Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 28 The first time a man has said such a thing to me

The audience had been expecting a fierce battle, but no one anticipated that Texas Tech would completely dominate the University of Kansas, which is ranked second in the nation.

Moreover, viewers who watched the game could clearly point out the reasons for the University of Kansas's loss.

"The Wildcats couldn't handle Eli, and that's the only reason they lost."

Dick Vitale said this.

Score: 89 to 66.

Texas Tech defeated their opponents by 23 points to win the 2006-07 BIG 12 Conference championship.

Xu Ling was selected as the BIG 12 League Most Valuable Player.

Isaiah Thomas stood up.

His original expectation was to see a good young player tonight, but he didn't expect to see a super blue-chip player who completely captivated him.

Before the season began, only Oden and Durant from the 2007 draft class were generating a frenzy among scouts, and this strong feedback would be relayed to team management. They believed that Oden and Durant were the kind of future superstars who could serve as the face of a franchise.

Then, Xu Ling spent several months raising his draft stock from zero to a top-five predicted in mock drafts, placing him alongside Durant and Oden as one of the Big Three freshmen.

His fame came too quickly and too rapidly; he probably didn't even expect it himself. He had become a figure who was stirring up the college basketball world.

However, the NBA's management was somewhat slow to realize this.

Most teams preparing for the lottery draw are primarily targeting Oden and Durant.

However, after watching today's game, Thomas believes that Xu Ling is a talent who can rival Durant.

Durant may have the potential to become the greatest of all time, but Thomas doesn't believe in such unrealistic expectations.

Because he has seen too many people who have an "upper limit" but ultimately fail to even reach the lower limit.

“Eli,” Thomas said. “He’s not even 19 yet, but his skills, talent, and maturity are enough to make him a core player on a championship-contending team. Give me the second pick, and I’ll skip Kevin Durant and go straight for him!”

The recency effect is fully demonstrated at this moment.

Thomas was deeply captivated by the grand vision he had envisioned.

Then, his assistant reminded him, "Mr. Thomas, we may not have this opportunity."

“It will definitely happen!” Thomas said firmly.

The assistant, probably not wanting Thomas to be hurt by the disappointment, reminded him, "But we don't have a first-round pick in 2007."

Thomas's cheek twitched, then he fell silent.

Thomas's most outrageous move with the Knicks wasn't giving Jerome James, who was completely unable to play, a long-term contract totaling $3000 million. Rather, it was his unwavering belief in Eddie Curry that he would be the next Shaquille O'Neal in the summer of 2005. Even when people warned him that Curry had heart problems, he insisted on reaching a sign-and-trade agreement with the Bulls.

In that trade, he sent out a swap of the 2006 first-round draft pick and the 2007 first-round draft pick.

Now that things have come to this, with heart problems, uncontrollable weight, and some psychological interference from family factors, it's better to expect Curry to grow into a qualified professional player rather than to expect him to become the next Shaq.

In the two years he played for the Knicks, he spent almost more time on paid weight loss than he actually played basketball.

As for the two first-round picks that were given to the Bulls for him, one of them was already converted into LaMarcus Aldridge last year.

If the Knicks are lucky enough, they could theoretically tank while sending Durant and Oden to the Bulls.

Moreover, this year is the deepest draft year since 2003, making it extremely difficult to acquire draft picks.

The assistant brought Thomas back to reality.

But how can that kind of excitement be easily eliminated?
Thomas believes his rotting buddies still have leverage; they're not without a chance.

“Listen, Rooney, if life gives you a lemon, you have to make lemonade.”

After saying this to his assistant, Thomas waved and prepared to congratulate his mentor.

The BIG 12 League Championship Cup was something the Red Raiders players could never have imagined before the season started.

But now, this is the reality facing them.

They became the regional champions and will participate in March Madness as the top seed in the BIG 12 league.

None of this would have been possible without Xu Ling's performance tonight, who racked up 32 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.

They knew this perfectly well.

That's why they surrounded Xu Ling after the match and celebrated with all sorts of irrational physical gestures.

Bob Knight stood on the sidelines, as reporters from major media outlets across the United States eagerly placed microphones in front of him. The scene felt like a distant memory.

Knight thought he would never again speak to the media in this capacity—as a league champion.

When was the last time you led your team to the league championship?
Was it 1995 or 1993? He couldn't remember.

"Coach, what do you think led you to this point?"

"It's Eli, is there even a question?"

Knight glanced at the reporter and, sure enough, it was an idiot from the Associated Press. Was the only value of this media outlet that gave some basketball-illiterate readers the right to vote for the top 20 universities in the United States according to their own preferences every week?
“It was courage and a sense of honor for the school that brought us here.” Knight, of course, knew when to offer polite words. “I’m so proud of these kids!”

"Eli had a dominant performance tonight. Do you think he'll be drafted into the NBA after the season? Do you think he'll play a second college season?"

"This is just how college Jordan should perform, is it really that surprising? And don't fucking remind me he's going to be out of here after the season!"

Knight's heart was in turmoil, but his face remained calm as a still lake: "A mature man will do what is in his best interest, and I will support all his decisions."

Then, the reporter asked, "This is your first league championship since 1993. How do you think this year's team compares to the 1993 Indiana team?"

"Oh, thanks for reminding me. Now I know when I last won the League Championship."

The 1993 Indiana Mountaineers were not only Knight's last league championship before this year, but also his last time coaching the team that was ranked number one in the Associated Press polls.

"Wow, the Associated Press's quality is impressive."

That team swept through the Big Ten Conference with a 31-4 record, only to be defeated in the Elite Eight – sometimes you have to believe in fate, and the opponent was also the Kansas Wildcats.

“I wouldn’t compare this team to the team from 1993,” Knight said, succumbing to a nostalgic mood. “The two teams started from different points, went through different processes, and carried different expectations.”

So, how does Knight feel about his former employer, Indiana University? Has he let go of the past? Has he moved on? Is it all just a memory now?

A reporter from Indiana asked, "Coach, have you forgiven those people in Indiana? Have you decided to move on?"

All the nostalgia, all the remaining beauty, shattered in that instant.

Knight's expression turned cold, and his voice dropped ten degrees, as if the words were coming from the depths of his throat: "No, I wish they were all dead."

The reporters at the scene held their breath, thinking that tomorrow, this sentence might replace Texas Tech's league championship title and become the headline of college basketball.

Let's call it "The General's Curse." What a beautiful title!

Xu Ling also gave an on-site interview, and his answers were extremely official and formulaic, without any surprises.

At the time, Xu Ling had no idea what Knight had said to the reporters.

Now that Xu Ling has become a draft favorite, he no longer needs to make sensational statements to promote himself like he did at the beginning of the season.

They won the championship, received the trophy, and went back to the locker room to celebrate and prepare for March Madness.

Just as Xu Ling was returning to the locker room, Isaiah Thomas stood in front of the door, smiling at him.

"Are you waiting for the coach, Mr. Thomas?"

Xu Ling asked politely.

“No, I’m waiting for you,” Thomas said. “David Stern might give me a $50,000 fine just to say a few words to you.”

Xu Ling thought to himself, "Is that a lot? The settlement you paid for harassing a respectable woman was 200 times that amount."

"Then please go away, I won't talk to you."

“No, I have to say it.” Thomas, standing less than 1.9 meters tall, instantly exuded an aura of someone 9.1 meters tall. “Get ready to become a member of the New York Knicks, and I will do anything to get you!”

This statement, if not flattering, is at least somewhat shocking.

A man who used to kiss his best friend on the cheek before games as a sign of affection during his playing days later spread rumors that his friend might be gay after the friend was diagnosed with HIV. Recently, he was sued for sexually harassing a female employee at his company.

Are you afraid of someone who says things like that to you?
"Hmm," Xu Ling said hesitantly, "This is the first time a man has said something like that to me."

“I’m serious, Eli! I’m going to bring you to New York!” Thomas pointed at Xu Ling like a prophet. “I believe you’re the one who will lead us out of this mess!”

Since Xu Ling doesn't care about off-court matters, he has no preference for the NBA team he will play for in the future, unless it's a notoriously racist city.

Hearing Thomas's words, he didn't doubt the other party's sincerity, but...
“I’d love to play for the Knicks.” Xu Ling’s words made Thomas beam with joy, but his next comment was, “But you guys don’t seem to have any draft picks.”

At that moment, Thomas's emotions were on a rollercoaster. He suppressed his turbulent emotions and resisted the urge to go back and shoot Eddie Curry. With a light in his eyes, he said with certainty, "It will happen."

(End of this chapter)