Kapitel 75: Not Giving Up an Inch
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They had wanted to go to the game, and Curry had even given them two tickets. But Christie had a final exam the next day, so they couldn't travel to Charlotte. Louis, not wanting to leave her alone, decided to stay with her.
Their relationship had progressed rapidly, now hovering in that uncertain, almost romantic stage, and they were both on the verge of making things official.
Christie bit her lower lip and asked softly, "Louis, do you think we'll really lose?"
"I don't know..." Louis' voice was barely above a whisper, filled with uncertainty.
No one knew better than him how hard Curry worked.
Many times after class, Louis had gone to practice with Curry. The two of them would stay in Hinkle Fieldhouse until 9 p.m., then walk back to their dorms together under the starlight.
Curry had mentioned more than once that he planned to go to Los Angeles with a championship ring to find a special girl.
Louis could see the light in Curry's eyes every time he talked about it.
Now, because Curry had been off his game in the first half, the Bulldogs were facing a dire situation.
Louis imagined how heavy Curry's heart must be right now, knowing his competitive spirit.
He scanned the screen anxiously, looking for his friend. When the camera finally panned to Curry, Louis was surprised.
Curry's expression was calm, and he even wore a relaxed smile — a stark contrast to what Louis had expected.
Looking at the other Bulldogs players, Louis noticed something remarkable: they all seemed energized, not the least bit fazed by the deficit.
"Could it be... they've really found new life?" Louis thought, almost in disbelief.
Roy Williams, North Carolina's coach, also noticed the change in the Bulldogs' demeanor, but he wasn't worried.
In basketball, strength is what matters most.
As long as Curry stayed in his current state, it didn't matter how fired up the Bulldogs were. Fighting spirit wouldn't win them the game.
Williams didn't believe Curry could regain his shooting form after just a 15-minute halftime break.
"Liam, are we really not going to try something different?" Stevens approached Coach Gonzalez and looked at Curry with concern.
Stevens, still a team-first player at heart, believed more in the power of the collective than in the possibility of one player turning things around.
"We don't have another scorer," Liam said softly. "There's no other option."
A good cook can't work without ingredients. More than anyone, Liam wished the Bulldogs' offensive power could be spread out, that the team's strategy could flow seamlessly, showcasing his coaching abilities.
But Curry was the team's only consistent scorer. Liam had no choice but to trust him.
In his previous coaching experiences, Stevens had managed to lead Butler to the NCAA Finals because he had a star player in Hayward.
Without a star, Butler had only ever made it to the Elite Eight, even with Stevens using every tactic in the book.
That's the ceiling for team-based strategies.
Even schools like Florida, North Carolina, and Kansas, who prided themselves on teamwork, ultimately relied on their star players when the time came.
"Beep—"
Under the watchful eyes of the audience, the referee blew his whistle, signaling the start of the final 20 minutes of the game.
North Carolina had possession. Hansbrough moved inside, blocking Drew's position, reaching out for the ball confidently.
After dominating the first half, he didn't even think twice about Drew defending him.
To Hansbrough, Drew was just a blue-collar player. If he wasn't double-teamed, Hansbrough believed he could easily score 30+ points.
Receiving the pass from Ty Lawson, Hansbrough backed down Drew twice, then faked to the right before smoothly spinning left. As expected, he easily beat the bigger defender.
Hansbrough stepped past Drew, no one between him and the basket, ready to dunk.
Bang!
At that moment, Drew turned and wrapped his arms around Hansbrough, slapping him hard across the hand!
Hansbrough felt a powerful force from behind, causing him to lose balance. His hand slipped, and the ball flew out to the side.
"Beep! Beep—"
The referee blew his whistle, calling a defensive foul on Drew.
Hansbrough stumbled forward, barely catching himself, then turned angrily and shoved Drew with both hands.
"What are you doing?" Hansbrough yelled.
"Don't think you're getting easy points over me!" Drew shot back, his voice firm. Their foreheads pressed against each other, like two bulls about to charge.
Other players rushed over to separate them, while Roy Williams frantically yelled at his team to pull Hansbrough away.
If players like Hansbrough and Drew were exchanged one-for-one, North Carolina would be the clear loser!
"It seems Hansbrough is very upset with Drew's foul. Let's take a look at the replay... Yeah, it was definitely a foul! Drew really went all in, pulling Hansbrough down mid-air. This could even be upgraded to a flagrant foul!" Jim Nantz said.
"I disagree. Drew made a protective move when Hansbrough landed. While it was a hard foul, Hansbrough was never at risk of injury and didn't even hit the floor," Dell offered a different perspective.
North Carolina players surrounded the referee, protesting the call, but the official stood firm, shaking his head. He upheld the original decision.
Just as Dell had pointed out, Drew's move was calculated. Had this been called a flagrant foul, the game would have become impossible to play.
Hansbrough went to the free-throw line, shaking his right hand. Drew's hit had been painful.
Hansbrough took a deep breath and shot his first free throw. But at the last moment, his wrist trembled slightly, sending the ball off course.
Bang!
The ball clanked off the rim, and a scramble for the rebound ensued under the basket.
Damn!
Hansbrough cursed under his breath, joining the fight for the rebound.
The NCAA's free-throw rule is 1+1, meaning you only get the second shot if you make the first. Hansbrough's miss meant he lost that chance.
After a brief struggle, Drew secured the rebound and quickly passed the ball to Curry.
Curry dribbled up the court, with Ty Lawson shadowing him every step of the way.
"Curry's bringing the ball forward, Lawson's staying close, cutting off any chance for him to accelerate. They reach the frontcourt... Curry takes a deep shot, way beyond the three-point line... Yes! Curry sinks his second three-pointer of the game, a stunning shot from two steps beyond the arc!" Jim Nantz's voice echoed through homes across the country, sending Butler fans into a frenzy.
30-40.
After making the shot, Curry didn't chew his mouthguard or shake his head. Instead, he tapped his chest and pointed to the sky.
He gave thanks—for meeting Coach Gonzalez, for being part of the Bulldogs, for everything.
He could feel it: his shooting touch had returned!
Watching from the sidelines, Roy Williams felt an uneasy sensation in the pit of his stomach.
That shot... it gave him the same feeling Curry had during those "highlight reel" moments in the scouting videos.
It wasn't just luck anymore.
End of this chapter
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