Ben Simmons has not only Australia but also the US worked up into a frenzy. The versatile point-forward's LSU Tigers take on Marquette today in the semi-final of the Legends Classic. Stay up on the game with updates from Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
First Half
Simmons: 8 points (3-5 shooting), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
During the first half of action, Marquette jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead, before LSU began to get back in the game, closing the half at a two-point deficit 36-34.
Simmons kicked off scoring for the Tigers with a hook shot, and played primarily as a facilitator, dishing out dimes including the above assist in transition.
Marquette's strategy to nullify Simmons was to hang back defensively and let him take perimeter shots, which worked reasonably well, but the Tigers in are unstoppable in transition. Simmons hammered that point home with a coast-to-coast dunk after grabbing a defensive rebound.
Second Half
Final score: Marquette 81 - LSU 80
Simmons was again working primarily as a facilitator, bringing the ball up the floor, crossing over defenders and finding his teammates for good looks around the basket. An alley-oop to guard Antonio Blakeney was a highlight.
LSU managed to stay competitive early in the quarter but were generally outplayed as Marquette’s ball movement picked apart their defence. Marquette forward Henry Ellenson caused carnage on the Tigers, with 16 points on 6-10 shooting before fouling out.
After dropping behind, the Tigers clawed their way back to a deficit of just one point, before Simmons drove the lane for a reverse layup to put LSU ahead by one with 13.8 seconds remaining. Marquette regained the lead, and took out a narrow one-point win.
The call was very Simmons-centric, as the ESPN commentators seem to had forgotten there are 10 players on the floor, and instead focus on Simmons’ impact on each play. As you’ll see in the Tweets below, this wasn’t well-received by viewers.
There is also a lot of discussion around the Australian audience tuning in to watch, Australia’s legacy in the NBA, and also the amount of Aussie talent in NCAA basketball. When one commentator mentions Simmons absorbing contact in the paint, the other remarks “Hey he played Australian Rules football, there’s no punks that play Australian Rules football.”
Simmons finished up with 21 points on 6-13 shooting, with 19 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals.
