Chapter 3: The Prologue of March

After defeating Colora, Missouri was unstoppable. Victory, big wins, and a storm. No one can defeat his edge as the Missouri blade pointed out. On February 28, Missouri vs. Oklahoma University, 112:78, Missouri ended the regular season with a perfect record of over 100 points in every game.

After the regular season ends in February, the championships of each league (the top eight in each league, a single knockout match. The final winner is the champion of this league and automatically enters the top 64). NCAA is about to usher in the climax of the season - March Crazy!

Starting in March, tournaments in each league are in full swing.

Championships are the final reshuffle of teams in each league, which is the key to determining whether the team can enter the top 64. It is not uncommon for the regular season champion to fail in the championship and eventually fail to enter the top 64. Teams with unsatisfactory regular season results also have great hopes to stand out in the championship. After all, winning the championship under the single-game elimination system only requires winning three games, which is too much accidental. After the championships in each league begin, news that strong teams fail and dark horses emerge every week.

This is the excitement and cruelty of March Madness.

If you are not careful, the efforts of a season will stop here. You will take a step back in heaven. Under this strong stimulation, after the start of the championship, every game in each league is full of Mars, and the smoke is filled with gunpowder. The intensity is completely incomparable to the regular season. There may be some regular seasons that they know that they are not strong enough and intentionally give up the game to preserve their strength. But there will be no such thing now. No matter how strong the team is, they will encounter the opponent's desperate fight. No one hopes that this season will stop here!

Missouri, with a brilliant record, is not very eye-catching when the surprise and shock continue to emerge. After all, victory is the most normal for them. Unless they suddenly lose to their opponents with a big score, it can attract attention and be shocking. Of course, no one in Missouri will want to attract attention in this way.

With Missouri's record, the eight teams in the championship are naturally ranked first. In the matchups of the championship, the opponents encountered in the first and second rounds are not strong teams. However, the Lion must do his best to fight the rabbit, and Missouri did not give his opponent any chance to be lucky. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, there was no suspense that defeated his opponent with a relaxed attitude.

Then in the final of the Big 12 Championship, Missouri vs. Kansas.

As a team in the 12th League strong league, the top two in the championship will certainly enter the semi-finals of 64. But this will not reduce the intensity of this game at all.

Missouri won all 28 games this season (not counting preseason and warm-up matches), Kansas won 25 and lost three times, and both of them were lost to Missouri. As a team that is also determined to win the NCAA championship, Kansas not only won the championship to seek a favorable pick for the semi-finals, but also added a layer of revenge. In this game, Kansas can be said to be united in unity.

Missouri, with the momentum of the NCAA's strongest team, has no reason to hand over the championship to others. It is also the wish of all their players to win the first heavyweight title of this season before the semi-finals.

Both sides have reasons to win the game. This is a final that is destined to be full of Mars and smoke.

Today, Missouri has a huge fan base throughout the United States, just like Michigan in the era of the Five Tigers of Michigan. The Five Tigers of Michigan was the banner of the entire NCAA. Whenever it comes to American college basketball, the first thing that comes to mind is the Five Tigers of Michigan. Now, like the Five Tigers of Michigan, the Trident has conquered the whole of the United States with their refreshing and mercury-like offense. Now this Missouri is the new NCAA flag.

Unless you are fighting with your own team, the audience will involuntarily stand on Missouri's side when watching the game as a bystander.

With such a large fan base, Missouri won the first battle in the verbal dispute before the game. Looking forward to the results of the game, except for Kansas fans, the voices of thinking that Missouri will win the game have filled various sports websites.

The online fans’ predictions about the outcome cannot truly represent the strength comparison between the two sides in this game.

Putting aside the factors supported by fans on both sides, the media expert column gave a 46-6 win rate in this game, Missouri's winning rate and Kansas' 40%.

Referring to the comparison of strength between the two parties, this is the most realistic and objective judgment.

In addition to the media, the powerful teams of NCAA are also paying attention to this game at the same time. None of the powerful teams such as Duke, North Carolina, and Connecticut will admit that they are inferior to Missouri, but they have undoubtedly regarded Missouri as their biggest opponent to win the championship. The powerful teams have their own self-esteem, and no one is willing to deal with others with their opponents.

"The biggest function of this game is to provide us with some reference materials. We should be the one who defeated Missouri, Kansas, and it's still a little bit short!" This is the most real thought of the strong players of these powerful teams.

The third encounter in the season, both sides have a good understanding of each other. Kansas is famous for its tacit cooperation with the five starting lineup and strict defense. Both offense and defense are veritable at the level of a giant. The five-player combination in the starting lineup can be regarded as the first combination in the league outside the Missouri Trident. After losing to Missouri two games, Kansas learned from his mistakes and, under the belief of avenging revenge, their fighting spirit is very high.

In the first showdown between the two teams, Chen Junhao was injured and stayed on the bench for two quarters, and went on the court in the last five minutes of the last quarter to work with Anthony and Mike to turn the tide and reverse the game in one fell swoop. The second showdown was also quite difficult. Judging from these two encounters, Missouri's strength comparison is quite limited even if Missouri has advantages.

The audience was full of attention and the applause was thunderous. The players of the two teams entered the court. After the warm-up, the official game began.

Missouri's starting lineup has not changed, and Kansas is still the five people: center, fourth-year Mackins; power forward, third-year Miller; small forward, third-year Nelson, shooting guard: third-year Newbe; point guard, third-year Oulley.

Nelson and Oli are the team's ace core, and the other three players do not have a significant gap in strength. There are strong players on all positions on the bench. Even if all five people on the court are off the court, the Kansas coach can still line up several lineups with considerable strength. The neat strength of the team in each position is Kansas' biggest feature and the biggest advantage.

Missouri has confidence in winning, but no one underestimates Kansas. As an opponent, Kansas deserves respect from any NCAA team.

The players on both sides of the stadium were full of morale and full of confidence in winning.

Missouri's tactics are still the most authentic trident tactics. The two games Anthony and Carman absent seemed to be just a small episode. After they returned, Missouri immediately returned to their most normal track. Chen Junhao also returned to his own position in the Trident. With sharp passes and assists, he strongly supported the other two sharp arrows in the Trident's goal.

The outside world debate about "who is the real king of Missouri" and the domestic voice that "Chen Junhao should play a greater role in the team" has never affected the unity of the Trident, and there has never been a voice of discord within the team. This alone is enough to make those coaches who are worried about internal disputes in the team jealous.

Both sides knew each other well, and after the game started, they saved them from careful tests. The game directly entered a close-knit melee stage. Wonderful offensive and defensive scenes continued to emerge, and applause and cheers in the stadium were heard one after another.

In Kansas' offense, the five Missouri players kept their positions, faced with the opponent's interlude and pick-and-roll, and changed positions with their teammates from time to time to assist in defense.

Chen Junhao, who is responsible for the cover of the outside world, is the first to attack the opponent. Ace Ouli controls the ball, and two people confront each other outside the three-point line. The same situation has been staged many times in the past two games, and Ouli is really clear about the opponent's defensive ability. He has no confidence in his defense. So he chose the most pragmatic approach, accelerated, suddenly turned toward and accelerated to break through the past from the side. Chen Junhao followed him like a shadow and tried to follow the defense, but the obstacles behind him forced him to stop.

Pick-roll cover!

However, although Oli successfully broke through the past, he was unable to attack the inside. Mario flashed out to fill the position and stood in front of him. At the same time, Chen Junhao stabbed and Anthony pulled out of the inside. Under the extremely skilled round conversion position, Missouri's defense was as solid as a rock.

To this day, Missouri's defense is not the same as before. Even though he is still strong in offense and weak in defense, he can finally be regarded as the strongest team in the United States.

Kansas' offense is not always so simple. It was already expected by Ouli when encountering obstacles. After the emergency stop, the basketball was raised over his head and threw it hard. The basketball flew straight in the air across the bottom corner of the left line. There was a figure that caught the ball - no one defended it!

Beautiful pass! The audience on the outside was amazed.

The Missouri player had no time to think. Pierce, who was closest to the block, saved it, but the figure who received the ball did not shoot directly. He dribbled one step and stopped suddenly and jumped up.

Pierce had no choice, so he jumped up and raised his hands to stop him.

After lifting the basketball over his head, he did not take action. In front of everyone, the basketball jumped up in the air and suddenly retracted it and threw it out from behind. The back of his head seemed to be opened, and the basketball pointed straight line towards Nelson, who was unpreserved from outside the three-point line,

Nelson received the ball and jumped. "Swish!" A crisp sound of entering the net ended the attack.

Beautiful! Superb!

The passer was the shooting guard Newbe, a defender who was not famous for passing. The audience outside the court was amazed, and the players on both sides of the court had obviously stronger acceptance. Kansas players celebrating at high highs, while everyone in Missouri seemed not surprised, and the reason was even more clear. Such a magical stroke was entirely based on the tacit understanding between teammates. If Newbe had not been convinced that there must be his own teammate in that position, how could he pass such a wonderful goal?

The Kansas Five is extraordinary after all.

Offense and defense are transferred. Missouri's offense is always initiated by Chen Junhao, which is something that everyone in NCAA knows.

Basketball is controlled by Chen Junhao, and Kansas players are on guard as if they are facing a great enemy. The name of a tree is enough to make any opponent dare not take it lightly. What's more, the Kansas players who have learned his greatness several times.

Chen Junhao met a double team between Newbe and Ouley in front of the three-point line. Kansas's two most flexible guards kept putting pressure on the basketball in Chen Junhao's hands, and the basketball may be confiscated by another person.

Of course, when basketball is controlled by Chen Junhao, that's exactly the same thing. Change hands left and right, dribble with cross steps, and the body sways in the wind, but it can give people the feeling of bent the bow and luring arrows. The slightly bent body may leave the string at any time. Newbe and Ouli have a deep understanding of the opponent's strength. With full vigilance, their feet can involuntarily adjust their positions as the opponent swings.

None of the others in Missouri came forward to meet him. They trusted Jack's abilities the most. And Jack's eyes told them early: He wants to try to break through these two people.

The King of Breakthrough Jack Chen, it has been too long since no one mentioned such a title.

"Pai!" The ball speed suddenly changed. The body, which was slightly shaking from left and right, suddenly changed direction twice. The two people who were already fully alert, had no time to judge the situation and their bodies reacted earlier. One was to the left and the other was to the right. In a blink of an eye, a gap that could allow one person to squeeze through was revealed. "Pai!" A basketball bounced up, but Chen Junhao's figure was still in place, and he did not take advantage of the situation to break through.

Newbe and Ouli reacted and immediately realized that they had been fooled. In desperation, they tried hard to pull back and make up for the gap. The consequence of the two of them acting at the same time was that they could not hold back and collided with each other. Under the strong impact, they staggered left and right at the same time, and the result was that they watched their opponents pass through them calmly, and then they easily shot without defending outside the penalty area.

It sounds so troublesome, but the process was only a little more effort at that time. And the reason why these two people collided was because they reacted too quickly. In the eyes of the audience, these two people suddenly collided with their own people, and they forced a way out for their opponents.

So when the basketball fell into the basket, the audience still had inexplicable expressions on their faces. It took a long time before a sparse applause rang out.

No one else on the field saw the mystery clearly, but they were sure that their teammates were definitely not intentionally letting the opponent pass. Looking at the two of them embarrassedly, Nelson gently patted their shoulders and attacked the opposite position without saying a word. The other two also followed Nelson, patted their shoulders twice on their shoulders, and took the lead in attacking.

Everything is in vain. At this time, any comfort and encouragement are useless. Only trust and heavy responsibilities can make them cheer up quickly. The silent movements are more effective than any words: "Please, we cannot live without you in this game."

Oli and Newbe quickly calmed down their embarrassment and loss on their faces. After the bottom line kicked off, the two dribbled the ball and quickly rushed to the opponent.

The game continues.

The subsequent games continued the tone since the start of the game, and the two sides were not giving in to each other. Missouri's strong attack power was fully demonstrated under the leadership of the Trident, and Kansas did not show weakness. The endless cooperation between the five players on the field also made Missouri's defense poorly cope. The scene was evenly matched, and Missouri maintained a slight advantage based on the success of the offensive efficiency.

The situation in the first three quarters basically did not change significantly. While controlling the situation on the field, the main players on both sides took turns to rest. The Trident on Missouri received sufficient rest.

Both sides put the victory and loss in the fourth quarter.

Sure enough, the fourth quarter had just begun, and all the main players of both sides returned to the court.

First, Missouri's offense, one meter outside the three-point line, Chen Junhao raised his hand and kicked off the fourth quarter. Then McKins's shot from the basket was reunited. The game quickly entered a white-hot hand-to-hand combat state.

Both sides have excellent defenses and have enough attack capabilities across the United States. Under normal circumstances, it is not difficult for both sides to find shooting opportunities through tactical cooperation. The key to the game has become a competition of the ability of both sides to seize opportunities.

Missouri is led by Trident, and the three of them are top scoring experts. After Chen Junhao completed the final score, his stable shooting ability was regarded as the key point by Missouri. The three-pointer just now was the product of Missouri's planning. Anthony and Carman are human-shaped weapons. With the support of the Trident, he regards the score as a monster who takes a sack with the support of each other.

"Swish!" Anthony's shot. "Swish!" Kaman's hook, "Boom!" Anthony's powerful dunk that cut into the inside after receiving the ball. "Swish!" The long shot that was hollowed out of the three-point line was Chen Junhao's shot. "Swish, swish!" Kaman turned around and shot outside the penalty area...

The attack power of the Trident seemed to suppress the previous three sections and deliberately suppressed it, and it suddenly burst out.

The Kansas Five, which could have competed with Missouri, had to get a disadvantage at this moment. But it was not that their performance was abnormal, but that their opponents were too perverted. Five percent of the shooting rate was quite successful wherever they were, but their opponents hit rate reached 70%, 80% or even higher.

This is the gap between outstanding players and star players, the gap in ability to seize opportunities. The five Kansas players are all top NCAA stars, but their opponents are well-deserved top superstars of this era.

And when the best superstars organically form a whole under the correct tactical guidance, the power they can exert is even more immeasurable.

Missouri's three players who form the Trident are super strong and have their own characteristics. Only when they cooperate can they complement each other and be seamless. Among the three, Anthony is the well-deserved first scorer, and so far the record of 36 points in a single game has far left the people behind the scoring list. Carman is the strongest pillar of Missouri's inside line. The top data standard of "20+10" is as easy as taking pictures of the inside player. Scoring and rebounding every game are above this standard. And Chen Jun

Hao has never reproduced such amazing performance after "seventy-six points" and "terrifying triple-double", but his performance is the most comprehensive among the Tridents. He can contribute quasi-triple-double or even triple-double data in every game. He deserves to be the number one guard in NCAA. He truly demonstrates dominance in the position of guard. The Trident shines with stars, Chen Junhao, Anthony, and Kaman each have their own characteristics and complement each other. There is no question of who suppressing whoever is at all.

The three of them are the top players in their respective positions. It can be said that such a luxurious combination is not the last one in NCAA history and must be unprecedented. How great can the ability generated by the three players be? No team has ever been able to try out their bottom line. This time, Kansas seemed to have touched this bottom line inadvertently, but the energy that burst out was really shocking. The Kansas coach off-court didn't care about his demeanor and shouted a timeout.

But the ball was in Missouri's hands, and after Anthony sent a ball into the basket again, the referee's timeout whistle rang.

At this time, the score difference had widened to 12 points. The balance of strength that was worked hard to maintain in the first three quarters was in danger in two minutes of the fourth quarter.

In fact, after the timeout, the Kansas coach couldn't think of any effective way to stop the situation. His players on both offense and defense performed quite tenaciously and well. The situation suddenly became corrupt because his players did not work hard, but because his opponent's condition was too perverted.

"Defense, strengthen defense." The Kansas coach had to grit his teeth after considering it.

We must find a way to curb the opponent's state. From the perspective of a coach, it is definitely not the first time that the opponent's sudden state is unstoppable. There is no way to accumulate long-term experience.

Pause disrupts the opponent's rhythm; fouls to delay the opponent's offense; pressing all over the game to disrupt their offensive footsteps; giving up some defensive areas to focus on the opponent's scoring players... I have to admire the rich experience of Kansas coaches, and this move is quite dazzling. Objectively speaking, Kansas can always cause a lot of trouble for Missouri after every time Kansas adjusts tactics, but these troubles are not enough to stop Missouri's progress. Smith doesn't even have to stop the adjustment of tactics, and the trident on the field can confidently overcome difficulties and quickly turn the situation around.

At the end of the game, the score was 105:96, nine points, Missouri defeated Kansas for the third time this season, leading to the semi-finals.
Chapter completed!