ESPN even used a photo of Qin Yue dunking over Cameron's head to describe: "Wake Forest has shown those fans trying to interfere in the game: Join us and prosper, oppose us and perish."
Two days later, Wake Forest met Vanderbilt University in the second round of March Madness.
Although well aware of the capabilities of Qin Yue and Paul, before the match, Vanderbilt's Captain Team coach Kevin Stallings confidently said, "The Principal and Chris are indeed a tacit duo, but we also have Matt Freije."
"In a win-or-go-home March Madness, we can definitely beat them!"
Matt Freije.
A name very familiar to Qin Yue.
The reason Qin Yue is familiar with him is not that Freije played particularly well in his memory of the NBA.
But because this guy will become a legend of the CBA Fujian Team in the future.
Nicknamed "Tennessee Bird," Freije stands 208 cm tall and possesses excellent basketball skills, able to dribble and shoot on his own, and create good shot opportunities by moving to evade defenders.
Unfortunately, in the higher-level NBA games, Freije never showcased the strengths he had during college basketball.
It was only in the CBA that Freije reclaimed some of his past glory from the NCAA.
As a senior, Freije is rich in game experience.
Therefore, Coach Stallings' confidence in his beloved protégé is not without basis.
Additionally, compared to the Cajuns lacking in interior height, the Captain Team's lineup boasts David Przybyszewski, standing a towering 218 cm, which also caused concern for Wake Forest's assistant coach Victor before the match.
However, after studying the opponents, Prose still confidently assigned the primary offensive focus in the match against the Captain Team to Qin Yue.
"If basketball were only about height, then why is there only one Yao in the NBA?" That day, when evaluating Przybyszewski, Prose specifically mentioned Qin Yue's compatriot Yao Ming.
Then, Prose, in an indisputable tone, said to Qin Yue, "If you can't even surpass this current obstacle, how are you going to play in the NBA in the future?"
At that moment, Qin Yue thought Prose made a lot of sense.
The second round of March Madness arrived as scheduled.
Compared to the first-round battle with the Cajuns, in this game, the Devil's Deacon Team's fans noticeably had the upper hand in vigor over the Captain Team's fans.
This group of supporters who traveled from Winston-Salem had made the Wake Forest players on the court feel the warmth of their hometown from the start.
Of course, the reason the Devil's Deacon Team could enjoy home-court treatment tonight is also related to the similar experiences of the Captain Team.
Yes.
The Captain Team is also a team "exiled."
Being part of the SEC, they were assigned by the selection committee to Phoenix, thousands of kilometers away, this year.
Therefore, with not many supporters for either team in Phoenix, the more passionate Devil's Deacon fans were able to dominate the stands.
On the court, when the two expedition teams met, after the tip-off, the Devil's Deacon Team secured the ball.
During the jump ball, Qin Yue, who was responsible for Wake Forest's tip-off, found it surprisingly easy to win.
Even though Przybyszewski had a genuine height of 218 cm, after Qin Yue exerted a little force, he surrendered like a French soldier, raising the white flag without hesitation.
"He doesn't even seem like one of those big stiffs... whys he so afraid of confrontation?" Qin Yue wondered, puzzled.
Next, during Wake Forest's opening attack, Paul controlled the offense steadily while waiting for Qin Yue to post up low.
The process of Qin Yue getting into the low post was completely unimpeded.
Even though Freije exerted all his strength to block him, Qin Yue felt no pressure at all.
After a year of rigorous training, Qin Yue's body had become a Steel Body.
Receiving the ball in the low post, Qin Yue, backing Freije, exerted a powerful force and then swiftly spun to the basket.
At that moment, he couldn't help but remind the Wake Forest supporters on-site of Tim Duncan.
But the next second, with both feet off the ground and soaring into the air without restraint...
He almost instantly brought everyone's thoughts back to the court.
This life, after losing weight, Qin Yue never hesitated to showcase his talent to the world.
At this moment, covering the entire paint with his presence, and watching Przybyszewski voluntarily retreat from under the basket, Qin Yue mercilessly slammed the ball into the net!
"Right after the start, he soared to ignite the entire arena!"
In front of their TVs, when the Connecticut players, having finished their game and returned to the hotel, witnessed Qin Yue's ascension, they all furrowed their brows and then turned their attention collectively to Emeka Okafor.
"Looks like another contender is going to become a stepping stone for the Principal tonight," Ben Gordon stated.
Before March Madness began, Okafor had read the Sports Illustrated article on Qin Yue.
Despite his admiration for Qin Yue's willpower to shed dozens of kilograms within months, whom he'd never faced personally.
But upon noticing how the invited columnure writer Brian Smith of Sports Illustrated referred to him as the towering king awaiting challenges from all sides during the tournament.....
Okafor couldn't help but think that the media seemed to forget that he was the true king of college basketball's interior.
Compared to those dull and dry back-to-the-basket moves and interior plays on the court...
It's unknown since when, but both fans and media have favored players who could fly and leap across the court.
Just like Dwight Howard, who had the chance to compete for the No. 1 pick against Okafor this year.
And like Qin Yue, who was currently ravaging the Captain Team's basket.
"I hope they win with ease tonight," Okafor said, watching the TV screen.
In response, Gordon chuckled and said, "I think the complete opposite. I hope the Captain Team gives them a bit of trouble.
Because then, our next round against them will be a worn-out team."
According to the schedule, after advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, the Connecticut Huskies, the No. 2 seed in the Phoenix Region, would face the winner between the Devil's Deacon Team and the Captain Team in this round.
On the court, after Qin Yue and Paul set the tone for the Devil's Deacon Team post-opening, when the Captain Team called for a timeout, Gray gathered everyone together, "Listen up, folks, we also have to put in more effort next!
Remember, our next round opponent is Connecticut!"
As the Devil's Deacon Team's political commissar, Gray knew better than anyone that Qin Yue and Paul mustn't be exhausted in the match against the Captain Team.
Because looking across the entire NCAA, you won't find a second pair that can rival the interior-exterior duo of Okafor and Gordon.
In the upcoming royal duel, the Devil's Deacon Team can only rely on their twin stars!
...
Note ①: Chapter 26 mentioned Qin Yue being selected as the Best Newcomer of ACC, but the book made it clear that it was only about Qin Yue's personal titles at the time. So in reality, the Best Newcomer of the 03/04 ACC season was co-awarded to Paul and Qin Yue. Additionally, here is Note ① because in Chapter 23, Ah Qiao made a mistake by writing that Qin Yue was the only candidate. After readers' feedback, it has now been corrected to a popular candidate.
Note ②: Since some not-so-well-known teams appear in NCAA, to avoid Ah Qiao misinterpreting their names, Ah Qiao also posts the original English names for these teams. Similarly, this applies to some university players who have established English standards.
Note ③: Basketball novels generally use feet and inches for measurement units; here, 6 feet 11 inches is approximately equal to 211 cm.
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