Chapter 39: Clash Of The Era’s Heroes
ESPN’s morning show《SportsCenter》 began looping highlights of TTU defeating North Carolina from the very first minute of broadcast, with commentator Dan Shulman’s voice echoing in countless Lubbock family living rooms.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have witnessed history! Texas Tech University Red Raiders defeated University of North Carolina 101-76, advancing to the Final Four for the first time in team history! And the hero who brought all this is that superstar rookie from China—Eli Xu!”
The screen repeatedly showed the clip of Xu Ling’s brutal dunk in the final moments of the game: he charged across half-court like a red lightning bolt, Brandon Wright was knocked flying like a crumbling wall, and at the instant the basketball slammed into the hoop, the entire HP Field House seemed to tremble.
《The New York Times》 sports edition headline directly read “Red Storm, How TTU Swept University of North Carolina,” detailing the Red Raiders’ winning secrets: “Bob Knight, this legendary coach, returned to the Final Four after twenty years, betting on Eli, and this bet yielded rich returns. Eli had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for the game—you absolutely won’t see another player deliver such a performance on the stage to the Final Four!”
Professional basketball’s reaction was even more enthusiastic.
The recency effect was fully on display.
Many college basketball experts updated their 2007 NBA draft predictions, with Xu Ling finally pushing Kevin Durant down to claim the predicted second pick for 2007.
ESPN draft expert Chad Ford, the most authoritative voice on this, wrote in his latest column: “In a few months, the pros’ excitement will cool, the passion will fade, and Kevin Durant may still be the destined top-two pick, but I must emphasize that Eli played last night the kind of game we’ve always hoped to see from Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. That’s dominance—we rarely use dominance to describe a freshman, but nothing fits better to describe what Eli did last night.”
Texas was even more boiling because of this.
The first Texas celebrity to voice support for TTU was Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming—fellow countryman bond, not hard to understand.
But when TTU overcame all obstacles while other teams representing the Lone Star State faltered, their miraculous run to the Final Four was enough to break regional biases and gain statewide support.
Houston local radio stations began looping TTU game audio from the morning, with the host excitedly announcing: “Texas finally has a team to represent us charging toward the national championship! TTU is Texas’s last hope, all other teams are out, now all of Texas stands behind the Red Raiders!”
Dallas fans joined the TTU support ranks even earlier than Houston, with rabid Xu Ling fans even remixing the《Yao Ming Song》 originally used by Houston to welcome the Eastern giant, and the addictive《Eli Song》 echoed through Dallas streets.
Austin established a nationwide “Eli Fan Association.”
On Texas Tech University campus, the aftershocks of victory were still fermenting.
Students posted posters under dorm buildings, showing Xu Ling’s poster dunk on Brandon Wright, captioned with the slogan: “Red Raiders, keep fighting!”
Xu Ling’s roommate Roderick Craig became a very busy man.
Due to heart issues, he rarely played in his freshman season, and the coaching staff intentionally trained him for other roles—after all, athletes with heart problems basically have no pro prospects, better to develop other skills early.
Thus, though Craig was a registered player, his role on the team was more like life manager.
One main task the coaching staff gave him was to take care of this foreign player’s life.
Now, Craig’s main job was helping Xu Ling reject invitations from various school departments, as well as various requests from male and female students.
At noon today, when Craig went to the cafeteria to eat, the cafeteria TV was still playing Xu Ling’s highlights.
Craig clearly heard the students’ chatter.
“Did you see Eli’s poster yesterday? Too crazy!”
“Brandon Wright that idiot deserved it!”
“Eli absolutely went easy on him—if I were Eli, I’d not only humiliate him but step over him too!”
Seeing his roommate, who started from the same line as him, now become a national superstar, how could Craig not sigh at the impermanence of the world.
“Roderick, aren’t you with Eli?”
Soon classmates recognized Craig.
Craig said helplessly: “Eli had me get food for him, he should be at the gymnasium now.”
In United Spirit Arena, the air was thick with focused tension. Bob Knight required players to arrive an hour early, as he wanted to detail the Final Four opponent Ohio State University（abbreviated as OSU） before training began.
“From now on, don’t think about North Carolina anymore, that’s in the past. In six days, we face Ohio State, a true champion-level team.”
Knight began analyzing Ohio State University games starting with Oden.
On screen, Greg Oden moved like a mobile fortress, 7 feet tall with astonishing wingspan, every block like pronouncing a death sentence on opponents.
“Oden isn’t Hansbrough,” Knight’s voice was low and forceful, “he’s younger, faster, more dominant. His teammates aren’t weak either: Mike Conley, outstanding freshman point guard who can shred any defense in transition; Ron Lewis, the Big Ten’s best shooter; Daequan Cook and Jamal Butler can provide steady outside fire support too. These four revolve around Oden, relying on his defense to bury opponents along the way—their fast-break transition is top in the nation!”
Since OSU recruited Oden, they’ve built the team around him.
All recruitment was to complement Oden.
A one-star four-shooter lineup isn’t rare in the small-ball era, but in the present day, it harkens back to the Rockets of the Olajuwon era—that team similarly stacked shooters around prime Dream, ultimately seizing Jordan’s baseball hiatus to win back-to-back championships.
“Now, any thoughts?”
After introducing OSU, Knight looked at everyone.
Xu Ling looked playfully at Jon Plevka, who got abused by Tyler Hansbrough all last game: “J.P., allow me to offer my condolences in advance.”
“Hahaha!” Daryl Dora burst out laughing, “Jon, you’re done for!”
Plevka had a face full of MMP resentment.
But Knight smiled at Dora: “Daryl, my plan is for you to start in the Final Four, yes, you’re the one facing Oden head-on.”
“What, me against the sorcerer king?” This disillusioned moment arrived just like that—Dora’s smile didn’t vanish, it just shifted to others’ faces.
Since OSU is a one-star four-shooter system, the inside basically can’t count on outside help, otherwise if inside can’t hold Oden and outside gets lit up by opponents, it’s a guaranteed loss.
So, whoever guards Oden in the Final Four will have a very miserable outcome.
Oden will undoubtedly put on peak O’Neal performances against the Final Four’s weakest inside player.
After video analysis ended, everyone began routine training.
Knight didn’t do anything special in training, no special setups—like in Japanese sports manga holding a short camp before the boss fight to dramatically boost players’ abilities, that doesn’t happen in reality.
After all, at this Final Four stage, all teams’ weaknesses are fully exposed, everyone knows each other’s vital points well, the last thing needed is to go crazy like Pat Riley back then—just maintain training volume, manage players’ conditioning, adjust team mentality, and head to Atlanta in best shape; that’s the coaching staff’s focus for the next few days.
After training, Xu Ling returned to the video analysis room.
“What are you doing here?”
Knight looked at Xu Ling in surprise.
“I want to watch more OSU game videos.”
Xu Ling said directly.
Knight said no more, just played Ohio State University vs. Georgetown University—that was the other elite eight game yesterday, with Georgetown also having top college center Roy Hibbert, but Oden handled it with ease.
Pre-transmigration Xu Ling had heard Oden legends to some extent—though now deemed a “bust,” fans in final judgment would still say: “But back then, redrafting 100 times, number 1 pick would still be Oden.”
Why? Just watching games gives some idea.
Sturdy physique, elite bounce, Howard-like strength and O’Neal-style explosiveness—these are why he was seen as having NBA superstar potential.
Then how he used these talents, mainly on defense—as long as he’s on the court, even just standing still in the paint, he changes opponents’ offense.
When he gets the ball in the post, his footwork is agile beyond belief for a 7-footer.
When Xu Ling saw Oden toy with Hibbert like a kid, it looked effortless.
“In the NCAA Championship, he’s averaging 13 points, 9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game.” Knight suddenly said, voice low and forceful, “He doesn’t even grab more rebounds per game than you—do you think a player like that is scary?”
“Not scary.” Xu Ling’s answer was calm and direct, “What’s scary is we don’t know how much effort he’s using.”
“Exactly!” A satisfied smile crossed Knight’s face, “He has at least 40% left in the tank—across college basketball, maybe only Florida’s Joakim Noah and Al Horford are worth his full effort.”
Hearing this, Xu Ling’s eyes sharpened instantly, staring hard at Knight, face full of indignation.
“Am I not worth his full effort?” He didn’t say it, but his eyes asked for him.
Knight continued: “NBA experts, college basketball reporters, those clueless bastards nationwide are all talking about your North Carolina performance—many think you’re Rookie of the Year, which will undoubtedly sting Oden. He’s slumbered too long, he needs to prove he’s still the guy scouts thought, so rest assured.”
Some people, you know they’re provoking you, but you still willingly fall into the trap.
“Even if just to prove to the world he’s the best player of your generation, he’ll go all-out to crush you.”
What a blunt hook, but Xu Ling bit it.
Xu Ling stood up, stared straight at Knight, and said solemnly: “Coach, you’re wrong.”
“Oh?” Knight raised an eyebrow, wondering what high opinion this bastard freshman had.
“It’s not ‘even if’ to prove something,” Xu Ling’s tone was full of pressure, every word resounding, “it’s that he must prove it. Because I’ve already proven to the world first that I’m the best freshman so far!”
The room fell dead silent.
Suddenly, Knight nodded: “Exactly, that’s it.”
