NBA's Super Troublemaker

Chapter 5, Quarterfinals, Battle of Kansas

After the training session.

A system message appeared.

[Progress increased from 0% to 1%.]

"It seems that training not only helps maintain physical condition, but also accumulates challenge attempts."

"Only 1% at a time, that's too slow," Li He thought. "At the current pace, it will be difficult to get a second template before the NCAA finals."

But it's okay, Klay Thompson can still dominate the NCAA without any problem.

"The only hope is to win the game and speed things up so that I can get a second template before entering the NBA."

……

The following day, the punishment results for the two teammates who bullied Li He came out. Coach Lute Olsen had zero tolerance for this kind of thing and kicked the two out of the basketball team.

The matter was thus concluded, and Li He focused on preparing for the NCAA March Madness tournament.

After a day of training, Li He returned to his dormitory, washed up, and listened to music listlessly.

In those days, the internet hadn't taken off, mobile phones didn't have many functions, and there weren't any fancy videos to watch, so it was quite boring.

"The only way is to make a name for myself early, get into the NBA, and then enjoy the happiness of being rich," Li He thought to himself.

Andre Iguodala, also a rookie, is a key player for the team, but his role is more evident in defense and fast breaks, while his shooting ability is unremarkable.

Seeing how incredibly accurate Li He's shooting has been these past two days, I can't help but feel envious:

"Hansen, I wish I had your shooting ability!"

"How did you train to that level?"

Li He smiled and said, "You'll get better if you invest more."

Li Hezhen wasn't lying. Shooting is something that relies on muscle memory, and with long-term professional practice, shooting ability will improve significantly.

But if you really want to become a legendary sharpshooter, shooting talent is also an important factor.

Iguodala yawned: "Well, I really hope we get a chance to play together. I'll definitely pass you the ball then!"

Li He made a shooting gesture: "Then you'll definitely add another assist to your stats."

……

Two days later.

2003 3 Month 30 Day.

The NCAA Final Eight tournament was held as scheduled.

The results of the first three games are in, with Marquette University, the University of Texas, and Syracuse University advancing to the semifinals.

The final game was between the University of Kansas and the University of Arizona.

Anaheim Arena, which can hold nearly 20,000 people, was packed to capacity. Major media outlets broadcast the event live, and some NBA scouts were sketching and writing, focusing on observing the performance of individual players.

Even the general managers of several NBA teams were observing the players from the stands.

The 2003 NBA draft was hailed as a superb year, and many NBA teams were making preparations in advance.

Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich from the University of Kansas are both seniors and have had impressive performances in March Madness, making them key targets for their attention.

As for the University of Arizona, their star player Jason Garnard is already a senior. Although he can contribute 15.4 points per game, scouts don't think much of him. In fact, he is ranked as an undrafted player on draft websites.

The reason is simple: Jason Garnard is too short, standing at only 1.78 meters tall.

Not all short players are Allen Iverson.

Besides Jason Garnard, Luke Walton and Channing Frye are also targets of scouts. The team's new first-year player, Andre Iguodala, is too young and will probably have to spend another year in college.

Larry Riley, who currently works as a scout for the Golden State Warriors, has a keen eye for talent and came to watch this game to find better players for the team.

At this moment, his gaze was fixed on player number "31," who was warming up. He was Chinese, and his exaggerated wingspan shocked Larry Riley.

What shocked him even more was the shooting ability of player number 31.

During the warm-up matches, he almost never missed a shot!

He repeated the same shooting motion like a robot, and every time the basketball swished through the net, it splashed like water.

That's absolutely outrageous!

I went through all my previous notes, but I never found any information about the number "31".

Larry Riley instantly realized that this might be an unexpected bonus.

It's unclear whether this player will get a chance to play in the match!

Even before the game started, the entire stadium was already incredibly lively. The fans' enthusiasm seemed to be about to lift the roof off, and even Li He, who was mentally prepared, needed some time to adjust.

Lute Olsen was making final preparations for the game, and so was Coach Roy Williams at the University of Kansas.

Both sides are giving their all to fight for the last spot in the semifinals; a loss would render all their efforts throughout the season futile.

Lute Olsen passionately urged, "Listen, we have to give 8% to this match! We can't fall in the quarterfinals!"

"Our goal is the championship!"

"Believe in yourself! Fight hard for every single ball!"

"Keep an eye on your people, and be decisive when you act! Don't be a coward!"

The Arizona Wildcats players all looked serious. March Madness is the most important time for every college player, and no one dares to slack off in the slightest.

Soon, the starting players from both sides took to the field.

The atmosphere in the stadium reached its peak at this moment!

……

CBS Live.

Jim Nantz and Billy Parker, the veteran duo, are providing commentary for this match.

"Alright, viewers, the final game of this year's NCAA quarterfinals is about to begin!"

"Who will advance to the next round: the Arizona Wildcats or the Kansas Ravenclaws? Let's wait and see!"

"The starting lineups for both teams remain unchanged!"

"The match has begun!"

"Channing Frye and Nick Collison jump for the ball!"

"The University of Kansas strikes first!"

"The ball is in Kirk Hinrich's hands! Andre Iguodala, come and guard him closely!"

"Kirk Hinrich called a pick and roll, specifically targeting Jason Garnard."

"Three-pointer made!"

"Oh...three-pointer made!"

Coach Roy Williams applauded from the sidelines, a key part of his pre-game strategy.

Jason Garnard is the Wildcats' leading scorer, but his height limits his defensive capabilities, making him a liability.

Targeting him specifically not only addresses his defensive weaknesses but also depletes Jason Garnard's stamina and suppresses his offensive performance.

As Coach Roy Williams predicted, in the first 10 minutes of the first half, the Wildcats, who are known for their fast-paced offense, only managed 11 points, with Jason Garnard scoring 2 points on just 1 of 6 shots, a truly terrible performance.

On the other hand, the Ravenhawks played better and better, and with Nick Collison's powerful dunk, the point difference reached double digits.

Wildcats request a timeout!

Coach Lute Olsen was extremely anxious. At this stage of the competition, it was far more brutal than the NBA playoffs, and it was the time to test the true worth of the team's star players.

It's clear that Jason Garner, despite being the team's leading scorer, is far from being a star player.

They performed quite poorly when targeted.

Who can save the team?

Luke Walton's scoring explosiveness was clearly insufficient, Andre Iguodala is still a rookie, Channing Frye had some difficulty playing in the paint, and Salim Stoudemire's three-point shooting was accurate, but he went 0-for-2 from three-point range in this game and failed to score.

Coach Lute Olsen glanced at Li He and made an important decision:

"Hansen, you go!"

"It's time to show off your offensive talent!"