Back in 84, he became Jordan’s lifelong enemy!

Chapter 13 The NCAA League Begins

"Sonny, haven't you left yet?"

Near midnight, Jeff Friend, who was preparing to go home, saw that the lights were still on in the head coach's office. He opened the door and saw Sonny Smith sitting behind his desk with a sad look on his face.

"Uh, is that you, Jeff?"

Smith came back to his senses, frowned, and replied: "I'll leave later."

"What are you worrying about?"

Flender walked in, came to him, and asked with a smile: "Is the regular season about to start?"

The regular season he is talking about is the regular season of the Southeastern Conference of the current NCAA Men's Basketball League.

The entire region is divided into the East Region and the West Region, with a total of ten teams. It is the smallest region among the five major leagues. Of course, it is also the weakest region.

"Ok!"

Smith replied calmly: "There are still two days before the regular season, and our situation is not optimistic."

"It's too early to worry, Sonny."

Flanders pulled a chair from the side and sat down, smiling and said: "It's just the regular season. It's not too late for us to worry about it when we reach the playoffs."

As he spoke, his tone turned teasing, "Don't you think we can't even make the playoffs?"

"No." Smith shook his head and responded with a confident smile, "We have the playoffs in hand, and no one can stop us from entering the playoffs."

The so-called playoffs are the playoffs of major leagues, or major regions. After the regular season, the top eight teams fight against each other to ultimately determine the division champion and determine the national championship seeding team.

This kind of playoffs usually takes place four or five days a week to determine the final winner, so it is called 'Championship Week'.

At that time, the Southeastern Conference champion team will automatically advance to the NCAA National Championship, gaining seeding status and the right to a first-round bye.

There are three levels of NCAA national championships: D1, D2 and D3. 'March Madness' generally refers to D1 level competitions.

D1 has five major leagues, 32 minor leagues, and more than 1000 schools. Each school has to compete in the following stages:
In the invitational stage, each school will form its own competition, and the results will be included in the ranking points.

During the regular season, the internal leagues of each league determine the ranking within the league.Achievements are included in ranking points.

In the national championship stage, the seeding teams are determined by the league stage rankings, and a knockout round is held to determine a champion. The 32 champions across the country automatically enter March Madness.

The final 36 teams that advance to the national championship will be selected by the jury based on the strength of the regular record teams and the strength of their opponents to enter March Madness.

In March Madness, the four lowest-ranked championship teams and the four lowest-ranked selection teams will first compete in a knockout round, and the first four teams in the top 68 will be eliminated.

The 64 teams are divided into four divisions and compete in a knockout round to determine the winner. The champions of the four divisions will then compete for the championship in the final semi-finals.

The top four teams have the opportunity to light up the Empire State Building, and the champion team can even enter the White House to chat with the president.

More than 1000 teams can eventually reach the national championship, and only 64 teams are on the national stage. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a big wave.

"But our goal is not just the playoffs, Jeff."

Sonny Smith's expression suddenly became bitter. He sighed quietly and said in a heavy tone, "Don't forget, last season we were eliminated in the play-offs and only touched the edge of the playoffs."

“We still have last season’s Elite Eight, Final Four and Kentucky Wildcats ahead of us.”

The Kentucky Wildcats were the championship team of the Southeastern Conference last season and the seed team of the NCAA. Although they went home in the quarterfinals of the national championship, the Tigers of Auburn University cannot get around this team if they want to enter the national championship. The mountains of the past.

"We strengthened this year, Sonny."

Flanders was very aware of Sonny's concerns, but for him, they all had to be faced. Worrying about them now would not do him any good and would only increase the pressure.

No matter what, they just keep moving forward, killing Buddha if they stand in the way of Buddha, and killing gods if they stand in the way of gods.

"Can we consider this as reinforcement?"

Smith responded with a wry smile. He didn't even have a serious No. [-] position. It's called reinforcement?

"We have lost two key players this season."

"You have to have confidence in the Suna kid." Friend was very resistant to Smith's pessimistic mentality before the game even started. "Last season, who in our Southeast Region could resist Charles? "

Smith tilted his head and thought for a moment before replying: "It seems not."

"But Su, he did it." Flanders said with a smile: "A guy who can compete with Charles and still have an advantage, you have to have confidence in him."

"Of course I have confidence in him, Jeff." Smith couldn't help but smile knowingly when he thought of Su Wen beating Barkley in daily group confrontations.

But soon, he restrained himself, shook his head, and continued with a wry smile: "Don't forget, this year the Kentucky Wildcats have Sam Bowie, he is back this year."

Sam Bowie, 216cm tall and 106kg in weight, was the second pick of the 84 diamond generation, beating the basketball god Michael Jordan.

In the past few years, he was known as the strongest high school student in the United States. His existence once dimmed the stars of players such as Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and James Worthy.

If it weren't for the fact that he suffered a serious injury in the last few games of his sophomore year, suffering a stress fracture on his left tibia and missing the entire junior season, the Kentucky Wildcats would not have gone home after making it to the quarterfinals last season.

This man was a star player in his first two years of college, the most watched super insider in the United States, with extraordinary athletic ability and talent, averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds per game.

From Smith's current perspective, this Bowie is like Su Wen who is 20cm taller and one size larger, and he also has a precise shooting hand and a soft touch.It is precisely because of his existence that Sonny Smith has always wanted to find a No. [-] position that can compete with him.

Unfortunately, over the past few years, things have backfired.

Instead of waiting for a serious No. [-] position, there is a short insider who is about the same height as Barkley in the new season.

Of course, Su Wen's playing style and characteristics are biased towards the outside, but now he can only condescend to the inside and partner with Barkley.

The pressure that Sam Bowie put on them was too much and they had to arrange it this way.

"Why do you keep thinking about Kentucky wild cats?" Flanders replied disapprovingly: "Whether it's a wild cat or a white cat, when we encounter one, we'll just do our best."

"Don't forget, we have been practicing tactics, running positions, and making frequent adjustments to our strategies this month. We are all working hard for the new season."

"You can't just look at your opponent's advantages and forget that we have advantages too."

Speaking of this, Flanders' tone became more confident and calm, "Our two insiders are short."

"But no team is more flexible than us, right? We can outrun everyone."

"Sam Bowie?" Flanders sneered domineeringly, "He's just a sick boy!"

At the end of the sentence, he looked at Smith seriously and advised again, "We are also very strong, so don't belittle yourself."

"Okay, that's all I have to say, let's go now."

"You should also go home early. Don't forget your wife and children at home because of work."

This guy!
Smith looked at the handsome back of his best assistant who left and closed the door. He shook his head and said with a wry smile: "You are more like the team coach than me now."

Before the start of the Southeastern Conference regular season, the Auburn University Tigers have eight invitational games to play, just like the NBA's preseason games.

The opponents come from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the Sun Belt Conference, Florida State in the Metropolitan Athletic Conference, Youngstown State in the Ohio Valley Conference, and the University of South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference.

Except for the Mississippi Bulldogs, Saitama's teams are all opponents from other leagues.

Although this kind of invitational tournament will be counted towards the division points, without becoming an opponent in the 'Championship Week', all members of the Auburn University Tigers are not very nervous.

One day before the first game of the invitational tournament, Sonny Smith gave the whole team a big holiday to let everyone recuperate and relax.

Su Wen did not rest because he had no rest.

On weekends, he had to go out to work to make money.

"Su, hurry up, there are many merchants waiting to ship the goods."

Early in the morning, Su Wen had just arrived at the mall. Within a few minutes of entering the warehouse to work, he was violently urged by the administrator.

The administrator's name was Domingo, a Mexican with a strong build and no hair, but he looked kind and peaceful, completely unlike the image of the Mexican gang members in the movies with their fleshy faces and fierce looks.

However, this person looked friendly, but was not very patient with Su Wen.

Even Su Wen is a head taller than him.

"it is good!"

Su Wen didn't make any mistakes. He picked up a large box of goods and rushed to the mall.

Domingo, who was following behind, was only carrying a tool bag.

Seeing Su Wen easily carrying a box weighing fifty or sixty kilograms on his shoulders, he showed a rare expression of satisfaction.

"Sue, I heard you're a freshman at Auburn University?"

Auburn is a small-town-like city with mostly indigenous people, few immigrants, and even fewer Asians.

And here is a university, and Su Wen is so familiar. Even if Domingo doesn't check the information, he can roughly guess Su Wen's identity.

"Yes." Su Wen replied calmly, his eyes constantly searching for the location of the merchant given by the other party.

"With your height, there are not many sports suitable for you. Are you on the basketball team?"

"Correct!"

Su Wen's response was still simple.

"Then you have to work hard." Domingo chuckled and threatened in a cryptic tone: "I am a Tigers fan. If you don't fight hard, I will kick your ass. "

"I'll even fire you!"

"You won't have that chance."

Su Wen snorted and sneered: "Never in my lifetime."

After saying that, he quickened his pace and ignored this guy.

(End of this chapter)