Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 11 Then let me win one too.

89 is better than 67
The game ended with Texas Tech University defeating Marquette University by 22 points.

This was an outcome that no one had anticipated.

After all, there is a gap in roster depth and the talent of the starting players between the two teams, not to mention that Jarius Jackson, widely regarded as TTU's strongest player, is absent.

Normally, TTU is not considered a strong contender to make it to the finals.

However, led by a freshman, they won a series of victories and eventually made it to the finals, defeating Marquette University, a top 20 university in the United States, to win a prize of $50,000.

Xu Ling was unanimously selected as the MVP of the Pete Newell Invitational.

The university sports network conducted a live interview with him.

"Eli, you won the invitational tournament against all odds. What does that mean to you?"

Xu Ling honestly said, "It doesn't mean much to the team, but it has some practical significance—for example, we received a bonus of $50,000."

The reporter then asked, "You previously said that you wanted to be the Jordan of TTU. After tonight's performance, do you think you have achieved that goal?"

"Not TTU's Jordan, but the Jordan of college basketball," Xu Ling said. "I still have a long way to go to achieve this goal."

Then came the most sensitive issue of the day—

"ESPN's draft expert Chuck Ford believes you could be a dark horse in the 2007 NBA draft. Would you consider entering the 2007 NBA draft?"

Xu Ling gave a perfectly standard answer: "Entering the NBA is my dream, but I'm not thinking about it now. I'm only focused on the present, and I'll let everything else take its course."

If given the chance, Xu Ling would be eager to enter the NBA right now.

But of course he wouldn't say it.

Because he has only made a name for himself now, and is far from being able to "get elected" on the spot.

After the interview, Xu Ling was about to return to the locker room when he ran into Wesley Matthews of Marquette University at the player tunnel. His recently defeated opponent looked gloomy and coldly remarked, "Hopefully we'll meet again at March Madness."

Unlike his sharp and aggressive demeanor during the match, Xu Ling appeared remarkably calm at this moment: "Relax, the match is over."

The Xu Ling before us is completely different from the one during the competition.

Matthews became even more certain that Xu Ling's "Jordan quote" was merely a publicity stunt.

He wants to play in the NBA.

But then again, who wouldn't want to fight?
Moreover, Xu Ling has already proven his strength, so what's the point of dwelling on this matter?
They were defeated by Xu Ling single-handedly, and Matthews should now focus on how to win back the scouts' favor in the upcoming games.

Xu Ling walked into the tunnel, where he seemed to be the only one, until he saw an old man not far from the locker room. The old man had a full head of white hair, a gloomy face, and unremarkable features, but his years of experience managing the team gave him the majesty of a general. He was wearing the same black sweater he had worn for decades and was staring straight at him.

Who else could it be but Bob Knight?
"Were you waiting for me, Coach?"

If Texas Tech loses tonight, then Xu Ling should be nervous right now.

But they are the champions, and he is the MVP of the invitational tournament, so no matter how nitpicky Knight is, he wouldn't choose this moment to launch an attack.

Therefore, Xu Ling appeared very relaxed.

“Actually, JJ’s academic performance already met the requirements, but I insisted that he not rejoin the team until the Big 12 League Championship.” Knight’s words were devoid of emotion, as if he were discussing something trivial. “Do you know why?”

The scene was very quiet; you could almost hear each other breathing.

Xu Ling's face held a distinct air of detachment, and his answer was unexpected:

"To be honest, I'm not interested in this."

"He's the team captain, his presence is crucial to the team's success this season, and you're not interested?"

Xu Ling said, "If he is a qualified captain, he will handle the trouble and return as soon as possible. On the contrary, if he thinks this matter is not important, then I don't need to worry about an irresponsible person. In the end, he is a senior, he has more experience than me, he will handle this matter well, and all I need to do is play my role well."

"What role?"

"To be precise, it's the various roles that my coach, Mr. Bob Knight, assigned me before each game."

Knight finally smiled.

In some situations, Knight's smile doesn't necessarily mean something good is about to happen.

A student named Dan Dakich, who was with Knight at Indiana University, told this story: During March Madness, Knight kept smiling at him, and then one day, Knight suddenly told him, "Dan, our next opponent is North Carolina State, and I'm going to have you guard Michael Jordan."

(1) In the end, Dakic held Dan to 6-for-14 shooting, and North Carolina were eliminated in the second round of the Third Madness tournament. "Since you've said that, can I take that as you're ready to become our leader after JJ graduates?"

It was this sentence that made Xu Ling understand Knight's intention.

Old Deng's sense of smell was not only keen, but also very accurate.

After the disastrous recruitment failure of the 2005 class, TTU's current talent pool has huge hidden dangers. Once Jarius Jackson graduates, the team will be leaderless and may fall into a deep abyss.

Xu Ling's appearance relieved the coaching staff, who thought they had found the core of the team for the next three years. However, when Xu Ling quickly showed draft prospects and attracted media attention with various high-profile remarks that were out of character, Knight realized that his thinking did not match the ideas of the future core he had handpicked.

Therefore, he wanted to find out more about Xu Ling.

“Coach,” Xu Ling looked directly into Knight’s eyes, “I will participate in the NBA draft as soon as the time is right.”

Knight's eyes widened; he hadn't expected such a blunt answer.

"So regarding the question of leadership, I think MZ (Martin Zeno) and Allen are more suitable than me."

Under Knight's leadership, no one in history has ever left school to enter the draft after finishing their freshman season.

"Come on!" Knight shouted. "They can't support a TTU! They're not qualified!"

“But you do!” Knight pointed angrily at Xu Ling. “You are the most talented player I have seen since I came to TTU. I believe you can lead this team to greatness. As long as you are patient enough, you are still young. You have many flaws, but as long as you give me time, I can make you fully ready to enter the NBA!”

"This could take two or three years!"

Emotional Knights are not uncommon; Knights who display complex emotions are rare.

Xu Ling met Knight in this state.

He was initially happy, then angry, and then felt somewhat aggrieved and helpless. All he said at this moment was hoping to get a promise from the newcomer whom the team would rely on.

But the weight of this promise was beyond Xu Ling's capacity to bear.

"Two or three years"?
In this era, whether someone has the talent to play in the NBA can be seen in just one year.

The league has become increasingly professional. The NBA's training quality, game level, and logistical support are far superior to those of the NCAA, not to mention the insane salaries. What about the NCAA? They still cling to the idea of ​​"pure competition" to manipulate struggling students, making them dedicate everything without any guarantee or reward.

Xu Ling hadn't thought about such complicated things. His idea was simple: since he had been given a second life, he should do his best to climb up. He had no feelings for TTU, nor much longing for Knight. Everything he had for this school and this team came from Xu Ling himself, not from him.

All he can do is make sure he plays his best every day at TTU.

Xu Ling asked calmly, "Coach, when you let Isaiah Thomas enter the draft, was it because he was fully ready, or because Indiana University no longer needed him?"

"Isiah was already the best player in the nation when he was a sophomore!" Thomas and Indiana University, both sensitive to Knight's words, became even more excited when Xu Ling mentioned it. "He won the national championship that year! He had nothing left to prove by then!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Knight seemed to realize something. A national champion—that standard was a given for him, but for this newcomer, for TTU, it was almost unattainable.

Xu Ling caught the momentary pause in Knight's eyes and the double standard in his words. Instantly, a surge of pride and a competitive spirit welled up within him, causing him to blurt out, almost without thinking, "Then let me win one."

"What did you say?!!!"

These words, though spoken lightly, struck Knight like a heavy blow to the heart. He stared at Xu Ling in shock, as if seeing for the first time the arrogance hidden within this new student.

"Coach, I should go in now."

After saying that, Xu Ling walked towards the locker room.

Knight remained standing there, not wanting to spoil the players' fun with his negative emotions. At least tonight he was certain of one thing: Xu Ling and Isaiah Thomas were essentially the same kind of person; they both wanted to fly higher, and that ambition couldn't be restrained.

Such a person will either reach the highest point he can reach or fall to his death. TTU cannot stop him.

But he actually said something like "Wait until I win one"?
Win one?
At TTU?

In this place where he had worked hard for five years and barely managed to bring back a little competitiveness?
An extremely complex emotion surged within Knight: anger at being offended, a sense of absurdity and amusement. But deep within this anger and amusement lay a faint flame, one that he himself was unwilling to acknowledge, forcibly ignited.

"You ignorant and arrogant brat!"

Knight muttered a curse under his breath, but the curse no longer contained pure anger.

Xu Ling was destined not to see Knight's furious reaction.

As soon as he entered the locker room, his teammates sprayed him with the school basketball specialty "champagne"—mineral water. Everyone held brand-new mineral water bottles, shaking and shoving them, hoping to create a splash.

Xu Ling could only hold his head in his hands and enjoy his teammates' mineral water bath.

(End of this chapter)