“How is it? How is it?”
“Not yet, not yet!”
The repeated words expressed the urgent mood of the people speaking at the moment. The UCLA Bruins’ locker room perfectly showcased everyone's personality.
Everyone gathered around a small TV. Barmote and Collison, sitting in front, couldn't stop shaking their legs. Love, who truly resembled a Bruin, anxiously glanced left and right. Westbrook, behind them, couldn't stand still and was pacing back and forth in the locker room.
Only Zhao Xiu sat quietly to the side, holding a laptop with wired headphones, seemingly completely unconcerned.
Just then, a curious Josh Shipp leaned his head over, seemingly wanting to see what was on Zhao Xiu's computer.
He looked closer and saw that Zhao Xiu's computer was playing a game video, specifically a University of Kansas game video!
Zhao Xiu turned his head and saw Josh Shipp looking puzzled. In fact, their relationship was quite good. During their college years, there weren't many conflicts of interest, and the NCAA didn't allow commercial activities until 2021, so the simplicity of college life was largely maintained, even after Zhao Xiu pushed Shipp out of the starting lineup.
Moreover, these college students didn't hold deep grudges. Zhao Xiu purely earned his spot through skill. Therefore, even though Zhao Xiu 'beat' Shipp to the bench, their private relationship remained quite good.
“I'm studying how to defend Brandon Rush. To be honest, I think we'll definitely be the number one seed. Our biggest opponents are North Carolina, Kansas, and the University of Memphis,” Zhao Xiu explained to Shipp after a moment of thought.
“North Carolina is a traditional powerhouse, playing very much as a team.
Lawson is extremely fast, especially in fast breaks and scrambles. Wayne Ellington… well, not that Wayne, but an outside shooter similar to me, very strong at catch-and-shoot, and good at cutting.
The University of Kansas goes without saying. Mario Chalmers is a tough opponent; he has strong physical confrontation ability. My matchup, Brandon Rush, is another top 3&D scorer, and he's also good with the ball, which will be a difficult matchup for me.”
“Sooner or later, we're going to face these teams. First, the University of Memphis's most troublesome player for us will definitely be Derrick Rose,” Zhao Xiu continued to analyze.
Listening to Zhao Xiu and Shipp's conversation, other players, idle in their anxiety, slowly gathered around. In the past six months of playing together, everyone had various impressions of Zhao Xiu, but one common impression was—smart.
From Love and Westbrook's perspective, he was always smart about planning his time, implementing his training regimen, and integrating into the tactical system very quickly.
It's worth noting that Love and Westbrook were Holland's favorites, receiving extra coaching daily, which slowly helped them understand UCLA's complex tactical movements.
From the perspective of sophomores and juniors like Shipp, Collison, and Barmote, Zhao Xiu's intelligence was reflected in another aspect—patience.
For almost the first five months after joining the team, Zhao Xiu was essentially sidelined. They had also experienced this unnoticed state during their freshman year.
The difference was that Zhao Xiu consistently maintained high-intensity training, rapidly improving himself when he had no playing time, without the slightest doubt in his abilities or any slackening.
It wasn't until that game against the University of Southern California that Zhao Xiu seized his opportunity after coming off the bench, and from then on, he completely secured playing time.
In contrast, they thought back to their own wasted freshman years and their complacency in training after waving towels on the bench.
People always admire those who can do what they themselves cannot.
Slowly, everyone in front of the TV gathered closer. The five UCLA starters, plus Josh Shipp and Hamid.
The entire core 7-man rotation of UCLA was sitting there, and Zhao Xiu continued to speak eloquently.
“This season, our team's strength is much greater than most teams, so we have overwhelming power against many opponents, especially with two players of starting caliber sitting on our bench.”
Pointing to Shipp and Hamid, Zhao Xiu smiled. After waiting for everyone to quiet down a bit, Zhao Xiu continued, “But similarly, there are three teams that are in a league of their own, just like us. You all know them: the University of Kansas, the University of Memphis, and North Carolina.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Zhao Xiu continued, “Therefore, it's highly likely that our four schools will be the number one seeds in four different regions. For the divisional playoffs, from the Sweet Sixteen all the way to the Final Four, I believe to beat them, we just need to perform consistently.”
“Our strength is head and shoulders above the rest. Our players are far superior to theirs, and our coaching staff is also better than theirs. Therefore, as long as we don't relax and play steadily, we will definitely advance.” Seemingly sensing some confusion, Zhao Xiu continued to analyze.
“But these other three universities, their strength is on par with ours. So, excluding the coaching staff's tactics, our individual performance becomes very important.”
Zhao Xiu pointed to Westbrook and said, “Take Russ, for example. If we play North Carolina, then Russ will guard Wayne Ellington. Of course, it might also be me guarding Ty Lawson. If we face the University of Memphis in the Final Four, then Russ will guard Derrick Rose.”
“After the Pac-10 season ended, I started watching videos of my matchups.
Chris Roberts of the University of Memphis, Danny Green and Ellington of North Carolina, Brandon Rush of Kansas. I observe their offensive habits, footwork, and based on their techniques, I prepare a document of their technical characteristics, just like solving a problem, to find ways to defend them.”
After speaking, Zhao Xiu opened his computer, clicked into a few files from the C drive, and opened a document. He winked playfully and said, “Look, if I'm guarding Danny Green, this is his defensive file.”
Everyone's eyes widened. The more lively ones, like Westbrook and Barmote, had already started to make excited noises.
“Oh no, X-ray, are you your own defensive coach?”
Westbrook shouted even louder, “Xiu, you're too abnormal! I'm not being friends with you!”
After their commotion, the tense atmosphere of waiting for the seedings vanished. Everyone was full of confidence because of Zhao Xiu's analysis, and their admiration for Zhao Xiu increased.
Zhao Xiu was someone who was very clear about his goals and put his efforts into plain sight. Some players also started thinking that since they knew who they would be facing, they could go back and study in advance. If they knew the questions for the exam and still couldn't answer them, wouldn't they be the most embarrassed?
Everyone had their own thoughts. Only Westbrook quietly elbowed Zhao Xiu, then whispered, “So, have OJ Mayo and Harden also suffered your cruel fate?”
Zhao Xiu mischievously winked at Westbrook, then leaned in and softly whispered, “Then why do you think I practiced three-pointers so intensely the day before the Pac-10 finals?”
Westbrook shivered as he thought about it. Having such a teammate was a good thing, but if he ever became an enemy, that would be terrifying.
He looked up, watching Zhao Xiu point at himself, then point at his own head. 'This is a good thing, I have it.'
Westbrook immediately chased after him, and they started playfully brawling.
Soon after, the seedings appeared, just as Zhao Xiu had predicted. The four universities each occupied the number one seed in their respective regions.
Unbeknownst to them, as more and more such details emerged, and as Zhao Xiu's on-court performance grew stronger, everyone's trust in Zhao Xiu deepened…