The Big 12 Conference finals were held at the Lloyd Noble Center, home of the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
This stadium can accommodate up to 18,000 people watching games at the same time, making it one of the best stadiums in the NCAA.
Thinking back to how Griffin ignited the fans' emotions with his dunks in this arena, it is not difficult to understand why he is so popular in Oklahoma .
Wait, Griffin hasn’t entered the NCAA yet!
The two protagonists in this stadium now are the University of Texas and the University of Kansas!
The two teams are old rivals, and with the grudges during this season's regular season, they have risen to the level of arch-rivals.
The Big 12 finals, coupled with a wave of media hype before the game, also attracted a considerable amount of attention in the NCAA Division I league.
Judging from the data, the attention it has attracted is already on the same level as the Big Ten Conference, where Ohio State University is located, and the Southeastern Conference, where the University of Florida is located.
Before the game started, fans of both teams began to enter the stadium one after another. They all wore the uniform T-shirts prepared for them by the team in advance.
One is blue, the other is orange, and it looks a bit like a scene of two armies fighting in an ancient battlefield.
This game was also broadcast live across the United States. Before the game started, ESPN reporters interviewed fans of both teams outside the stadium.
"The Pine Duck Eagle will win!"
"Longhorn is invincible!"
…
Shouting slogans during interviews is inevitable.
We have reached the finals, and it’s in front of the whole country on TV. It would be a miss if we don’t seize the opportunity to shout slogans.
But away from the camera, you can find that there are still differences in the emotions of the fans of the two teams.
The fans from the University of Kansas were obviously more enthusiastic.
The fans from the University of Texas were somewhat worried.
This emotional difference is obviously related to Brandon Rush's comeback.
The last time we compared, the University of Texas won, but it was a very thrilling win.
Or you can also understand that the two teams are now at the two ends of a balanced scale.
But now, Kansas has suddenly added a super weight who averaged 14 points per game last season and had a 47.2% three-point shooting percentage, and the balance will naturally tilt.
Rush is not only excellent in offense, but his defense is also top-notch in the NCAA.
In Kansas' last game against Kansas State, Rush once again proved that he was not affected by injuries.
During the pre-match warm-up, ESPN reporters also entered the venue for interviews.
Durant usually refuses to be interviewed by reporters, but Rush from Kansas did accept the interview.
“Can you guard Kevin Durant?”
The questions asked by the reporter are obviously the issues that the outside world is most concerned about.
The last time Kansas lost was because of Lin Ying's tip-in, but the bigger problem was that they couldn't limit Durant.
Therefore, when Rush, the defensive stalwart, returns, whether he will defend Durant and whether he can defend Durant becomes a crucial question.
"Durant is one of the best scorers in the NCAA. It will be a very difficult task to defend him, but I believe we can do it."
Rush is a very humble person, a bit like someone who graduated from a prestigious school.
"I mean, will you defend it?"
However, the reporter did not seem satisfied with his answer and asked again.
"Yes I will."
Rush finally gave an affirmative answer.
This answer finally satisfied the reporters and also aroused the enthusiasm of the fans.
The sharpest spear and the strongest shield in the NCAA will face off. It is really exciting to see whether the spear will break or the shield will be pierced!
Just after the interview ended, the camera turned to the sidelines.
Durant, who had refused the reporter's interview, and Lin Ying were smiling and waving hello to the audience.
In this crucial battle, Durant's mother Wanda also came to the scene to support her son.
It was this shot that made some media reporters fall into deep thought.
Is this the guy they labeled as "apathetic"?
Or is Durant simply indifferent to the media?
They didn't have time to think about it because the opening ceremony was about to begin.
The starting lineups of both teams also came out one after another.
The University of Texas still has its regular starting five, but the University of Kansas has made some changes to its lineup.
Chalmers, Rush, Arthur, Wright, Cowan.
They removed experienced point guard Russell Robinson and replaced him with freshman forward Darrell Arthur!
It is obvious that there is only one purpose for this adjustment: let Arthur defend Durant!
This was quickly confirmed after the game started.
Compared to Wright, Arthur has worse personal ability but better mobility, and can better follow Durant when he doesn't have the ball;
Compared to Rush, Arthur, who is 2.06 meters tall, is more suitable to match up with Durant in terms of height, and he also has a great wingspan.
The ESPN reporter finally acted as an honest person and was tricked by Rush before the game.
Facts have also proved that Kansas' lineup adjustment was very appropriate, and Arthur did play a significant role in restricting Durant.
Moreover, Rush had a very strong presence on both offense and defense, which made it obvious that the University of Texas defense was distracted.
You have to know that Chalmers and Wright are both great offensive threats, and it is already a bit difficult for the University of Texas to defend them.
Now there is an additional three-point shooter with a hit rate of nearly 50% from outside, it is really hard to defend against him.
Of course, the defensive problems can be compensated a little by enthusiasm.
But the defensive improvement that Rush brought to Kansas was truly disastrous for Texas.
Arthur defended alone and Rush assisted in defense. The defensive combination of these two greatly restricted Durant's performance.
Moreover, Rush is very fast in returning to defense, and his long arms can cut the ball quickly and accurately.
When he and Chalmers fought at the top of the arc, the players facing him felt like they were facing two sharp knives, which could kill them if they were not careful.
At the end of the first quarter, the University of Kansas led the University of Texas by 13 points, 41 to 28.
Durant only scored 8 points in the first half with 3 of 11 shots.
After Rush returned, the fully-formed Kansas team played with the same pressure as the University of Florida.
But this is actually normal. After all, in history, this Kansas team was the 2008 NCAA champion team!
2008, that is next year!!
And if you really want to go into details, this Kansas team also has Julian Wright!
During the halftime break, Barnes gave his players some sweet words of encouragement.
When the second half started, the University of Texas launched a counterattack at the beginning.
Durant shot more decisively, and Arthur obviously couldn't keep up with his offensive rhythm.
Lin Ying also made a three-pointer from the outside to support Durant.
The University of Texas narrowed the gap to 5 points in one go, forcing Self to call a timeout.
After the timeout, Self adjusted the lineup, replacing Arthur with Robinson.
Robinson started to clearly control the tempo after he came on the court.
As a junior player, Robinson's talent is somewhat inferior to other players on the team.
But he is experienced and has good psychological qualities at critical moments.
Moreover, compared with Randy Williams from the University of Texas, his personal ability is much stronger.
Especially this year, his mid-range and long-range shooting touch is also very good, and both shooting percentages are the highest in his NCAA career.
The chances he gets to shoot are very good as Texas takes care of Kansas' three strengths on the field.
The result was that he made a three-pointer from the outside and assisted Rush with a three-pointer, and Kansas quickly stabilized the situation.
Although Lin Ying and Durant made consecutive three-pointers from the outside to keep the team hopeful, the University of Texas still lost to the University of Kansas 75-81 in the end.
When the final whistle sounded, the Kansas fans rushed onto the court to celebrate like crazy.
This is their second consecutive year winning the Big12 Conference Championship!
And they can also feel that they have championship potential after Rush returns.
They will definitely win the championship this year!
Some are happy and some are sad.
While the University of Kansas was celebrating, the scene at the University of Texas was completely different.
The University of Texas fans at the scene could not hide the disappointment on their faces.
Although they did realize before the game that it would be difficult to beat this fully-formed Kansas team, they have already reached the finals, and it is impossible for them not to want the home team to win.
Everyone can see the reality, but not everyone can accept it.
Compared to the fans, the players of the University of Texas were even more depressed at this time.
After their revenge in the regular season, they thought they had what it took to beat Kansas.
But the facts seemed to tell them that they had defeated only a weakened Kansas team.
A low, even depressed mood spread across the University of Texas bench.
Durant and Lin Ying both lowered their heads .
If it was because of their own poor performance or Kansas's above-average performance, they would definitely be unwilling to lose.
At this moment, their faces must be full of reluctance, and they are even thinking about how to train after the game.
But when you lose a game purely due to a difference in strength, you will feel more helpless and frustrated than unwilling.
Barnes noticed the condition of his players and knew he should do something at this time.
He walked among the team members and gathered them together.
"Kids, it's a pity that we didn't win the championship this year, but we still have a long way to go. Nothing can make you hang your heads. Hold your heads up!"
Although the Kansas fans were celebrating loudly not far away, Barnes' words were still as clear and loud as before.
"We will continue to work hard and get better and stronger in the next games, and that's what we are working towards.
We have to stick together, play for each other, and fight together like a family!"
Barnes said, extending his hand to the players.
From his words and his eyes, you can feel something called unyielding strength.
It's not just chicken soup, it's encouragement that touches the soul.
The fighting spirit of the University of Texas players was reawakened.
Durant started, and the others began to put their hands on the back of Barnes' hand.
"Longhorn!"
Together they chanted the University of Texas chant.
By this time, the celebration in Kansas was almost over.
"One last thing."
Barnes continued speaking to his players.
"Now let's go and congratulate our opponents on their championship day, walk up to them, shake their hands one by one and thank each and every one of them.
They won fair and square, and I know it hurts, but they won fair and square.
Give them credit, leave the court, go back to the locker room, go back to the hotel, get some sleep, and keep fighting tomorrow."
When Barnes said this, the players' emotions had almost calmed down.
At his signal, the players sitting on the bench stood up one after another.
But Durant still sat there very frustrated.
Barnes couldn't help it at this time:
"Kids, you did a great job this season, really great. It was my problem, I didn't do well enough."
When he said this, his eyes were a little red.
Although this game does not necessarily mean the end of the season , as the head coach, he should be the one who feels the most uncomfortable after losing to the same opponent for two consecutive seasons.
At this time, Lin Ying stared at his head coach in a daze.
He discovered that the man who was strict, stubborn, and irritable and was called "Angry Rick" by his teammates was actually a very good coach.
He finally pulled Durant up and followed the players to complete the final handshake.
Although the loss was frustrating as Barnes said, they still congratulated the Kansas players as Barnes said.
This attitude also earned them the rewards they deserved.
“You’re much better than last year.”
"Kevin, you have no idea how much effort we put in to defend against you."
"Lin, why don't you consider transferring to Kansas? We can win the championship."
…
The Kansas players responded after hearing the congratulations from the University of Texas players.
Lin Ying was also surprised to hear what was said on the other side.
But it was at this moment that he realized that what Barnes said to them was not only to encourage morale, but also to teach them how to face failure correctly.
The road of basketball is long, and as long as you keep moving forward, failure is inevitable.
If you cannot accept failure calmly, or even become depressed because of failure, or even doubt and lose yourself, how can you start over?
Think about how great Jordan, the "God of Basketball", was defeated repeatedly by the Pistons in the early stages of his career.
If he had not learned to face failure, he would have been ruined before Phil Jackson came.
After the handshake, most of the University of Texas players returned to the locker room as Barnes requested.
But Lin Ying and Durant stayed.
Durant came because Wanda came down at this time, and Lin Ying just came to accompany Durant.
He understood Barnes' intention, but Durant still looked frustrated.
After all, Durant's goal is so ambitious, but now he has fallen here, and once again fell at the feet of Kansas.
But it turns out that Durant's success is really closely related to Wanda.
Because after saying a few words and realizing that Durant wasn't listening at all, Wanda simply... slapped Durant twice!
"Snapped!"
"Snapped!"
The fan was symmetrical on both sides, and Lin Ying was stunned on the spot.
My head is buzzing.