Countercurrent and become a superstar

Chapter 19 In the first round of March Madness, the Oklahoma State University Cowboys are coming!

At this moment, at the beginning of March, when a new round of recruitment war for freshmen was launched in major elite schools, the NCAA divisional championships of major leagues were also successfully concluded one after another. The 3 championship teams were determined, and they will obtain direct qualifications for the national championships.

The remaining 33 participating teams will be screened and voted on by the selection committee, and the entire process will be broadcast live across the United States by radio stations.

It doesn’t matter whether the result is fair or not, whether there is a behind-the-scenes operation or not, what matters is that the process is fair and open, and promotes freedom and democracy in this beautiful country every day.

Soon, the four major divisions, namely the Eastern District, the Western District, the Southern District and the Central and Western District, drew up the schedule for each division according to the ranking of the seeded teams.

The Wake Forest University Demon Deacons were assigned to the Midwest Division and were the No. 5 seed team in the national championship. They were only the No. seed team in this division. They were placed in the bottom half. Their first opponent was the Russians of the Big Conference. Oklahoma State University Cowboys.

If they advance to the second round, they will face the winner of the University of Illinois and East Tennessee State University.

The top half is guarded by the University of Arizona Wildcats, the No. 4 seed in the conference... Well, it doesn't matter what the opponents in the first half are like. To meet them, it will take a million miracles.

You know, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons' best record in March Madness was entering the semifinals, and that was 1962.

The best result in recent years was under Duncan's leadership, reaching the conference finals in 1996, which was the Elite Eight.

Under the leadership of Josh Howard, Wake Forest could not get past the second round. Its best performance was to pass the top 32 of the first round.

Therefore, Wake Forest's goal this season is not high, just to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

In other words, to reach the third round, all it takes is to defeat the Oklahoma State University Cowboys in the first round and the University of Illinois Illinois Warriors, who will undoubtedly advance in the second round, to complete the task.

……

Texas, Aerospace Center.

On March 3, the game between Wake Forest University Demon Deacons and Oklahoma State University Cowboys began.

The Cowboys, as the name suggests, are very brave, and their ancestors were indeed wealthy.

In 1945 and 1946, they won two consecutive championships.

The best result in recent years was reaching the semi-finals in 95.

Since 98, it has participated in the national championship for six consecutive years, including reaching the top 6. It is a traditional strong team.

To be honest, they are also a strong team in the Big 12 Conference, and they are much more competitive than the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

It is not surprising that such a traditional strong team will meet Wake Forest University, but it is impossible and absolutely impossible to meet in the first round.

Asking is a plane crash.

In January 2001, Oklahoma State University suffered a plane crash, killing all 1 people on board, including two college basketball players.

To be fair, the loss of the two players to the Cowboys' lineup structure is very limited.

However, the issue of player safety has been greatly questioned by students and parents.

Therefore, it was a fatal blow to the atmosphere and morale of the next Cowboys team, as well as the recruitment of talented freshmen.

People only need money to play football, but your Cowboys team needs lives to play football. Without a good source of students, the team's strength will naturally decline and its results will naturally become poor.

There is no way. It is difficult to recruit and train the Cowboys to rise again through normal recruitment and it is not known how long it will take. The only shortcut is to recruit transfer students.

There are still many players who need a performance platform and are not afraid of death.

For example, Tony Allen, who graduated from junior college to bachelor's degree.

For example, brothers Joey Graham and Stephen Graham play in the second tier.

The game started.

Oklahoma State University's starting five are center John O'Neaden, power forward Joey Graham, small forward Tony Allen, shooting guard Stephen Graham, and point guard Allen Lowry.

Wake Forest's starting five are center Rick Williams, power forward Chris Ellis, small forward Josh Howard, shooting guard Justin Gray, and point guard Qin Yang.

Beep——!
Rick Williams beat John O'Neaden to give Wake Forest its first offensive play.

Qin Yang took possession of the ball past half-court, and immediately copied Fisher's homework and handed the damn basketball to Josh Howard to play with.

“Josh Howard versus Tony Allen, it’s a very interesting matchup.”

In the NBC commentary booth, commentator Chris Ross explained with a smile.

"If Josh Howard doesn't go to high school for his fifth year, he definitely won't be able to go to Wake Forest University, and he will have to attend community college and play in the NJCAA league.

It's very possible that Josh Howard and Tony Allen have already met.

Now Tony Allen has attended community college for two years, taken the path of "junior college to bachelor's degree", and joined Oklahoma State University, which is also very successful.

Tony Allen performed very well this season and was named the best 'college-to-undergraduate' player of the year in the United States by a website.

Josh Howard is the best player in the ACC. Let's see what kind of sparks will emerge in the duel between the two best players?
Josh Howard was a triple threat. Then, he broke through with the ball and was closely followed by Tony Allen. He chose to test Tony Allen's defense with a mid-range shot. Will Josh Howard's emergency stop and pull-up be possible..."

Bang-dang——!
The strike missed.

In the first round, the duel between Josh Howard and Tony Allen ended with Josh Howard's long knife unable to cut through Tony Allen's iron-clad defense.

After blocking Josh Howard's attack, Tony Allen immediately clenched his fists in celebration. The MVP of the ACC League is nothing more than that.

The basketball was picked off by Joey Graham who rushed to the penalty area. He jumped up to grab the rebound that was almost level with the basket, which really shocked Chris Ellis.

This physical talent is too explosive!
Off the court, Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton rushed onto the court to applaud and shouted.

"Beautifully defended!
Attack, charge me..."

Allen Lowry received the basketball and immediately pushed the speed for a fast break.

Brothers Joey Graham and Stephen Graham, as well as Tony Allen, rushed forward as hard as they could.

"coming!
Cowboys comeback.

The offensive pace is very fast.

Allen Lowry controlled the ball past half-court, and Qin Yang stepped forward to press, set the rhythm, and settled into position to fight..."

Possessing the ball to the top arc, Allen Lowry immediately distributed the basketball to Stephen Graham, the shooting guard on the right.

After getting the ball, without any adjustments, Stephen Graham immediately acted as a reckless man. Justin Gray couldn't compete, so he could only fight and retreat.

"Qin Yang shrank back and defended with Gray.

Stephen Graham chose to meet the man, drove to the basket and forced a layup..."

Bang-dang——!
Basketball also missed the mark.

The rebound was picked off by Qin Yang. Wake Forest University didn't know how to attack, and it didn't let Oklahoma State University understand.

“At the beginning of the game, both sides’ hands were a little cold, and no one could do anything about their opponent’s offensive moves.

Next, let’s see how Wake Forest University breaks through…”

On the court, Tan Yang controlled the ball to the top of the arc. Faced with Allen Lowry's pressing, he calmly protected the ball with his back. Then bang, he suddenly hit the ball and opened up the space.

“Tin Yang is very good at using his body to bully people.

Oops, it was so chaotic, Tan Yang knocked out of the space, turned around and pulled out, raised his hand and made a three-point pull-up jumper..."

Allen Lowry, who is 1 meters tall, is very active in defense, but he is not good in confrontation. He is too short and cannot reach him. He can only bet that Tan Yang's three-point pistol has no bullets.

Bang-dang——!
There are no bullets, and Tan Yang's three points are also sent.

Looking back, Oklahoma State attacked. Aaron Lowry passed the basketball to Joey Graham in the low post on the right side. After receiving the ball, he immediately dribbled up and forced a layup.

“Hitting into the basket again, the closer to the basket, the higher the hit rate.

Lu Xun’s words are the truth, does this ball have..."

Bang-dang——!
Another pair of strikes missed the target.

"still none!
The offensive state of both sides is also too stretched.

Hey, Joey Graham's physical talent is so strong that he actually bounced up a little quickly, took back the basketball he missed, landed on the ground, and immediately forced himself to continue attacking the basket for a layup. Will he score..."

Bang-dang——!
Beep——!
While the basketball was playing, the referee's whistle sounded, and Chris Ellis was penalized for a hitter foul. Joey Graham got two free throw opportunities.

Chris Ellis put his hands on his waist and shook his head. All he wanted to say in his heart was, fuck your basketball dreams.

His opponent, Joey Graham, came out of that place. Why is he so physically gifted?
The opponent is trying hard to attack the basket. He can't defend him. He can't defend him at all.

“Don’t worry, that guy can only play with his body.

But his basketball skills are very rough. If he can't be guarded in the future, just send him to free throws.

You are just like chopping up a shark..."

Tan Yang patted Chris Ellis on the shoulder, nodded and said.

Tan Yang was no stranger to Joey Graham's intelligence. After all, none of the physical players who would model themselves on James in the future were able to show off.

Because while James is physically invincible, he also has top-notch skills.

As a poor man's version of James, Joey Graham has top physical talent but poor basketball skills.

Bang-dang——!
Standing on the free throw line, Joey Graham missed the free throw.

Bang, swish—! !

After the second free throw basketball bounced out of the basket, it still stumbled and crashed into the basket.

1 to 0! !
Joey Graham got Oklahoma State's first lead with one of two free throws.

……

(End of this chapter)