Chapter 31 [Legends of Tomorrow]
At 9 o'clock, everyone in Michigan got on the bus and went to the Conseco Arena, the home of the Pacers, to adapt to the venue. The training content is very simple. The players practice shooting for a while and run a few tactics before it is over.
The specifications of the basketball hoop in Conseco Arena are the same as those in the training hall. It is of little use if you practice too much. The key depends on the performance of the players at night.
Returning to the life of ordinary people, Guo Xu has a smile on his face all day long. This kind of unknown is beautiful. He can now fully understand why Brad Stevens doesn't want to know the future. Knowing too much will lead to success and also lose some fun, which has pros and cons.
Michigan VS Wisconsin is the first game, starting at six o'clock. Many fans have already gathered outside the arena at three o'clock in the afternoon. They support their respective universities, just like a grand alumni meeting.
The players were greeted with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the fans as they entered the arena. They are proud and excited about this and will definitely try their best on the court to live up to their youth!
They all know that this will be a great stage. Many future NBA legends started their careers in the NCAA Final Four.
The most attractive thing about the NCAA tournament is that the outcome is determined by one battle. You may leave regrets in one battle, or you may become a hero in one battle. That kind of excitement can only be experienced in the NBA in the tiebreaker of the playoffs. A game may change a player's destiny, and even play an unimaginable role in promoting basketball. This is not an exaggeration. The 1982 NCAA Finals is an example.
That year, Jordan, a freshman, made a jump shot to beat Georgetown University and bring the championship to North Carolina. That shot had a crucial impact on Jordan's basketball career. When Jordan recalled that shot, he said frankly: "From the moment I hit that shot, everything went on track. If the ball didn't go in, I don't think I would have done it." There will be achievements today.”
Jordan is now the first player in NBA history, but he was not selected for the first team of the school basketball team in high school because of his short height. He was not selected until he grew taller. Although Jordan was already well-known when he joined North Carolina, even basketball fans in his hometown of Wilmington lacked confidence in him. When Jordan won the NCAA Finals with a buzzer-beating victory, everything changed. He returned to Wilmington to play street ball. As a result, people who came after hearing the news surrounded the stadium and the local police had to dispatch police to maintain order at the scene.
The players have already entered the arena locker room to wait at 4:30. They can order takeout or fast food to replenish energy. Some people don't want to eat and have no appetite.
Richardson was someone who couldn't eat. Seeing Guo Xu eating a hot dog, he asked in a low voice: "Guo, are you not nervous at all? In such a big arena, with nearly 20,000 spectators, you still said Fight for MOP."
"Isn't it a joy to have so many viewers? Why are you nervous?" Guo Xu said with a smile.
Richardson shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You have changed too much. During the Big Ten Conference finals, you went to the toilet twice before the start of the game because of nervousness."
"There is a saying in China that men become eighteen-year-old." Guo Xu said, stuffing the remaining hot dog into his mouth.
His personality has changed a lot from when he was first reborn, and it was completely suppressed on April Fool's Day. He is not nervous when he goes into the boxing ring and competes against a strong man who is 30 kilograms heavier than himself. He is not nervous when leading a dance on the high stage of a nightclub. How can he be nervous when playing basketball? He now has a strong desire to express himself and vowed to let everyone remember him.
Tom Izzo encouraged morale in the locker room and said loudly: "Everyone relax, Wisconsin's lineup is average, and there is not even one person predicted by the media to play in the NBA. They are only good at defense. As long as we play to our normal level, we will definitely win!" Do you have confidence?"
"Yes!" Everyone shouted together, full of confidence.
Izzo talked to the players alone again, and the first one was Guo Xu. He had the impression that Guo Xu was an introvert, but he performed beyond his standard in training yesterday and was afraid that he might not perform well in the starting lineup due to nervousness. "Guo, it's about to start, how do you feel?"
Guo Xu smiled and said: "I'm just afraid that the time you let me fight is too short.
I hope to be able to play the whole game. 40 minutes is too short. Even the NBA's four-quarter 48-minute game format is short and leaves a lot of energy. "
"Well said!" Izzo patted Guo Xu on the shoulder, very satisfied with his answer.
He could see that there was excitement in Guo Xu's smile. Usually those who perform like this in competitions will become stars in the future. This is due to the desire for performance and the desire to win.
Cliffs and Peterson of the Spartans are not such people. They are low-key, calm and never talk big. In fact, in the final analysis, it is because they do not have the confidence to win and lack the enthusiasm. If it weren't for their personalities, they wouldn't have waited until the end of their senior years to enter the NBA draft.
Izzo went to talk to other people and focused on encouraging Richardson. He could see that Richardson was nervous, which is normal for a first-year freshman.
The players played according to the prescribed time, and the Conseco Arena was packed with nearly 20,000 fans waiting to watch the boys perform.
The appearance ceremony is very grand, just like the NBA. Before the game, members of the coaching staff submit the player list and the order of appearance to the on-site commentator. The lights were turned off, and the searchlights shone on the players running out of the tunnel. The commentators shouted their names loudly, and the audience applauded.
Just because Americans don't have much affection for the land doesn't mean they don't have a sense of home. According to surveys, 80% of Americans have received higher education. what does that mean? Basically every American has gone to college. Even if a person has moved countless times in his life, at least one mark will remain unchanged throughout his life, and that is his university.
This is the NCAA game, the unique sense of belonging for fans.
Guo Xu was the first to appear on the team. In the NBA, stars always appear at the end of the game. Tom Izzo did not do this. He used Guo Xu as a secret weapon and did not want his opponents to see clearly the reality.
ESPN broadcast the Final Four live. Commentator Mark Woodson introduced: "Michigan State University's first appearance was a Chinese player - Jason Guo! Point guard, this young man has a good image. He was beaten in the quarterfinals. The elbow injury seems to be nothing serious.”
Guo Xu only received a few applause and didn't care. He would surprise everyone in a while.
The coach arranged tactics for him. He can freely challenge in quick counterattacks. His position is not fixed in positional battles. He relies on inside cover to run to catch and shoot. If he has no chance to shoot directly, he can also attack with the ball. Today, he is the protagonist of the team, and his tactical status is not inferior to Cliffs.
After a brief warm-up, players from both sides came out.
Michigan State University Spartans starting lineup: Guo Xu, Martin Cliffs, Maurice Peterson, Jason Richardson, Randy Smith.
University of Wisconsin Badgers starting lineup: Barry Hill (height 191cm, weight 86kg), Al Rogers (194cm, weight 91kg), Charlie Black (198cm, 93kg), Bill Strick (205cm, 100 kg), James Bailey (206CM, 102 kg).
Wisconsin's post players are not tall, but the guards are all over 190cm tall. Their characteristic is that they are not afraid of misalignment in various positions and have an advantage in zone defense. Their lineup was not deliberately put together, but it happened to be in line with the future development trend of basketball.
The two sides jumped the ball, and James was a spring man inside. He accurately predicted the ball and passed it to his teammates, and the game began.