The Way of the Center

At six o'clock in the morning on November 13, 2007, the sun had not yet appeared in the sky of Ames. Excited and nervous, An Jie found that he couldn't fall asleep anyway, so he had to put on his clothes and go to the toilet to wash up.

An Jie kept reminding himself that this was just an ordinary regular season of the college basketball league. It was hard to calm down, but when he thought of the basketball court that would be filled with tens of thousands of people at night, the game under the spotlight, reporters, basketball commentators , scouts, cheerleaders.... Anjie’s feeling of excitement and tension filled his whole body. He had never experienced such a big scene. The greatest attention ever received.

An Jie's father is also an old basketball fan, and he is equally excited that his son can play in the NCAA. It's just that there are very few inquiries about the NCAA in China, let alone news about unpopular teams like Iowa State University. So in the past few days, he has called Anjie more and more, asking about the team's situation and preparation status. He couldn't see his son's game in China, so he could only pray in his heart that everything went well for this kid today.

………………..

"How about this blue one?" Ricard adjusted his tie in the mirror and asked his wife's opinion.

"You look great dear, don't worry, you're well dressed."

"NCAA Division I, it's like a dream."

"The good show is yet to come. You will lead the team to victory, and I will cheer for your team from the audience." Peggy hugged her husband from behind. "What? Devil's coach George Ricard also has moments of nervousness?"

"Kansas State University is not a soft persimmon. If we lose the first game, then the next..."

Before Ricard could finish speaking, Peggy gently placed her index finger on Ricard's mouth.

"Okay, wait until the afternoon to go to the locker room and tell your players. Now, you have to relax and go out to eat the breakfast I prepared for you."

"Huh, you're right." Ricard took a deep breath and temporarily put the matter of the game behind him. He'd been studying Kansas State University for a few days, and maybe it wasn't a bad thing to let his mind relax for a while.

Ricard went to the dining table and sat down, as usual, reading the newspaper while eating breakfast. Today's sports section is very lively, the NCAA basketball league is about to start, and the newspapers are full of commentators' expectations and predictions for various universities and players. After searching for a long time, Ricard found a review about Iowa State University.

"When I got the roster for Iowa State University, I couldn't even match the names on the roster with the players. I didn't hear any other names on the roster except Mike Taylor who just transferred. Having said that, this includes their new head coach George Ricard. Can you imagine a team that doesn't have enough NCAA experience from players to coaches? But this is Iowa State University, it's been many years since they made it to the March Madness playoffs. They won't be in a good situation this season, and we'll focus more on the other teams in the Big 12. body."

In an extremely short review, this reviewer can say that Iowa State University is not in the eyes at all. What can a big team say? Only local fans pay attention to them.

"Hmph, soon you'll be able to meet people on our roster." Ricard threw the newspaper aside in disdain, and concentrated on eating breakfast.

Since today is the home court of Iowa State University, the basketball hall was already very lively before the game started. Although his team has had a poor record in recent years, this does not stop the enthusiasm of the fans.

They were in groups, holding banners with cheering slogans and various signs, and many of them wore the team's red home jerseys. The atmosphere was very frenzied.

In addition to the fans, reporters holding "long guns and short cannons" also surrounded the stadium. But most of these reporters did not come for the home team. The reason they came here was because of the visiting team Kansas State University.

In addition to Derek Rose of the University of Memphis and OJ Mayo of the University of Southern California, another candidate for the top pick in the NBA draft is Michael Beasley of Kansas State University.

Like Rose, Beasley had already become a high-profile sports star in high school. He achieved a terrifying record of 138 wins and 5 losses in the four years of high school, and he can play an excellent average of 20+10 every year in high school. In the 2007 McDonald's All-American Game, he scored 23 points alone, was named the Most Valuable Player on the spot and won the Adidas Classic MVP award. Not only that, but he was named to the All-American Third Team in his junior year and the All-American Second Team in his senior year. The first NCAA game of such a basketball genius who became famous in high school is destined to be the focus of media attention. No one has any hope for the result and process of the game. Poor Iowa State University is just a foil for Beasley's killing in the eyes of the media.

Cyclones players entered the basketball court after lunch, where they were warming up and mentally adjusted. Even though the basketball arena is not yet open to the public, the noise outside has already made the players in the arena a little uneasy.

"Michael Beasley, I've only seen him on TV before, but I'm going to face this damn genius in a while, God, this is crazy." The speaker is now the Cyclones starting youngster Forward, the athletic Anthony Ben.

"Yes, but after the game, people will start discussing Anthony Ben's violent dunk." Morris joked with his teammates, which was also a kind of encouragement to his teammates.

"Don't forget that basketball is a team sport. Michael Beasley is just one person. Unfortunately, as his opponent, we are just a team." Mike Taylor also encouraged these little brothers who have no game experience .

Two hours before the start of the game, the Kansas State University bus finally pulled into the Iowa State University campus. Their arrival immediately caused a sensation among the media who had been waiting for a long time. The reporters surrounded the bus with their cameras on their shoulders.

Kansas State University players are also flattered, they have never seen such a big formation. Only Michael Beasley, the protagonist pursued by the reporters, looked out the window indifferently, disapproving. He was used to this kind of scene when he was in high school, and he would not make a fuss about these swarming reporters long ago.

As soon as the driver pulled over, reporters surrounded the Kansas State University bus. Michael Beasley was the last to get off after the Kansas State players squeezed their way. As soon as he got off the bus, countless microphones were stretched out in front of him.

"Michael, how many points do you think you can score in the first NCAA game?"

"Derek Rose and you, who do you think is better between the two of you?"

"We all know your record in high school, 138 wins and 5 losses. Now it's the first game of your college career. Can you bring the team a victory?"

Michael Beasley finally stopped, he wanted to answer the question raised by the reporter just now.

"We came to Ames not only to win a victory, but also to win well. When I was in high school, I only lost at most two games a year. When I get to college, I will still maintain this tradition." Still as always With his arrogance, Beasley let people all over the United States know his ambition with his unshakable eyes. Michael Beasley is coming to college, NBA scouts give me a good look!

The increasing noise outside the changing rooms meant that fans and opposing players were starting to enter. Ricard cleared his throat, making sure the players could hear him.

"Okay! The moment you guys dream of is here! If you fight well, more than 10,000 people outside will worship you as heroes. If you are beaten by your opponents, then you and I will be beaten The saliva outside is drowning! Choose yourself, which kind of person do you want to be?"

"We want to be heroes!" Almost everyone answered in unison.

"Very good! I knew that you guys are not easy to save fuel. Now, go out and do the final warm-up for me, and let me exercise my muscles and bones! If anyone fails to do their technical moves on the court later, you can Don’t blame me for giving you too many training tasks when I come back!”

As soon as the words fell, the players of the Cyclones got up and left the locker room. After being yelled at by Ricard, they didn't feel nervous at all, and all that was left was excitement.

Walking out of the player tunnel to the basketball court, one-fifth of the spectators were sparsely seated in the stands. Since Ricard has always insisted on closed training, fans are seeing players representing their team for the first time. This sense of mystery endowed them with an even warmer welcome.

"Did you see that big Asian guy? He's our team's starting center! That guy is also my roommate. When he first came to the United States, he played with me on the field!" In the stands, Anjie's roommate Jason Started to make excuses again. His words did attract the attention of several girls, but their purpose was only to get An Jie's phone number through him.

On the other side of the court, Kansas State University players also stepped on the wooden floor. They took their time to warm up two hours before the start of the game. Kansas State University coach Rick Chris didn't want to waste too much energy on the players in this game. In his eyes, this is more like a preseason training game. What does Iowa State University on the opposite side have to fight him? We had Michael, and they didn't even have a player by name.

During the warm-up period, more and more fans entered the stadium, and the atmosphere on the scene became more and more frenzied. As if that wasn't enough, a red-headed bird known as "Chuck," the mascot for the Iowa State University Cyclones, stormed the gymnasium. He led the hot girls in the cheerleading team to do various performances, and he kept giving away jerseys and small gifts to mobilize the enthusiasm of the fans. Reporters' cameras flashed and fans sang and danced in the stands. To be honest, the NCAA game is quite professional in terms of scale and level. Before the game started, An Jie was already infected by this atmosphere. His adrenaline was soaring, and every joint in his body was ready to move.

Half an hour before the start of the game, Ricard called everyone back to the locker room, and he was going to make the final deployment. The players were already extremely excited, bouncing towards the player tunnel one by one, and the fans stretched out countless hands to give them high fives.

The winks from the cheerleaders, the disdain in the eyes of the opponent players, the shouts from the fans in the stands... This field seems so complicated, and there are people everywhere watching their every move. In any case, when they came back half an hour later, the brutal fight would begin.

After returning to the locker room and closing the door, the players suddenly felt much quieter in their ears. Ricard looked at the young men who were gearing up below, and couldn't help smiling. He was worried that these young men were too nervous and prepared a lot of words to relieve them, but now it seems that he was worrying too much. His players are not only not nervous but also full of energy, which is exactly what he hopes to see.

"Okay guys! I don't need to say more, you know that Michael Beasley must receive our grand hospitality!" Ricard picked up a marker pen and drew a big circle on Beasley's name.

"He is an all-round striker who can play both the third and fourth positions at the same time. Ben, you can't let him go even one step! Even if he breaks through very well, you can't let him go even one step. Give me a hard stick Stop him. Know that this guy's shot is not blocked, so you can't easily give him a chance to shoot. Don't worry, if you are broken by him, Morris behind you will help you block him." Said, Ricard shifted his gaze to Morris.

"Don't worry, coach, I will make up for it in time." Morris patted his chest.

"Angie! Don't you like blocking shots the most? Today is your chance! The 4th and 5th players on the opponent's side are not good at shooting, so they have to be close to the basket if they want to score. So you Just stick to the basket, today the entire basket is your territory! No matter whether their center and power forward are pulled out, no matter whether your outside teammates are broken through, you don’t have to follow them out, I want you to be there Cruise around the paint and keep the basket safe. If Beasley breaks through Ben and Morris into the paint at the same time, fine, let him taste your big cap! I want you to play zone defense alone, who's in You can guard against anyone near the three-second zone."

"No problem!" An Jie made an "OK" gesture.

"Offensively, Morris and Anjie must actively occupy positions! Don't worry, Mike Taylor will deliver the basketball to you accurately. If Beasley is the strength of Kansas State University, then the inside is theirs. Weaknesses! I want the two of you to continue to create damage and continue to put pressure on the opponent's inside players. The same is true for everyone else, to actively break through and make their already weak inside more passive. Don't rush and play slowly, if the rhythm If it is too fast, it will just give Michael Beasley room to play. We will play with them in a rigorous manner and conduct patiently. But this does not mean that you can be lazy when attacking. Be active in running positions, and follow us in off-ball pick-and-rolls The way we usually train, we can always find a gap."

"Rickard, it's almost time." Old Moore pointed to his watch, reminding Ricard that it's time for the players to play.

"Okay guys! The outside media and opponents think that we will lose this game. We are Michael Beasley's foil for the NBA No. 1 pick. But they are wrong! They don't understand how we are a group of Cyclones. This is exactly our advantage. No one understands and studies us, and we will catch our opponents by surprise. Underestimate us, and they will pay for it! Now, step on the field and let the media and opponents know this* *****Who is home!" Ricard threw the marker pen to the ground, mobilizing the players' emotions to the highest point.

"Roar!" A group of boys roared out of the locker room, An Jie clenched his fists, his forehead was covered with sweat. At this moment, the stands are full of seats, and one-seventh of the people in the small city of Ames City are sitting here, and the noise is several times louder than when they were just warming up.

"Let's go guys, let's go!" Rickard gave an order like a general, and his players, like brave soldiers, rushed out of the player channel one by one and came to the basketball court.

"Let's welcome, Iowa State University Spin~~~~~Wind~~~~~~Team~~~~~~!" finally arrived. Since it was the first game of the season and the fans of the home team were also very unfamiliar with their players, the on-site announcer was instructed to introduce the starting players one by one.

Immediately, all the lights on the scene were turned off, only a few spotlights illuminated the Cyclones players. Now, the focus of the audience is on them.

"Let me introduce the starters, and welcome our point guard, number one, Mike Tay~~~~le."

"Shooting guard, No. 5 Tony Cruz."

"Small forward, No. 3 Anthony Ben!"

"Our monster insider! Andrew Morris, No. 32 Big Bull!"

The announcer finished introducing the first four players in order, and it was An Jie's turn next. At this moment, he looked at the cheering auditorium, and his body was covered with goose bumps. It wasn't because An Jie felt nervous or stage fright, he was just deeply shocked by the atmosphere.

"Next, the starting center, from far away China, Yao Ming of the Cyclone team, Dongfang Tower, No. 2 Anjie!" The announcer lamely read Anjie's name, although the pronunciation was not accurate, but he shouted very imposingly .

An Jie waved to the audience, and then went forward to bump fists with his teammates. The players of the Kansas State University Wildcats opposite could only quietly watch their opponents accept the welcome of the audience, but they were left out in the cold. They were all very upset, and they all planned to regain the limelight in the next game.

After the Cyclones starters were all introduced, the lights came back on in the arena, and the Wildcats center was on the center circle ready for a jump ball. An Jie hammered his chest to encourage himself, and walked towards the center circle according to the referee's instructions.

All the players have stood up according to their positions, and the referee blows his whistle to signal that the players of the two teams are ready. Then, he picked up the basketball and held it up to level with his head.

He looked at Anjie and Wildcats center Scott Martins respectively, gave them a slight nod, and then he threw the ball high into the air.

Attachment: Iowa State University Cyclones official roster

Center: Angie, Byrne Asakin

Power forwards: Andrew Morris, Walter Sharp, Ante George, Meeks Washington

Small forwards: Anthony Benn, CJ Fortes, Darnell Harding

Shooting guards: Tony Cruz, Chris Roberts, Nathan Thornton

Point guard: Mike Taylor, Joey Kyle, Dante McNeese

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