliable.

O'Riaqi secured the Defensive Rebound. Georgetown University's possession ended without result.

The on-site fans erupted in cheers.

After the timeout, they had seen the possibility of their team gaining momentum.

Walker used a Dribble Push into the frontcourt and raised a hand to make a new tactical gesture.

Cahoon had drawn up tactics during the timeout, and more than one, precisely so the opponent could not figure them out all at once.

Lamb cut in from the right corner while Tang Tian and O'Riaqi set a Double screen for him.

There was a tangle of bodies under the basket, and Lamb finally broke free after tremendous effort.

But just as Georgetown's defense was drawn toward Lamb, Tang Tian suddenly turned and ran toward the right-wing forty-five-degree angle.

No one noticed him at all. By the time he reached the three-point line, he was wide open again!

Walker immediately whipped the ball over.

Tang Tian caught it and shot again.

Everyone, just keep reading. I made thorough preparations this time, and if things develop normally, this book will definitely exceed three million words.

Also, yesterday's Recommendation Tickets were just over 1,000. Please vote with more Recommendation Tickets, so I'll have a reason to update three times a day, right...?