It was a bet on the West being more competitive than last year and veteran squads finding the appropriate ways to defend OKC’s halfcourt offense, which I expected to stay league-average.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaneyoung/2023/10/28/shai-gilgeous-alexander-will-drive-the-okc-thunder-to-elite-territory/

Jordan: Once I got to halfcourt, I saw things open up for me because Ben (Mullenix)'s man stuck to him and there were two guys in the lane.

Source: https://gazette.com/high-school-sports/in-their-words-the-classical-academy-relives-final-moments-of-jordan-wengers-last-minute-upset/article_a2bc4a06-b704-11ed-ba14-07f9d26b0923.html

Nevada’s halfcourt defense is fairly stout, so the Sun Devils must convert turnovers into transition baskets.

Source: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2023/03/14/ncaa-tournament-best-bets-for-the-first-round-and-asus-quest-for-a-breakthrough/

That said, Team Sims will struggle with other teams’ size in the halfcourt.

Source: https://fansided.com/2023/03/01/athletes-unlimited-basketball-week-two-storylines/

They had to work just to get the ball across halfcourt on most possessions.

Source: https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2023/3/17/23645806/fairleigh-dickinson-beat-purdue-march-madness-upset-history