章 59: Dark Horses Are Hard to Come By
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Next, after a qualifying match, the list of the top 64 teams in the NCAA tournament was released.
Butler University was ranked the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference due to its outstanding performance in the last March Madness and its dominance in the Horizon League this season. This was also Butler University's highest ranking in history.
In the first round, Butler University faced Boyce State, the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference.
Since Boyce State University was seeded No. 14, their strength was naturally not that high. This is the kind of school that always sits near the bottom of the league table.
Compared to Butler University, Boyce State could almost say, "My grandfather's ancestors were also rich!"
However, Liam Gonzalez did not take them lightly and continued to prepare for the game seriously.
Last year, Butler University was seeded 10th in the North Division. This year, George Mason University, which once made it to the semifinals, was also in the East Division. Who knew if Boyce State could be the third dark horse?
But after checking Boyce State's roster and carefully studying their game footage, Liam felt reassured.
There wasn't a single name on the school's roster that he recognized, meaning none of their players had made it to the NBA after college.
The strength Boyce State demonstrated in their games was also mediocre. Their talent level matched their name: average.
As it turned out, Liam's analysis was accurate.
In the first round of the Eastern Conference held in Birmingham, Alabama, Butler University defeated Boyce State without any difficulty.
Several emergency plans that Liam had specifically prepared before the game—like tactics for dealing with Boyce State if they had hidden their strength—were never used.
After all, not every team can be a dark horse.
Curry, of course, was the best performer. He effortlessly scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists, leading the team to a 76:58 victory.
In addition, Curry demonstrated his talent for organization, fully involving his teammates in the offense.
The Bulldogs had four players score in double figures: Drew with 12 points, Butler with 13 points, and A.J. Graves with 14 points, completely dismantling Boyce State's defense.
On the defensive end, Butler was a dominant force, contributing across the board with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks.
After the game, Liam looked at Butler with a curious expression. Had he cultivated a little Draymond Green who could also shoot three-pointers?
Of course, Butler was an outside player, and his impact on defense wasn't as significant as that of inside players.
His strengths were one-on-one defense and rotational coverage, allowing him to just barely play the power forward position. It was challenging for him to defend inside players effectively.
After this win, Liam immediately began studying their next opponent.
There was only one day left before the 32-to-16 matchup, so time was precious, and he had to make the most of it.
Soon, the game between the No. 6 seed and the No. 11 seed ended, and the winner was the University of Oklahoma Sooners, who would be Butler University's next opponent.
...
The next day, at the Fekar Hotel.
This was where the Bulldogs were staying. Tomorrow, they would face the University of Oklahoma, and the players were resting in their rooms.
Due to the number of teams in Birmingham and the scarcity of stadium resources, each team had limited practice time.
In the afternoon, the Bulldogs could go to the gym at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for a short practice, but the main goal was just to stay sharp for tomorrow's game.
Liam was still sharing a room with Stevens. The two sat at a table with a laptop playing footage from the University of Oklahoma's games.
Click!
Liam hit the spacebar, freezing the screen. He stretched and looked at his watch.
"Let's go, let's get everyone to the gym to stretch their legs."
"Not watching anymore?" Stevens chuckled.
"There's no need. Griffin is still too young," Liam shook his head.
"Which Griffin are you talking about?" Stevens laughed.
"Who else? Blake Griffin," Liam replied.
The University of Oklahoma was one of only two teams in March Madness that had two brothers competing. The other was Stanford University.
Among them, the Lopez brothers from Stanford University were very strong. The elder brother, Brook Lopez, had solid footwork and refined post moves, making him a formidable low-post presence. The younger brother, Robin Lopez, was the defensive anchor. Both were essential to the team's success.
However, the Griffin brothers from the Sooners weren't as impressive. The elder brother, Tyler Griffin, was more of a role player, and the younger brother, Blake Griffin, was still a raw blue-collar player who relied mainly on his physicality.
"Blake Griffin has a bright future…" Stevens remarked as they left the room.
Liam nodded in agreement.
"Yes, his explosiveness is off the charts, and his talent is obvious… but that's in the future. Right now, his skills are too raw, and he doesn't fully understand how to use his body, so he's not much of a threat yet."
When Liam first learned that their next opponent was the University of Oklahoma, he had some concerns.
The Bulldogs had the most trouble with explosive inside players, and even double-teaming often wasn't enough to contain them.
But after watching footage of the Sooners' games, his worries faded quickly.
At this stage, Griffin wasn't yet the high-flying beast that Liam remembered. He was just an inexperienced freshman, and his talent had yet to mature into true strength.
It seemed that the epic battle between Curry and Griffin wouldn't happen this time.
Liam thought with a hint of regret.
In his previous life, Curry and Griffin had faced off in a thrilling game that left a lasting impression on Liam. He had tracked down the footage online and watched it several times, marveling at the performances.
In that game, the University of Oklahoma led by 21 points in the first half, looking dominant.
But in the second half, Curry drained three-pointer after three-pointer, cutting the lead and making the home crowd sweat. In the end, Oklahoma barely held on, winning 84:78.
Curry scored 44 points in that game, while Griffin had an impressive double-double with 25 points and 21 rebounds. Even Durant and Westbrook had come to watch, cheering on the future stars.
It's funny how life works sometimes. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook had all watched Curry's games in person, praising him afterward.
Back then, they didn't realize what a big deal it would become.
Liam wondered if any of them would come to watch Butler University this time.
He was looking forward to it.
End of this chapter
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