Roy Williams looked at the group of guys in orange jerseys on the TV screen and rubbed his tired eyes.
He was the only one in the dim office, with a TV and a pile of reports scattered on the table.
Williams, with white hair, has a sallow complexion and heavy bags under his eyes, and it is obvious that he is not getting enough sleep.
But he still held his chin up, watching the video and taking notes.
He couldn't afford to miss again.
Roy Williams, a native of North Carolina, began serving as an assistant coach for the North Carolina basketball team in 1978.
Although he is called an assistant coach, he is actually just a small role who serves tea and water and has no tactical decision-making power.
But he always carried a notebook on the sidelines, recording every move of then-North Carolina coach Dean Smith and details on the court.
And he has been working as an assistant teacher for ten years.
Over the past ten years, he has gradually become Dean Smith's most proud disciple. Together, they witnessed the classic moment when Michael Jordan completed the winning jump shot as a rookie, and witnessed the entire process of North Carolina's journey to the top.
In 1988, Roy Williams decided to take charge of his own team and left North Carolina for Kansas, becoming the head coach at the University of Kansas.
In 15 years, he led the team to the national semi-finals four times and reached the final battle twice, averaging 27 wins a year, with a winning rate of over 80%.
But there was never a single time when he could hold up the national championship trophy.
Last year, Roy Williams and Kansas lost to Syracuse University, which had Carmelo Anthony, by 3 points in the championship game, and missed the championship again.
A week later, Roy Williams made a decision that saddened Kansas fans - he decided to return to his alma mater, North Carolina, and leave Kansas, where he had created 15 years of great achievements.
At the invitation of Jordan and his mentor Dean Smith, he hopes to resume his pursuit of the national championship in North Carolina.
"The best coach who can't win a championship."
This title is an affirmation of Roy Williams by the outside world. People say that he is just unlucky and not favored by God.
But in Williams's opinion, this title is the biggest mockery of him.
This time he returned to North Carolina to lead the team to win the championship!
Therefore, since the beginning of March Madness, starting from the round of 64, he would carefully study his opponents before the game to ensure that everything was foolproof.
This time, facing the dark horse team from Ohio State University, Roy Williams did not dare to relax.
Ohio State University's strength should not be underestimated as it was able to defeat Wake Forest and Illinois, one of the championship candidates, in a row.
On the TV screen, watching Wayne completely destroy Illinois' defense in a fast-paced offense, old Williams pressed the pause button.
Wayne, the Chinese student whom he had never heard of last season, is undoubtedly the Cowboys' biggest weapon.
In two consecutive games, if it weren't for Wayne, the Cowboys would have gone home long ago.
In people's habitual thinking, most people would think that Tony Allen, the powerful guard, is the core of the Cowboys.
But in fact, the structure of the Cowboys has changed a long time ago.
Old Sutton relied on Wayne to get through these two games.
Tony Allen's superstar aura in the March Madness tournament has become increasingly dim.
Therefore, by restricting Wayne, we can restrict the dark horse, Ohio State University!
Roy Williams is not the kind of coach who would easily underestimate the enemy. Having been on the battlefield for decades, he knows very well that underestimating the enemy is the stupidest thing in the world.
Since Wayne has become an NCAA star, he should experience the treatment that a star player should receive!
Roy Williams then walked out of the office and prepared to discuss how to defeat Wayne with his star striker Sean May.
He really couldn't afford to fail again.
※※※
Raymond Felton, Sean May, Rashad McCants, after Illinois, the Cowboys encountered an opponent with three star players at the same time.
Coincidentally, the Cowboys faced the top three point guards in the NCAA in three consecutive games...
The further along in this year's March Madness, the more luxurious the opponent's lineup becomes.
In addition to North Carolina, Connecticut has Okafor, Ben Gordon and Villanueva, Duke has Luol Deng, Chris Duhon, Sheldon Williams and J.J. Redick...
This season, it seems that you are embarrassed to talk to others when you are the only core player of the team. Every team has several star players.
It is said that North Carolina also plans to recruit high school genius Marvin Williams this summer.
If this really happens, North Carolina's combat effectiveness will be immeasurable next season.
However, Roy Williams didn't want to wait another year.
This season, he is going to make a push for the championship!
When Sean May learned from Williams that he would be used as the offensive core in the next game, the fat power forward who weighed more than 115 kilograms and was only 2.06 meters tall was as happy as a 200-pound child.
"Don't worry, coach. I promise I'll make him remember tomorrow night!"
Sean May, the most famous and largest of North Carolina's three current star players, is considered Emeka Okafor's biggest rival.
Although his athletic ability is slightly average compared to those "beasts", Sean May has solid low-post skills, excellent rebounding, and a mid-range shot.
The most important thing is that in the entire NCAA, there are few power forwards who can withstand the impact of this fat guy.
On the offensive end, he almost always scores by pushing the ball to the basket.
He doesn't have the scoring explosion of teammate Rashad McCants, nor does he have the broad vision of Raymond Felton.
But at the critical moment, he really had to rely on his low-post hard drive to break the deadlock.
Sean May has also been looking forward to this game for a long time.
He had been drooling at the skinny Wayne!
Wayne is very famous now and is unanimously believed by the media to be a first-round pick.
Therefore, Sean May is eager to put in an excellent performance against Wayne.
This will undoubtedly make him more valuable!
"Don't be careless. The opponent is very strong. He didn't even let the Illinois Three Musketeers take advantage." Roy Williams patted Sean May on the shoulder.
Of course he trusted this chubby and stocky striker, but he also didn't want Mei to take it lightly.
"Hey, that's because Illinois' power forward is that wimp James Augustine. If I play against Augustine, I can perform better than him!" Sean May disagreed. He didn't think Wayne's physique could pose any threat to him.
Sean May is not an arrogant person, and his confidence is not without reason.
Because at this time even many outside media believed that Wayne was likely to fail in this game.
"Wade's recent performance is undoubtedly outstanding, but he has indeed not encountered any strong fourth position obstacles in the game."
"The game against North Carolina is undoubtedly a huge test for Wei. Sean May is the strongest opponent he has encountered so far."
"Wei's legend may very well end here. I dare not say who will achieve greater success between him and Sean in the future. But judging from the current combat capability, Sean May has a huge advantage!"
Wayne sat in a hotel room next to the Seattle Center Arena and casually glanced at the sports pages of several local newspapers, which were mostly praising Sean May.
Indeed, Wayne had never encountered such a strong opponent.
In the Big 12 Conference, the strongest opponent he has ever faced is Brother Tucker.
However, if you put Tucker in the context of the March Madness tournament, he really isn't that strong.
Entering March Madness, after three games, Wayne's opponents are not particularly strong.
In the last game against Illinois, they even encountered an "upgrade package" like James Augustine.
Although there are still many newspapers in Ohio standing on Wayne's side to help him speak, the Portland Post even said: "Wayne once defeated Rasheed Wallace, so beating Sean May is no problem."
But most media and fans still believe that Wayne is in danger in the quarterfinals.
Wayne put down the newspaper and rubbed his temple.
My head hurts!
Why meet this fat guy Sean May when there are so many other people to meet.
Height 2.06 meters, weight 115 kilograms...this kind of player is completely his own enemy!
It's just like when Yao Ming met players like Boozer and Okur who could shoot, he still felt very frustrated. Can you say that Boozer and Okur are stronger than Yao Ming in absolute strength?
uncertain.
But their style is to counter Yao Ming!
And Sean May, a human bomb tank, is Kwayne.
"Oh my god, a fat guy weighing 115 kg... 230 catties! This is a bit exciting! How many meals a day does he have to eat?"
Wayne, who currently weighs only 95 kilograms, is trembling, weak, scared and helpless.
Wayne sighed. There was nothing he could do but to hold on.
In fact, old Sutton had thought about using center Holmes to defend Sean May.
But the key is that Holmes may not be able to defend Sean May. Although he is stronger than Wayne, his defensive ability is not better than Wayne.
After all, his height and arm span are not as advantageous as Wayne's, and his steps are slow!
You know, Sean May is not a brute force man who relies purely on strength.
His low-post skills are excellent and his footwork is quite flexible compared to the five position.
Using Holmes, who has no advantage in height and wingspan and is at a disadvantage in mobility, to defend will probably make it easier for them to be beaten.
So, tomorrow night, Wayne will have to bear the 230 pounds of pressure alone.
He just hoped his "Zone Deterrence" badge would help.
The next day, players from North Carolina and Ohio State University showed up at the Seattle Center Arena on time.
This quarterfinal match will be the biggest crisis Wayne will ever encounter.
At the same time in Indianapolis, "Big Bird" Bird once again happily turned on the TV to see the young man's performance.
Yesterday, his "spy" Sweet just brought news that the Trail Blazers are ready to use their lottery pick to pick Telfair!
But Bird knew that this was probably just a smokescreen. The more the Blazers said this, the more likely it was that they would use the lottery pick to select someone else.
And this "someone else" is most likely Wayne!
There is no doubt that this is a huge blow to Bird.
For the first time, he discovered that having a good record could be so frustrating...
For a moment, he almost gave up on Wayne.
What's more, the team's general manager Walsh didn't really want Wayne, so there was almost no possibility of Bird and Wayne cooperating.
But...for some reason, Bird couldn't help but want to watch Wayne's game.
Are you not allowed to choose or not, and are you not allowed to watch?
Bird then convinced himself to turn on the TV again. He was eager to know what surprise Wayne could bring him this time when facing a strong enemy.
Although all major media outlets are pessimistic about Wayne's performance tonight, Bird disagrees.
If a player is suddenly looked down upon in the media, it does not mean that he is weak, but rather that he has gained great fame!
After all, who cares if a nobody wins?
On the court, Wayne and his teammates took their positions.
He looked up at Sean May, who was as fat as a rhinoceros, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Promise me, be gentle.