Preseason Clash: USC vs Oklahoma Sooners

On November 8, USC will play away against the University of Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 league.

The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the famous traditional basketball schools in the United States. They have consistently participated in the National Championships since 1983. They also made it to the National Army Tournament in 1988 but eventually lost to the Kansas City Jays led by Larry Brown. In the 2001-2002 season, under the leadership of coach Kelvin Sampson, they reached the national semifinals but were defeated by the Indiana Hussels led by head coach Mike Davis. In the 02-03 season, they made it to the top eight in the country. However, their performance declined afterward.

The addition of Blake Griffin, a talented high school student the previous year, helped them return to the national championship after a year.

Their head coach, Jeff Capel, joined the Oklahoma Sooners in 2006. He is a young coach in his early 30s. He entered the national championship in his second year with the team but was eliminated in the second round.

This year, they have retained much of their team from last season, aiming to make a comeback.

This game marks USC's eighth preseason game, and the Oklahoma Sooners are their toughest preseason opponents.

In the previous two games, Coach Tim introduced Lian Dao into the starting lineup, resulting in impressive performances. Over two games, Lian Dao averaged 25 minutes, scoring 19 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers. He shot 49% from the field, 52% from three-point range, and 70% from the free-throw line.

Since the preseason began, USC has achieved a winning streak of seven games, their best performance in recent years.

After these seven games, Lian Dao has become a sensation in California. Fans affectionately call him "Mr. Key" and "Three-Point Killer." Following his appearance on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" basketball section, his fame has spread across the United States. Many NBA scouts and media are now focusing on him.

The basketball stadium of the Oklahoma Sooners can seat about 18,000 spectators. Today, it is packed. Lian Dao noticed a small group of Chinese fans in the stands holding up banners in support of him. There were also several female spectators wearing his No. 1 jersey, which surprised Lian Dao.

"I never expected to gain such a big reputation in the preseason," Lian Dao reflected. He had aimed to make a name for himself during the national championship, not in the preseason, and certainly not to have fans at an away game.

As Lian Dao took to the court, he waved to his supporters in the audience. Several female fans screamed excitedly, holding their banners high and shouting words of encouragement for Lian Dao.

This caused nearby Oklahoma Sooners' fans to momentarily divert their angry stares. When they saw it was a group of attractive girls, they turned back, eyeing Lian Dao with mixed feelings. They resumed chanting for Oklahoma, hoping to bolster their team and diminish Lian Dao's impact.

"Blake will wipe that handsome face off the guy in the No. 1 jersey". remarked an Oklahoma Clippers fan who had turned back.

The University of Oklahoma's starting lineup consists of Willie Warren (193cm) at point guard, Austin Johnson (190cm) at shooting guard, Tony Crocker (198cm) at small forward, Taylor Griffin (201cm) at power forward, and surprisingly, Blake Griffin (208cm) at center. The unusual height distribution, with the point guard taller than the shooting guard, reflects Oklahoma's strategic choices. Both Warren and Johnson are combo guards, adept at both organizing the offense and scoring, with Warren particularly strong in passing.

Oklahoma lacks a traditional center who can score effectively, so they rely on the versatility of Blake Griffin at the center position. Despite his height, Griffin excels due to his exceptional speed and agility, along with a strong low-post scoring ability. However, his shorter wingspan makes him vulnerable to blocked turnaround shots. Griffin's ball-handling skills are also notable, rare for a center in NCAA play.

Turning to USC's starting lineup: Daniel Hackett at point guard, DeMar DeRozan at shooting guard, Lian Dao at small forward, Ty Gibson at power forward, and Keith Wilkinson at center. USC's lineup remains largely unchanged, with Hackett providing solid organizational skills second only to Lian Dao's in Southern California. This setup allows USC to field two capable playmakers simultaneously, enhancing their flexibility in perimeter play.

USC enjoys advantages in both height and overall strength in their frontcourt compared to Oklahoma. However, Oklahoma's frontcourt demonstrates superior flexibility, posing a defensive challenge for USC in the upcoming game.

Coach Tim expresses concern as he surveys his bench, noting Vucevic's potential but lamenting that he remains unavailable due to ongoing administrative issues. Vucevic, who has significantly improved his strength and skills through summer training with Lian Dao, is poised to contribute significantly once eligible to play.

Today's game has attracted numerous NBA scouts and media reporters due to the presence of five potential NBA draft picks: Blake Griffin and Taylor Griffin from Oklahoma, and DeMar DeRozan, Ty Gibson, and the emerging star Lian Dao from USC.

Despite being a preseason matchup, both teams boast considerable strength, providing NBA scouts with a real gauge of the players' abilities.

"This game won't be easy; they might decide to go all out", murmured Lian Dao as he watched Griffin warming up.

Lian Dao is confident in his ability to outplay the opponent's perimeter players. His concern lies with his team's interior defense.

The game began with Wilkinson and Griffin tipping off. Utilizing his height and wingspan, Wilkinson tipped the ball to point guard Daniel. Spotting Lian Dao open, Daniel passed the ball to him.

Lian Dao wasted no time, taking just a couple of steps beyond the three-point line before launching a shot that arced beautifully into the basket.

"Swish!"

Tony Crocker, the opposing small forward, was caught off guard by Lian Dao's audacious opening play.

Even if Crocker had reacted in time, Lian Dao was determined to take that first three-pointer. USC needed to establish an outside advantage early on to alleviate pressure inside. Failure to do so would likely result in a tough game.

The opening three-pointer signaled Lian Dao's offensive intent.

As anticipated, USC struggled to contain Griffin on the inside. Like a raging beast, Griffin effortlessly penetrated USC's defense, springing up with incredible athleticism to dunk the ball through Wilkinson's attempted block. The force of the dunk was so powerful that the basket trembled, and Wilkinson was knocked back several meters before landing on the floor.

"Whistle!"

Despite Wilkinson's attempt to block, Griffin scored the basket, drew a foul, and earned an additional free throw.

The score was 2 points plus 1 free throw. Wilkinson did everything right defensively, but he couldn't stop the unstoppable force that was Griffin.