You should cross the mountains like a brave man

Chapter 52 You Are Too Kind

Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon lashed out at his players anxiously.

He took over the Panthers in 2003, when the team had dominated the Big East for two consecutive years, the pressure can be imagined.If the Panthers' consecutive championship record is broken in his hands, fans will only feel that it is his incompetence rather than a change in the team's lineup.

Fortunately, under his leadership, the Panthers completed the Big East three consecutive victories.

This year, Connecticut’s recruitment remains strong. Emeka Okafor, who was ranked 99th in the United States when he joined UConn, completed the reversal of the clown duck into a swan.

In addition to Okafor, UConn has many new stars with NBA prospects to join.

Their lineup depth and talent reserves are not only the best in the Big East, even if you search the NCAA, there are few teams that can compare.

Due to the rise of Connecticut, it is indeed difficult for the Panthers to achieve four consecutive Big East championships this year, but they did not expect to challenge UConn, and Villanueva, who was beaten by them during the regular season, brought the most direct challenge.

Che Wen Trutman didn't care if Wei Xia could be dealt with, but he was actually blown out of his mind.

Dixon immediately made a contingency strategy, allowing backup power forward Mark McClure to replace Truttman, and at the same time let the offensive core Karl Crowther and the Big East Roy (Big East Rookie of the Year) be determined to get up.

Crowther's sense of crisis was awakened by Dixon.

He is the core of Pittsburgh's offense, but he will not be in the NBA in the future. He will be remembered by Europeans, but for Americans, European basketball will always be inferior.

Only 400 people can play in the NBA every year, and Crowther is not one of them.

Not having NBA prospects does not mean that he has no strength. Even those American foreign players who will mix in the CBA in the future, as long as you look through their resumes, you will find that they have all had brilliant college careers.

Crowther's amazing three-point range scared Villanova into a cold sweat.

Taft is a high-level support next to Crowther. He doesn't have strong offensive ability, and he is not as good as Jason Frazier in terms of talent. He has a good physique and top defensive awareness, plus he can average 8 rebounds per game.

Weixia and the newly replaced power forward McClure spent a few rounds.

He is taller than Rootman, not as good in stature, not as good in skills, it can be said that he is not as good in all aspects except height.

Including his mentality, he doesn't have Trutman's mentality of wanting to eat people.

The advantage of the Buddhist system is that it is difficult for opponents to influence him, and he will only do what he should do.

After a few minutes of bland confrontation with him, Wei Xia finally gave up the effect of playing Trutman on him.He gave up the offense with the ball, moved more, and moved more. Tufte was thinking about the title of Rookie of the Year, and he always paid attention to Wei Xia's movements.

The distracted Taft allowed Villanueva to find an opportunity, and Alan Ray rushed to the penalty area with a bomb to attack.

Randy Foye shot with precision from long range.

Kirsty Sumpter's underrated offense with the ball is on display.

The Wildcats showed strength no less than that of the Panthers. The two sides fought against each other throughout the first half. With the advantage established at the beginning, Villanova maintained its leading position until the end of the half.

39 is better than 35
"A lead of 4 points is not much. Villanova has not yet reached the safety line. If they want to win, they have to do better."

In the first half, Wei Xia scored 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

In addition to habitually playing the full half, Wright put forward requirements for the second half: "There is only one Big East Rookie of the Year in the history of the Villanueva team. He is Tim Thomas in the 1996-97 season. Yes, it is the genius who entered the league with the seventh pick in the first round. I think this is a kind of inheritance. In my eyes, Chris Taft's talent is not comparable to yours. You must not lose to him in the competition for the Rookie of the Year."

Wei Xia does not think this is a sufficient and necessary thing.

If Wright really thinks so, then he will step up in the second half.

As soon as Wright's words were spoken, Wei Xia's teammates began to boo.

They seem to be talking about a very easy thing, as if Wesha can easily compete with Tufte.

Moreover, the reasons are clearly justified.

Weixia is the 2003th high school in the United States in the class of 15. How about Taft? "District" is the 30th highest high school student in the United States.

From the data point of view, Wei Xia, who has played as a substitute for most of the season, is not worse than Taft at all.

As long as Wei Xia can play better than the opponent today and tonight, there is no reason not to be elected the Rookie of the Year in the Big East.

There was a half-day coaxing in the locker room, and it took Wright a few minutes to formulate a strategy for the second half.

The difference between Pittsburgh and Villanueva lies in core talent.

Villanueva's lineup is younger and more dynamic, while Pittsburgh has more firepower but less core talent.

To start the second half, Pittsburgh's transformation was amazing.

Pittsburgh has two future NBA players, one is Taft and the other is future NBA second-round pick Aaron Gray.

Coincidentally, both of them are insiders.

The University of Pittsburgh was sure that Villanueva would play a four-back lineup, and the inside depth was not good, so they replaced two extremely talented insiders to play height suppression.

Seeing their starting in the second half, Gray was at the center and Taft was at the power forward, which happened to match up with Wei Xia.

"Wish and Chris, who had no chance to face each other, magically face each other in this battle. We will use their matchup to judge who is the Rookie of the Year in the Big East."

You know, such a comparison is not good for Wei Xia.

They are not full-time power forwards, they just play guest roles to meet the needs of the team system. Against a center like Taft who comes to play power forward as a guest, the gap in physical confrontation is no longer in the same dimension.

Tufte looked at Wei Xia, the 210 cm long man faced the 196 cm combo guard in the penalty area.

Height and arm length, weight and strength. The gap between the two sides as insiders is almost obvious at a glance.

"Before I smash you to pieces, you'd better apply for exit." Tufte smiled confidently, "When the game starts, I won't show mercy just because you look weak like an ant!"

"You are too polite," Wei Xia needed to raise his head to meet Taft's eyes. "Actually, as long as you leave me a breath to say goodbye to my family, I will be grateful."

(End of this chapter)