From sparring to superstar

Chapter 83. Chapter 81

Li Ao walked around the venue. It is a very large venue. Although it is not as big as the Memorial Stadium, it is larger than the Energy Solutions Arena in Albuquerque. There is a well-established commercial area inside the venue, such as video games and billiards. There are all of them, and there are also leases for training grounds and small competition venues.

At 10 o'clock, the Trojans held a preparation meeting in the training ground.

Looking at the scouting report, Li Ao felt that the rise of tomorrow's opponent, the Gators, was somewhat similar to that of their Trojans. They were teams that rose very fast.

In the summer of 98, the Alligators won the 13th-ranked Mike Miller, the 20th-ranked Teddy Dupe, and the 72nd-ranked Udonis Haslem. Entered the sweet 16, but unfortunately fell outside the top 1 by 8 point.

In the first 60 years before entering the NCAA Division I, the Alligators only scored 5 times in March Madness. In the summer of 98, this team won 3 of the top [-] high school students in the United States and used their talent After showing it, he became the favored object of gifted high school students.

Last summer, the Gators won the best high school student in the United States, Donnell Harvey. So far this season, he has averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and won the best rookie in the Southeast Division. , Has attracted the attention of NBA teams.

At the same time, he also won Brett Nelson, No. 7 in the United States, and Matt Bonner, No. 33.

It has to be said that in the summer of 1996, Ron Kruger, the director of basketball affairs at the University of Florida, and now the head coach of Georgia Institute of Technology, boldly used Billy Donovan, who was only 31 years old at the time, as the head coach. Actively cooperating with Billy Donovan to recruit players, in just a few years, the Gator team rose rapidly, becoming the top player in the Southeast Division and the favorite for the championship.

Ratio - Donovan became the most famous young head coach in the NCAA, and Ron Kruger retired after recruiting three talented high school students in the summer of 98. He left Florida State University and was accepted by Atlanta's Georgia Institute of Technology. High salary poached away.

For the other seven teams in the Elite Eight, the coaching staff of the Trojans did their homework, analyzing the opponent's tactics, analyzing their own strengths and weaknesses, and adjusting tactics... The meeting went very smoothly.

Then there was a day of training. Everyone in the team was very involved, and they took the time to train. When the meeting was over, the cameras were set up in the training ground, and the people from the TV station started filming. Normally, they would go to the camera to play something cool. Yes, but not this time. On the one hand, there are too many shots recently, I am used to it, and on the other hand, I really don’t have that much free time.

The Gators have one less day to prepare than them, and they don't want to waste that advantage.

At 6 o'clock in the evening, the day's preparation training is over.

Li Ao and Tre Pagnier, who like to try out new restaurants everywhere, wandered around the dining area in the venue.

"I checked the delicious restaurants in this business district last night, but I couldn't go there." Li Ao's tone was very regretful.

Trepagnell said with a half-smile, "Who did this?"

"You are blaming me!"

"I don't blame you, who do you blame? I also searched for small shops with good taste and cheap prices near this business district, and I can't go to them now."

"Even if I don't celebrate, there's still little Lambiel!"

"He's not as hateful as you look."

"..."

Li Ao was speechless, wondering whether he was praising him or hurting him.

The two stopped in front of a chain hamburger restaurant, and Trepagnier said, "It's better to eat hamburgers, other restaurants are more expensive, but they don't necessarily taste good... Eh? Leo, is that from the Gator team? "

Li Ao looked in the direction Trepagnier was looking at, really!
Mike - Miller and Haslem this brother.

He heard that the alligator team arrived this afternoon, and they immediately came to the venue to wander around. When they arrived at the apartment yesterday, the Trojan team was not allowed to go out, citing safety issues.

It's good to have a mediocre appearance, and you won't be afraid that someone will miss them when you go out.

The two also noticed Li Ao and Trepagnier, and they took the initiative to walk up. Mike Miller said hello: "Hi, Leo, I finally met you. I am Mike Miller, and he is Udonis. I think you should also know about us, after all, we will fight against each other the day after tomorrow, so I am really looking forward to it.”

Haslem pointed to himself and said: "Udonis Haslem, tsk tsk, you are the super genius who led the team to the semi-finals after practicing basketball for half a year. I really can't tell."

Li Ao listened to the words of these two people, did he want to use words to divide the relationship in the team on their side?Just by calling him by his name, it can be seen that his intentions are sinister.

Trepagnier replied: "That's right, Leo is the most talented player I've ever seen. He just practiced for a few months, and he is better than the No. [-] high school student in the United States for ten years. You think so too." ?”

The sending proposition was returned!

Mike - Miller and Haslem for a while do not know how to answer.

Donnell Harvey, their No. [-] high school student in the United States, is definitely not bad in talent. He is the best rookie in the Southeast Division, but compared to Li Ao... In their minds, Li Ao is on the same level as Mike Miller.

This guy with an honest face has such a poisonous mouth!I don't know where I learned it from.

Vaco!

They probably guessed who they learned from!

The handsome guy who had a sleepover with a Hollywood star after winning the 8-to-4 game was applauding!
The trick was seen through, and Mike Miller was embarrassed and put it aside.

He said to Li Ao: "You are so cool, to let basketball fans in a state treat you as an enemy, God, this is my dream."

Li Ao met a confidant, and said: "I feel the same way, but unfortunately my teammates don't understand me, and they blame me for preventing them from going out to eat."

Trey Pagnell: (▼ヘ▼#)
Didn't you just feel sore and couldn't go out?

Mike Miller laughed and said, "Haha, let's have dinner together? It's great to meet you. I'm treating you today."

Li Ao responded immediately: "Okay!"

Mike Miller: (￣┏Д┓￣°*)
Are you really welcome?
Even if he said this because he really intends to treat guests, he should at least put on a show.

Why do you feel a little irritated?

...

Li Ao's depression of not being able to go out to eat was swept away after eating a hamburger, a pasta, and a cup of Coke from the opponent's star.

After a brief contact with two players of the Heat in the era of the Big Three in the future, he has a certain understanding of these two players.

Mike Miller has a warm personality and can chat openly, so he should be very popular.

Haslem, on the other hand, seldom talks, has a dull personality, and wants to hate people when he speaks.

However, Li Ao learned from Mike Miller that Haslem is the hardest player he has ever seen. The scene of sweating on the court can always inspire his teammates and is the soul of their team.

That is, leaders of action.

Li Ao and Trepagnier left the NO.11 Park Arena and walked back to the apartment. At night, there were a lot fewer people in the business district.

The venue has not yet officially started operation. There are no sports competitions, concerts, or commercial activities. Most of the shops in the business district have closed. Most of the shops that have not closed are restaurants, just like the business district in the venue.

And most of the people who are still wandering in the business district are tourists who came here today. Li Ao also met a supporter of the Trojans who was holding a poster with his button to sign.

Sometimes, I really can't help feeling sour.

Trepagnier diverted his attention and said, "The people of the Gators are very different from the opponents in the previous rounds. They are very...confident?"

Li Aoying said: "I also have the same feeling. The people of the Steam Furnace Workers Team give me the feeling that they feel that they are burdened with something. They don't seem to understand the joy of competition. If they don't speak so meanly, they will be provocative." , we will not quarrel with them at the airport that day;
Swift of the Tigers, his draft expectations are so high, and he even made it to the elite eight, but he gives me the feeling that he seems to be afraid of losing something, and he doesn't get along well with his teammates;

The College Badgers are not bad, a good group of people, but they don't seem to have much confidence in themselves;
I didn't pay much attention to the Tigers, they were too weak...

Miller and Haslem give me a completely different feeling. They also have the desire for the championship, they work very hard, and like you said, they are very confident and very energetic. It is conceivable that their team atmosphere is also very good, no As full of hostility as some teams.

Sure enough, the teams that can reach the final four are different from other teams. Even if the basketball strength is similar, the difference in spirit will affect the win or loss in the game. "

Trepagnell did some reading comprehension questions, got it, and asked, "You're not praising them, but us?"

"I'm so narcissistic?"

"Yes! Very much!"

"You're right, I'm so handsome, I should be narcissistic."

"...Let's go back quickly, the TV station will come to film what we have to do before going to bed at 8 o'clock." Trepagnier changed the subject, this guy, King Kong is not bad, only practicing his face!
"Shooting what we do before bed? Do they think I'm going to take the girl home at night?"

"Uh...it's really possible."

"They're boring enough, do they think I'm playing games and bring girls here?"

"Isn't it? Didn't you take the girl to play away two days ago?"

"No, we just met on the day of the competition, and we hit it off right away."

"Vac..."

Trey Pagnell wants to hit someone again!

...

On the second day, Li Ao continued to train with the team.

I came to the stadium at 8:9 this morning and started training at [-]:[-].

The amount of training is not as large as yesterday, but the training content is more complicated, which belongs to the advanced version of training, such as tactical cooperation in specific situations, that is, key ball tactics.

There are not many application scenarios of NCAA key ball tactics, there are too few timeouts, and there are very few opportunities for lore. Generally, the winner is almost determined in the last minute of the game.

The offensive time is 35 seconds. If the foul tactics are implemented, free throws will only be made after 7 fouls. If there is only 1 minute left in the game and the point difference reaches 7 points, there is basically no chance to chase.

But the opponent was the final four, Henry Bibby felt that he still had to practice.

He talked about this during the training break yesterday, and he thought it was unnecessary at the beginning. The time is tight, and there are really key shots to be played, and it will just depend on the situation at that time.

But he heard Li Ao say that sometimes there is a timeout after halftime, and it can't be saved for the second half, which is wasteful, so he decided to add two sets of key ball tactical training.

At 11:[-] noon, the two-hour preparation training in the morning ended.

The practice was very easy and did not consume much energy. Li Ao decided to practice for half an hour longer, practicing mid-range shots and hooks. Anyway, there was not much time and amount of training in the afternoon.

Yesterday, the CIC has been raised to 84. After hard training, the actual combat has brought about a huge improvement, so practice more when you have time.

The hook skill has also reached 69, which is only a thin line away from a good level.

What is a little painful is the basic skill of the hook, which is only 67.

Li Ao put himself into the extra training, but before the two 15-minute extra training sessions were finished, Henry Bibby brought someone to interrupt him.

"Leo, suspend training, there is work to do."

Li Ao looked at the person next to Henry Bibby. Judging from his appearance, he should be a flower grower, and he looked familiar...

He was looking at it, and the other party seemed very excited, and said actively: "Leo, hello, I am Su Qun, a reporter from China Sports Daily. I want to interview you, and I have delayed your training."

Su Qun!
Li Ao remembered, an unlucky guy.

In the future, when Ah Lian plays for the Mavericks, his teammates don’t trust him, and they don’t pass him the open space after he plays. Su Qun complained about Carlisle in the live broadcast. If you hit five, just don't send Ah Lian on, it's not good for each other.

As a result, this statement was taken out of context by the domestic media, which only intercepted "A Lian played 4 to 5, don't change to A Lian", which caused Internet violence, and even the boss of the Hongyuan team cursed Su Qun on Weibo.

Li Ao replied in Mandarin: "Of course, but I can speak Mandarin, just call me Li Ao..."

Li Ao reached out to shake hands, but just as he stretched out, he found that his hands were sweaty and wiped them on his jersey...(_)
There was more sweat on the jersey and wetter from wiping.

Su Qun saw Li Ao's embarrassment, held Li Ao's hand with both hands and said, "Let's sit down and talk, you must be tired from training for so long."

With this action, Li Ao's favor towards the reporter has improved a lot.

Henry Bibby said from the side: "I heard from the school that after we reached the top 16, Sue wanted to interview you, but we didn't agree because he was afraid that it would affect your preparations. He would give Steve an interview every day these days. Call, I see that he is so sincere, I agreed to him, you have a good chat, but you can't delay the training in the afternoon."

Su Qun immediately said: "Thank you so much, I will definitely not delay Leo for too long!"

Li Ao and Su Qun came to the bench by the window of the training ground and sat down. He looked left and right, and then at the entrance of the training ground...

Su Qun asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Where's the camera? Don't you want an interview?"

"That... I... I'm a writer."

Li Ao: (ˇˇ)
He just wanted to complain, but seeing the other party's cramped look, he forcibly held back.

"Then you didn't say it earlier, I'm pretending to be so serious for nothing, and I'm tired of sitting upright."

As he spoke, Li Ao hunched his back, put one hand on the bench, and raised his legs.

Su Qun is in his 30s, and what he does is not doing office work, but doing interviews outside all the year round. How can you not see that Li Ao is trying to avoid embarrassing him?

I have been in the industry for more than ten years, and I am still a text reporter who runs out of the field, doing beautiful jobs with soft sister coins.

His affection for Li Ao rose steadily.

According to the legend, Li Ao is a rich second generation, with a bad temper, contempt for others, lustful and violent... In just a few minutes of contact, he knew that at least most of those rumors were false, at least exaggerated.

Beforehand he thought of the worst.

He had also interviewed some domestic businessmen who sponsored the Yingjiangjia sports team before, but the other party kept talking about what Misora ​​said.

This is not bad, some people who have really achieved some achievements in Yingjiang's house humiliate him directly.

Li Ao here, not only can't see the inexplicable sense of superiority of those Muyang dogs, but also cares about his feelings.

Because his expectations were low at the beginning, his favorability increase is far higher than normal!
After Su Qun sighed for a while, he began to officially enter the working state.

When we met for the first time, the questions he asked were very routine.

Li Ao's answer is also very official, and there are occasional questions that he doesn't like, and he doesn't open up.

It is not easy to study or work abroad. If you are in a country, as long as the other party is not annoying and does not involve interests, if you chat for a while, he treats the other party as his own.

You can be rude in front of outsiders, but you can be rude to insiders. What's the reason for that?
Not only this aspect, but also the team aspect.

When he was not fully integrated into the team at the beginning, he also had a strong sense of self-defense.

But after he integrated, his violent temper was only for outsiders, and if he was inside the team, he bullied Sam Clancy.

...

The interview went smoothly, and Su Qun left in a hurry after finishing the interview. He had not yet reached the level of an assistant, so he had to go back to write the manuscript by himself, and bluntly said that he didn't know if it would be published in the newspaper.

After Li Ao heard that he was a text reporter, he didn't expect much about it, and he didn't care much about it, and he didn't return to China to play CBA. The domestic sports world is not easy these days. Domestic athletes in this period, even if they are from the national team. Even those who have won Olympic champions, most of them are injured and sick after retiring, but they can't get out of their cards, and their lives are extremely miserable.

After taking a shower and changing into clean training clothes, he went to eat lunch, continued to practice mid-range shots and hooks at 1 pm, and trained with the team at 02:30...

Two days of preparation time passed by in a flash, and on March 3, the day of the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Tournament arrived.

In the morning, the players of the Trojans went to the arena in a commercial vehicle.

Not only them, but all four teams in today's game have to be like this.

People from various police stations in Polis City were dispatched to maintain order, and the NCAA even hired private security companies to barely control the scene.

The fans are so crazy today!
The enthusiasm of the fans was ridiculously high, only in terms of the number of fans crowded around the competition venue, it broke the historical record of the NCAA Crazy Three Finals!
Even if local teams from the host city or state reach the final round, it is difficult to exaggerate so much. The championship games in many years are not as popular as the current one.

Because, in addition to the supporters of the four participating teams, the fans of the Steam Furnace Workers, the strongest local college basketball team, also came to join in the fun!
(End of this chapter)