Chapter 86: Most Outstanding Player
After the celebrations concluded, it was time for handshakes.
Danny Green reluctantly extended his hand to Lian Dao. "I look forward to facing you again in the NBA," he said.
Lian Dao smiled warmly at Danny Green's gesture. "On the court, we're opponents. Off the court, we're friends," he replied. "Trash talk stays on the court for me."
Danny Green was surprised by Lian Dao's response. He hadn't expected such a contrast between Lian Dao on and off the court.
"Same here, but watch out next time," Danny Green said with a grin.
They shook hands and lightly bumped shoulders, exchanging a laugh.
Lian Dao held a deep respect for Danny Green as a worthy opponent, a sentiment he carried into their future NBA encounters.
After the handshakes, the ladder was moved into place for the next ritual: cutting down the nets. It's a tradition for the NCAA champions to cut down the nets as a commemoration of their victory. Lian Dao was honored as the first to ascend the ladder and snip a piece of the net.
Sitting atop the ladder, Lian Dao carefully cut the net, posing for the cameras once finished. His teammates followed suit, each taking their turn to cut a piece of the net.
Later, they headed back to the locker room to change into NCAA champion T-shirts. Returning to the arena, they found an awards ceremony set up with the NCAA championship trophy prominently displayed at the center.
Every team member's eyes were fixed on the trophy, each eager to approach and touch the symbol of college basketball's highest honor.
They ascended to the stage, greeted by a semicircle of media reporters eagerly awaiting their words. Tim stood proudly in the center, flanked by DeMar and Lian Dao. Behind them, Southern California fans, electrified by their team's victory, erupted into ecstatic cheers as streamers filled the air.
As the host declared Southern California the champions, Tim received the trophy first, his face beaming with pride. Passing it to Lian Dao, who embraced it with contagious excitement before handing it to DeMar, each player kissed the trophy reverently, savoring the culmination of their hard work.
Lian Dao, thrilled to be among the first to touch the trophy besides Tim, watched his teammates' expressions of pure joy. They jumped and celebrated on the podium, their elation echoing through the arena.
Next came the interviews, starting with Tim, whose emotions overflowed. This season had been fraught with immense pressure; his job hinged on USC's success. Tears welled up as he addressed the reporters, overwhelmed by the journey that led to this triumphant moment.
"I am deeply honored to coach this incredible team," Tim began, his voice resonant with pride. "At the start of the season, I never imagined we would come this far. They have shown me hope and made USC history."
Turning to his players, Tim's gaze softened. "When everyone doubted us, it was you who proved your strength. You exceeded all expectations."
The players, moved by Tim's heartfelt words, smiled through their tears. They understood his quiet determination and appreciated his leadership.
"Sickle has shown everyone that he's not just an unstoppable force on the court; he's the strategic mind behind USC," Tim continued, acknowledging Lian Dao's pivotal role. "Today's 'elevator door' tactic? That was Sickle's idea. He's a cornerstone of this team."
Tim believed that reaching out to Lian Dao was the best decision he made all season, a sentiment shared by his teammates.
After Tim's speech, the host turned to Lian Dao and the rest of the team for their thoughts. When asked who was the most valuable player in the NCAA, all eyes turned to Lian Dao, a unanimous choice among his teammates.
After the interviews concluded, the selection of the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) was finalized. The criteria for the MOP selection were based on player performances since the NCAA Final Four, and it was clear that the best performances over these critical games belonged to Lian Dao.
In the semifinal game, Lian Dao created history by recording the first quadruple-double in the NCAA tournament. His performance in the final game was equally monumental, setting the record for the highest individual score in an NCAA Finals game in the past 20 years.
His stats from the championship game were extraordinary: a triple-double with 54 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 blocks. Moreover, his number of three-pointers in a single season expanded to an impressive 193.
The overall stats for the two Final Four games highlighted Lian Dao's dominance. He averaged 45 points, 15 assists, 7 blocks, 11 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 58% and a three-point shooting percentage of 68.3%.
DeMar, his teammate, averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 assists, 2 blocks, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, shooting 52.3% from the field and 21.1% from three-point range.
While Gibson averaged 16.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.5 blocks, 12.5 rebounds, and 1 steal per game, with a shooting rate of 60.1% and a three-point shooting rate of 50%.
Lian Dao's stats were outstanding, making him a standout player who appeared to be a level above his NCAA peers. As some commentators remarked, Lian Dao's performance resembled that of an NBA player, indicating that he was ready to transition to the professional level.
The NCAA president came to the stage to announce the final result.
"Sickle, Lian Dao!"
Even before the announcement, everyone knew that the MOP must belong to Lian Dao. His performance since entering "March Madness" had been extraordinary, reaching a whole new level.
When the answer was announced, fans and teammates erupted in cheers for Lian Dao. His teammates showed no jealousy, only admiration for his incredible contribution to the team's success this season. The sheer gap in skill between Lian Dao and others led to genuine admiration rather than envy. They recognized that the biggest contributor to the team this season was indeed Lian Dao.
Although Lian Dao expected to be named MOP, he couldn't help feeling excited when he heard it. A reporter congratulated him and handed him the microphone for his acceptance speech.
"First of all, I am very excited to receive the MOP. Secondly, I want to thank head coach Tim for giving me the opportunity to stand here. He is the best coach in the league. I want to thank my teammates. We are a unit, a perfect team where everyone is an integral part.
I would like to thank my parents for supporting my choices and giving me confidence. Finally, I want to thank all USC fans. You give us endless motivation, and without you, we could not win.
We are the champions!"
Lian Dao's heartfelt and standard thank-you speech drew loud cheers from all Southern California fans.
After his speech, the reporter asked another question on everyone's mind.
"Are you going to enter this year's NBA draft?"
"Yes, I will. I want to bring my talent to the NBA!"
Hearing this, managers from various teams started making calls, preparing for the draft. Meanwhile, some NCAA head coaches breathed a sigh of relief, happy to see Lian Dao, whom they viewed as a formidable opponent, move on to the NBA.
After finishing some interviews, there was one final link left: the Champion OEM. The staff brought out a match list for the quarterfinals: eight into four, four into two, two into one, and finally, the champion.
The matchup between the University of Southern California and the University of North Carolina was highlighted, with a vacant area at the top of the champion position marked for the OEM area. Amidst the cheers of the audience, Tim firmly pressed the Velcro of the University of Southern California onto the top.
The Champion OEM was completed, solidifying USC's place at the pinnacle of college basketball for that season.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone