I'm not really a role player

Chapter 15 Competition of will

Last season in the NCAA, although Tyler Hansbrough was only a freshman, he averaged 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He scored a maximum of 40 points in a single game, setting a scoring record for a freshman in ACC league history.
After the end of the season, he won the ACC league's best rookie trophy, and became the first freshman in history to be selected to the ACC league's best team.

With such a result, Hansbrough did not choose to participate in the NBA, but chose to stay in school.

In addition, last season's No. [-] scorer Ray Sean Terry also stayed on the team. After a draft season, North Carolina's strength has hardly been compromised.

Not only that, but they also won the No. 3 Brandon Wright in the United States, Ty Lawson No. 5 in the United States, Wayne Ellington No. 8 in the United States, and Dean Thompson No. 43 in the United States in this year's admissions season. They also almost won the No. 2 Xiao Du in the United States.

Last year's No. 15 Danny Green, No. 29 Marcus Giard, and No. 31 Bobby Fraser could only play as substitutes in North Carolina. Even Quentin Thomas, who was No. 04 in the United States in 55, has been reduced to guarding the drinking fountains.

"Famous schools have high exposure, but the competition is surprisingly fierce..."

In contrast, the University of Texas, which has accepted Xiaodu, Damien James, DJ Augustin and Dexter Pittman this year, is already a bumper harvest, but it still cannot compare with the old famous schools like North Carolina.

"If PJ Tucker, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Daniel Gibson can stay at the University of Texas, maybe in this game, the University of Texas will still have a chance to fight against North Carolina, but now..."

"This year's Longhorn's schedule is too bad. The first game of the preseason will be against the outstanding North Carolina. Don't even think about a good start. Lose less and win."

"..."

The game has not yet started, and the media has already sung bad news.

No wonder this is the case. Although the University of Texas is also full of stars, Du and Augustin are just freshmen who have not proved themselves in the NCAA. In contrast, North Carolina already has mature Hansbrough and Ray Shawn Terry.

And even if freshmen are counted, the University of Texas is far inferior to North Carolina in comparison on paper.

With the enemy at hand, Rick Barnes is also a little distressed, but he is different from the group of negative media. He thinks that the Longhorns have a chance to win this game, but the following special contingencies are needed.

"For this game, I'm going to put Kevin against Brandon Wright."

In the discussion with the coaching staff before the game, Rick Barnes cut to the chase.

"Kevin vs. Brandon Wright? No. [-] freshman vs. No. [-] freshman, that group of media will get what they want."

Although I don't think that the University of Texas has a chance to win North Carolina, this game still attracted a lot of attention. Durant is ranked second in the United States, while Brandon Wright, who is in the same position, is the third in the United States. The media will not let go of the gimmick of second versus third.

And Russell Spliman, who pays attention to the media, suddenly became a little excited when he heard that there would be such a matchup in this game.

Another assistant coach standing beside him, Chris Price, rolled his eyes, and then mentioned the most critical part of the North Carolina team: "What about Tyler Hansbrough?"

"I can only let Sheldon go."

"Sheldon? His height..."

"Height doesn't matter. Sheldon has speed. During this period of time, his strength has also improved, so he won't suffer from confrontation."

"The problem is, Sheldon is just a freshman in high school with no stars and no rankings..."

"But during the team's training game, he defended Damien very well. In the team's 3v3 training, he also defended Kevin very effectively. After PJ left, he has become the most reliable perimeter defender for the Longhorns."

"We can put Kevin on Tyler Hansbrough."

"No, Kevin needs to focus on the offensive end."

Rick Barnes quickly determined the defensive matchup for the first game. As Xiao Du guessed, Li Ke would directly face Tyler Hansbrough.

During this period of time, he has been watching Hansbrough's video, and communicates with Xiao Du from time to time.

"Tyler Hansbrough's mid-range shot is really accurate, but it's too soft. As an insider, he always moves in the mid-range. You are right Kevin. Coach Barnes will definitely let me deal with him for his outside play style."

"Don't underestimate him, Sheldon, this guy has been investigated by Larry Bird, and he is considered by Larry Bird to be the next Dave Cowens."

"Dave Cowens?"

"That's right, Dave Cowens, a big insider with solid skills and strong willpower, known as the 'wild'."

Li Ke understood what Xiao Du meant. What he meant was that since Taylor Hansbrough's template was Dave Cowens, it meant that Hansbrough was not as weak as he showed.

"Okay, let's see who has stronger willpower."

Li Ke thought of the characteristic column in the system, his D-level steel will, and he is worthy of the competition will.

"Where's your opponent, Kevin?"

"Brandon Wright? He couldn't beat me in high school."

Xiao Du shook his head, looking down on Brandon Wright.

"Have you had enough rest? When you have enough rest, get up and practice with me."

Li Ke pulled Xiao Du up.

"You come to play Taylor Hansbrough, pay attention, Taylor Hansbrough doesn't have such long arms as you, put your long arms away..."

"..."

The day before the game, Rick Barnes announced the starting lineup for the season opener.

"AJ, DJ, Sheldon, Kevin and Conor Archie."

There is no surprise. They have been practicing this main lineup for more than a month. Even Damien James has accepted Rick Barnes' positioning of him. He is the team's sixth man.

Once the starting list is announced, the specific tactical arrangements will follow.

In terms of offense, although Xiao Du is the core, he is only an offensive terminator. The University of Texas focuses on the pick-and-roll cooperation of two guards on the outside.

On the defensive end, it was just as Du guessed.

"Sheldon, in this game, the team needs you to deal with Tyler Hansbrough, do you have confidence?"

Rick Barnes asked this question, but Li Ke had no other answer: "Of course, no problem, Coach Barnes."

"So, Kevin, your opponent is Brandon Wright, and on the outside, DJ is going to deal with Rayshawn Terry, and AJ's opponent is Ty Lawson."

Although Abrams is the shooting guard of the Longhorns, he is only 1 meters tall, and the defensive matchup can only be moved down. Fortunately, Ty Lawson is not tall in this game.

The only problem may be that Augustin, who is 1 meters tall, needs to face Rayshaun Terry, who is 83 meters tall.

Rick Barnes can't help it either. A smart woman can't cook without rice. The Longhorn lineup can only be lined up in this way.

After the starting and tactical arrangements were arranged, the Longhorns then set off.

The first game of the season is not at home, but needs to cross half of the United States, go to North Carolina, and challenge the University of North Carolina away.

　Thanks to the students who wrote about me in the novel, Tribulus Qiongniao, Tutu Tutu, and post-zero students for their rewards!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)