Life as NBA Rookie (SlamDunk System)

The next day, when the ACC's other co-Rookie of the Year, Paul, woke up, he found himself stark naked in the hotel bathtub. (Note ①) Beside him, Zack and Gray were grinning mischievously, ready to dump two buckets of ice water over his head. 

This sight scared him senseless. Even at breakfast with the team that morning, he was still shaken. 

"How did you guys get into my room?" Paul asked. 

Zack and Gray didn't answer directly, but Paul quickly figured it out. "Come on, guys, even if the coach told you to wake me up, you didn't have to go that hard, did you?" 

Poor Paul couldn't forget how helpless he felt, lying naked in that bathtub. Facing these two muscle-bound teammates, it was a good thing he surrendered immediately. Otherwise, the star point guard of the Demon Deacons might have met his end by "teammate assassination" before March Madness even officially began. 

However, after that morning's ordeal, Paul, who hadn't been able to sleep all night, found his previously super-nervous heart gradually calming down. It couldn't be helped. Even the future "Point God" gets sleepless nights from anxiety when playing in March Madness for the first time. 

That afternoon, after a quick shooting practice at the training facility arranged by the tournament committee, the Demon Deacons returned to the hotel and watched this year's opening act: the play-in game between Lehigh University and Florida A&M. As per tradition, this game took place at the University of Dayton's arena. 

The game itself wasn't exactly a highlight reel, given the general skill level of both teams. But the players, battling for every possession with sweat and even blood, served as a stark reminder to everyone watching: in the winner-take-all crucible of March Madness, nobody just hands over a victory. 

After the game, the victorious Florida A&M players and the defeated Lehigh University players presented a vivid contrast. The winners cried tears of joy for making it into the NCAA's Round of 64, while the losers choked back sobs for failing to seize the opportunity to make history. 

That's March Madness. It's a brutal truth: win or go home. Whether you're a powerhouse or an underdog, you only get one shot. 

First Round Showdown 

According to the schedule, the Demon Deacons, as the three-seed in the Phoenix bracket, were set to face the fourteen-seed Louisiana-Ragin' Cajuns in the first round. (Note ②) Their star player was Orien Greene, a 6'4" (193 cm), 205-pound (93 kg) swingman known for his defense in college basketball. This season, he averaged 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists for the Cajuns. 

Sure, Greene had previously shut down many "can't-miss" prospects in the eyes of scouts. But overall, the Cajuns simply didn't have the firepower to challenge the Demon Deacons. Their starting lineup's average height was under 6'6" (2 meters), and their game relied mostly on gritty defense and three-point shooting. While that might sound like a modern strategy, on the evening of the 18th, as Zack relentlessly scored inside the paint against the Cajuns, despite the home crowd's jeers... the pressure the Cajuns' players put on the Demon Deacons was even less than their own fans' noise. 

As an ACC team exiled to the Phoenix bracket, the Demon Deacons had mentally prepared long before heading west. In Phoenix, they knew they wouldn't get the usual cheers and applause. So, if that's the case, they decided they would just silence the entire city. 

On the court, after a pick-and-roll with Paul, Zack received the ball on the roll. Facing the Cajuns' center, Chris Cameron, Zack drove hard and then exploded towards the rim. In that moment, he was like Amar'e Stoudemire of the Suns, a force of nature, unstoppable! 

SLAM! 

"Whoa! What a brilliant connection from the Wake Forest Twin Towers! Zack just posterized the 6'11" Chris Cameron!" (Note ③) 

"It looks like the home crowd's boos have really gotten under the skin of these two ACC Rookies of the Year. Let me count, how many times have Chris and Zack connected like this tonight?" 

After a year of playing together, Paul and Zack didn't even need a glance to know what the other was going to do next. This game against the Cajuns completely devolved into a pick-and-roll clinic by Paul and Zack. 

Furthermore, the Cajuns, known for their three-point shooting, couldn't find their rhythm. Instead, it was the Wake Forest sharpshooters, led by Gray, who rained down threes, tearing apart the Cajuns' defense after successive aerial assaults by Zack and Paul. 

The final score: 98 to 57. Wake Forest secured a dominant 41-point victory, marking a successful start to their March Madness campaign. In the game, Zack notched 27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Paul contributed 20 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Gray shot 7-for-13, all from beyond the arc, scoring a team-high 21 points. 

After the game, Cajuns head coach Jessie Evans told reporters, "They completely destroyed us. Zack and Chris, that Rookie of the Year duo, are the best inside-out combination I've ever seen." 

The next day, several American media outlets described Wake Forest's massive win as an "absolute massacre." ESPN even used a photo of Zack emphatically dunking over Cameron, commenting, "Wake Forest has shown those fans trying to get in their way: those who follow me prosper, those who defy me perish." 

Facing Vanderbilt 

Two days later, Wake Forest faced Vanderbilt University in the second round of March Madness. Although well aware of Zack and Paul's abilities, Vanderbilt Commodores coach Kevin Stallings confidently stated before the game, "Paul and Chris are indeed a synchronized duo, but we have Matt Freije. In a winner-take-all March Madness game, we absolutely have a chance to beat them!" 

Matt Freije. A name very familiar to Zack. He knew Freije not because Freije had a great NBA career in his memory, but because this guy would later become a legend for the Fujian team in the CBA. 

Nicknamed "Tennessee Bird," Freije was 6'10" (208 cm) with excellent basketball skills. He could create his own shot off the dribble and also get open through off-ball movement. Unfortunately, in the higher-stakes NBA games, Freije never truly showcased the qualities he displayed in college. It wasn't until his time in the CBA that Freije recaptured some of his former NCAA glory. 

As a senior, Freije was rich in game experience. Thus, Coach Stallings' confidence in his star pupil wasn't unfounded. Additionally, compared to the undersized Cajuns, the Commodores' 7'2" (218 cm) David Przybyszewski had also caught the attention of Wake Forest assistant coach Victor before the game. 

However, after scouting the opponent, Coach Prosser still firmly entrusted the opening offensive possessions against the Commodores to Zack. "If height alone was enough to be good at basketball, why is there only one Yao in the NBA?" Prosser specifically mentioned Zack's countryman, Yao Ming, when talking about Przybyszewski. Then, Prosser told Zack in an unquestionable tone, "If you can't even get past this mountain in front of you, how are you going to make it in the NBA?" In that moment, Zack thought Prosser made perfect sense. 

Dominating the Paint 

The second round of March Madness arrived as scheduled. Compared to the first-round matchup against the Cajuns, the Demon Deacons' fans clearly out-cheered the Commodores' supporters in this game. These passionate fans, who had traveled all the way from Winston-Salem, made the Wake Forest players on the court feel the warmth of home even before tip-off. Of course, the Demon Deacons enjoying a "home-court" advantage tonight also had to do with the Commodores' similar predicament. Yes, the Commodores were also a "relocated" team. From the SEC, they had been sent thousands of miles away to Phoenix by the selection committee. Therefore, with neither team having many local supporters in Phoenix, the more fervent Demon Deacons fans were able to completely dominate the stands. 

On the court, as the two traveling teams met unexpectedly, after the tip-off, it was Demon Deacons' ball. Zack, who tipped for Wake Forest, felt he won the jump ball a little too easily. Przybyszewski had a genuine 7'2" (218 cm) height, but after Zack put in just a bit of effort, he surrendered immediately, like a French soldier raising the white flag. 

"He doesn't even look like a beanpole... why is he so afraid of contact?" Zack wondered. 

Next, on Wake Forest's first possession, Paul steadily controlled the clock while waiting for Zack to establish low-post position. Zack entered the low post without any resistance. Although Freije was pushing with all his might, Zack felt no pressure at all. After a year of relentless training, Zack's body had already transformed into a steel fortress. 

Receiving the ball in the low post, Zack, with Freije on his back, drove hard and then spun into the lane. In that instant, he couldn't help but make the Wake Forest supporters in the arena think of Tim Duncan. But the very next second, as he left his feet and soared with abandon... he instantly pulled people's thoughts back to the game. 

In this life, after losing weight, Zack never hesitated to display his talent to the world. Now, as he cast a monstrous shadow over the entire restricted area, and seeing Przybyszewski voluntarily retreating from the paint, Zack showed no mercy, throwing the ball down through the hoop! 

"He just took flight and ignited the entire arena right at the start!" 

On TV, as the UConn players, who had finished their own game and returned to the hotel, witnessed Zack's aerial display, they frowned and all turned their gaze towards Emeka Okafor. 

"Looks like another lord is about to become a stepping stone for the 'Principal' tonight," Ben Gordon remarked. 

Before March Madness began, Okafor had read Sports Illustrated's article about Zack. While he admired Zack's willpower in losing dozens of kilograms in a few months, he couldn't help but notice that Sports Illustrated's special columnist, Brian Smith, referred to him as a "lofty king" awaiting challenges from all sides in the March Madness tournament. Okafor felt as if the media had forgotten that he was the king of the college basketball paint. 

It couldn't be helped. Compared to the somewhat dull back-to-the-basket moves and interior offense, for some reason, fans and media alike just seemed to prefer players who could fly and dominate the air. Dwight Howard, who was competing with Okafor for the first overall pick this year, was like that. And Zack, currently wrecking the Commodores' basket, was also like that. 

"I hope they win easily tonight," Okafor said, watching the TV. 

Gordon chuckled, "I'm thinking the exact opposite. I hope the Commodores give them a bit of a challenge. Because that way, we can face a weakened team in the next round." 

According to the schedule, after advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, the Phoenix bracket's two-seed, the UConn Huskies, would face the winner of this Demon Deacons-Commodores matchup. 

On the court, after Zack and Paul set the tone for the Demon Deacons early in the game, Gray gathered everyone during a Commodores timeout. "Listen up, guys, we need to step up our game too! Remember, our next opponent is Connecticut!" 

As the "Political Commissar" of the Demon Deacons, Gray knew better than anyone that Zack and Paul couldn't afford to expend too much energy in this game against the Commodores. Because throughout the entire NCAA, you wouldn't find another inside-out combination that could compare to Okafor and Gordon. In that upcoming clash between kings, the Demon Deacons would have to rely on their Twin Towers! 

Note ①: Chapter 26 mentioned Zack being selected as the ACC Rookie of the Year, but the book also made it clear that it was only Zack's individual title. In fact, the 2003-04 ACC Rookie of the Year award was shared by Paul and Zack. This note is also because of a previous error in Chapter 23 where Zack was written as the sole candidate; it has since been corrected to "hot candidate" after a reader pointed it out. 

Note ②: For some less well-known teams appearing in the NCAA, to avoid translation errors, their original English names will be provided. The same applies to some college players with English names. 

Note ③: In basketball novels, common units of measurement are generally feet and inches. Here, 6 feet 11 inches is approximately 211 centimeters.