Y13 [EN]: Chapter 8

Y13-8

00008 NCAA =========================================================================

2009-2010 NCAA

NCAA sports in the United States showcase young student-athletes competing purely for the love of the game, a stark contrast to the professional arena. While NCAA might seem less polished compared to the pros, it’s a thrilling spectacle where you can witness raw passion and dedication. The 2009-2010 NCAA Division 1 season, in particular, was heavily sponsored by 2K Sports (the renowned sports game developer behind NBA, WWE, and other titles), significantly boosting its profile and generating considerable excitement.

The season tips off on November 14th. Over 300 universities in Division 1 are organized into various regions and conferences, engaging in league play. Their performance throughout the season determines their eligibility for the highly anticipated March Madness tournament.

San Diego State University competes in the Mountain West Conference. While not a top-ranked program, it has carved out a respectable reputation within the mid-major conference landscape [conferences that are not among the traditional power conferences but still field competitive teams].

This success is largely attributed to Steve Fisher’s basketball philosophy, which emphasizes a strong defensive presence and protecting the rim.

Now that Fisher finally had a potent offensive weapon at his disposal, the team’s overall potential was truly immense.

The team was achieving a harmonious balance between offense and defense, evolving into an exceptionally well-rounded unit.

Coach Fisher experimented with different lineup combinations, focusing on the guards, the team’s primary ball-handlers. D.J. Gay and Youngjae were the cornerstones, and they were divided into separate teams to test various offensive strategies.

『[San Diego State University’s projected starting lineup:]

Name (Grade) Height (Feet-Inches, cm)

Guard

D.J. Gay (3) 6-0 (183)

Yoon Youngjae (1) 6-3 (191)

Chase Tapley (1) 6-2 (188)

Kelvin Davis (4) 6-3 (191)

Forward

Kawhi Leonard (1) 6-6 (198)

Malcolm Thomas (3) 6-9 (206)

Billy White (3) 6-7 (201)

Alec Williams (1) 6-6 (198)

Tyrone Shelley (2) 6-6 (198)

Center

Brian Carwell (3) 6-11 (211)』

“DJ!”

Thomas, posting up with Carwell guarding him, raised his hand, calling for the ball, but Gay hesitated to pass.

“Keuh…”

It was a frustrating moment. For Gay, a junior and presumed starting point guard, being outmatched by a freshman was a blow to his pride. Initially, they were roughly the same height, but now Youngjae had a clear advantage. In just a couple of months, he had grown from 6-2 to over 6-3, surpassing Gay by more than two inches. Furthermore, he had gained considerable strength through weight training, making him a formidable presence in the post.

Of course, height and strength aren’t always the deciding factors. However, Gay wasn’t particularly strong, and Youngjae possessed above-average strength, creating a significant mismatch.

Moreover, Youngjae’s speed was comparable, if not superior, and his footwork was exceptional.

Gay’s primary weakness was his tendency to commit turnovers. San Diego State University, as a whole, had a reputation for turnovers, but a closer look revealed that Gay, as the primary ball-handler and playmaker, was often the culprit, indicating shortcomings in his decision-making. A point guard with a high turnover rate is as detrimental as a defender in soccer who frequently makes errors.

Shuk-

However, Gay wasn’t ready to concede. Driven by his desire to overcome Youngjae, he began to survey the court more attentively and analyze the game more thoroughly to mitigate his weaknesses. The solution was surprisingly simple: he focused on identifying mismatches, directing the ball to teammates with a clear advantage to ensure high-percentage scoring opportunities. While court vision and passing acumen are often considered innate, Gay demonstrated that they can be cultivated through dedicated effort.

‘Oh?’

Youngjae couldn’t help but be impressed. Knowing firsthand that Gay hadn’t possessed this level of awareness previously, Youngjae recognized the significant strides Gay was making. The fact that Gay, who had previously relied primarily on passing and shooting, had undergone such a transformation underscored the immense effort he had invested.

‘Thomas has a strength advantage over Carwell, but Carwell has the height advantage. The other positions are pretty even. So, the remaining position is…’

Power forward.

Gay, assessing that Billy White had a clear advantage over freshman Alec Williams, passed the ball to White, who had drifted out to the high post.

“Block him!”

Carwell shouted urgently, but Billy White swiftly capitalized on the open space after seeing Gay use a screen to impede Williams’s path. Billy White is a forward comfortable shooting from mid-range [the area roughly between the free throw line and the three-point line]. Carwell attempted to contest the shot, but Thomas had already effectively blocked Carwell’s movement, leaving White with an unobstructed look.

The moment White released the shot, he felt a sudden chill and a fleeting sense of emptiness in his hand.

Bang!

A resounding thud. White couldn’t help but turn around in disbelief.

“Nice play, but you were too careless.”

Youngjae’s block. He had anticipated the timing, meticulously studied White’s shooting motion, and then timed his jump perfectly, swatting the ball away from the side. Youngjae, having secured the ball with the block, immediately initiated a fast break, culminating in an easy layup on the unguarded basket.

And then, on the ensuing possession, Youngjae, mindful of the potential for a runaway tempo, deliberately slowed down the pace. He knew that a sustained fast tempo could lead to fatigue, turnovers, and rushed decisions. So, Youngjae positioned himself at the top of the key, signaling his teammates to regroup and catch their breath, offering words of encouragement and direction.

“Hoo!”

He navigates Shelley’s screen. Youngjae, who was rapidly driving towards the basket, was forced to halt his progress by Leonard, who had switched onto him. Coach Fisher observed their duel with a sense of satisfaction. From his perspective, it was a valuable learning experience for two talented freshmen who were poised to become key contributors this season, one as a guard and the other as a forward.

“……”

Studying Leonard’s long arms and large hands, Youngjae abandoned the idea of an easy drive. While a personal drive might be effective, Leonard’s defensive prowess would require Youngjae to exert considerable effort. He decided to reassess the situation. The two players stood facing each other, with the three-point line separating them.

Tung-

Once, twice. The ball bounced rhythmically. Although it was just a fleeting moment, Youngjae and Leonard were undoubtedly engaged in a mental chess match, analyzing countless possibilities.

Tutung!

Youngjae made the first move. He shifted his weight to the left and executed a crossover dribble to penetrate the paint. Leonard tensed his toes, ready to change direction instantly, and leaned slightly to the right.

Then, abruptly, Youngjae stepped back. Seeing Youngjae retreat and assume a shooting stance, Leonard lunged forward, confident that he had anticipated Youngjae’s intentions.

“That’s what it was!”

The Hand.

True to his nickname, Leonard used his exceptionally large hands to disrupt opponents, intercepting even the most difficult passes. But Youngjae remained unfazed by the imposing hand.

“Heot-”

A unique, energy-filled shout. Youngjae abandoned his seemingly perfect shooting form and instead attempted an overhand pass. Only then did Leonard fully grasp the situation. Youngjae’s deliberate tempo. The drive. The step-back. It had all been a carefully orchestrated deception.

“Haat!!!”

Kwaang!

The ball, hurtling towards the rim, had transformed into an alley-oop pass. Thomas, despite being undersized, couldn’t win a height battle against Carwell, but this was a speed contest. Carwell was slower than Thomas. Thomas’s rim-attacking speed from the low post was unmatched. No matter how fast Gay, White, or Davis ran, their height and strength were no match for Thomas.

Thomas, surging towards the basket like a predator, slammed the ball through the rim with both hands, savoring the exhilarating sensation. Leonard watched Thomas hanging from the rim, a mixture of frustration and excitement on his face, and couldn’t help but yearn to be in that position himself.

When the scrimmage concluded, Coach Fisher granted the players free time for the first time in a while. The players seemed surprised, but Coach Fisher calmly explained his reasoning.

“I believe you’ve been under considerable mental strain juggling schoolwork and basketball. Consider this a reward for your satisfactory performance in both training and academics, including today’s scrimmage.”

Some players reacted with enthusiasm to Coach Fisher’s announcement, but Malcolm Thomas, who had recently discovered his passion for basketball, Yoon Youngjae and Kawhi Leonard, who admired each other’s skills and were eager to improve, and Gay, who was determined to defend his position as a senior, remained stoic. Instead, they were already contemplating how to structure their training during their free time.

“For your information, this break is also intended to prepare you for the Non-Conference games [pre-season games against teams from other conferences that contribute to a team’s ranking and potential selection for the March Madness tournament] that precede the NCAA conference regular season, which begins in January. The Non-Conference schedule starts in early November. You’ll be playing against teams outside of our conference.”

“There are only about two weeks left until those games, so I encourage you to get ample rest during this time. Remember that rest is an integral part of training. To that end, there will be no team training from this Friday to Saturday. After your personal classes are finished, try to catch up on things you’ve been putting off. You won’t have much opportunity to rest once the league season begins.”

After Coach Fisher’s address, the players clustered in groups of three or five, excitedly discussing their plans. Gay departed with a disgruntled expression, leaving only Youngjae, Leonard, and Thomas.

“Hey~ What are you guys planning to do on vacation?”

The Malcolm who had been indifferent to the break earlier had vanished, replaced by the playful Malcolm who had greeted them at the beginning of the semester, wrapping his arms around Youngjae and Leonard.

“Um.”

“I was just going to rest after personal training, since the coach told us to rest,” Youngjae replied.

As expected, the two didn’t show much excitement. Thomas made a strange “ack-” sound and looked at them as if they were oddities.

“Aren’t you guys a little too serious for your age? Seriously, you haven’t gone out to have any fun since the semester started, have you?”

At Thomas’s words, the two nodded with a nonchalant expression. If they needed anything, they could simply buy it at a nearby store. Meals were readily available at the student cafeteria. And anything else could be ordered online in a matter of minutes. They were textbook examples of students completely absorbed in basketball.

“Come on, let’s go out for a little while. Huh? San Diego! California! Pleasant and warm climate year-round, San Diego Bay~ beautiful harbor and coastline, and beaches! Beautiful women!”

“So that’s why things didn’t work out with Lucy?”

Youngjae chuckled and nudged Thomas in the side, while Leonard chimed in with a sympathetic, “Ah, that’s what happened.”

“No, why are you suddenly bringing up Lucy… Ahem. Anyway! If you really want to, let’s just go out for half a day. Huh? Attractive Mexican and Spanish girls are waiting for you?”

Youngjae and Leonard made a “euk-” sound and attempted to decline, but Thomas’s persistence ultimately wore them down.

‘Sigh. What women.’

Youngjae, assuming Leonard felt the same way, simply planned to browse for basketball equipment and shake off Thomas.

============================ Author’s Note ============================

★Thank you to those who gave advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

※Mid-range: Usually refers to 9-16 feet, and means the space between the 3-point line and the free throw line.

The United States mainly expresses height in feet-inches. 1 foot = 12 inches.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Hallau-nim, Reedben-nim, Baekye-nim// and everyone who shyly comes to read the article. Thank you twice because there are two of us.

Thank you for the advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and reviews!!

Thank you to those who gave coupons!!

[Aside: From the next episode, I think my younger brother, not my older brother, will occasionally appear in the afterword ㅋㅋ]