Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 42 The Final Two

"If we stick to outside shooting, their defense will be more targeted in the second half!" Knight said. "We have to attack Oden's defense and keep him on the run!"

The idea was good, but Knight overestimated the team's offensive power and underestimated Oden's defense.

All centers hailed as "the arrival of Bill Russell" may have their own flaws in offensive skills, but their defensive prowess is undeniable.

Xu Ling tore apart Ohio State's defense on his first offensive play of the second half: a series of crossovers to dribble past Lewis, followed by a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line that extended the lead to 8 points. The cheers from the Georgia Dome had not yet subsided.

Oden had already bared his fangs in the low post. He bulldozed into the paint like a bulldozer, forcing a jump over Daryl Dora's textbook defense. As the seven-foot giant's entire arm cleared the rim, Dora realized with despair: so-called perfect defense is meaningless in the face of absolute talent.

"boom!"

The backboard trembled violently during the slam dunk, sending the entire arena into a gasp. This Shaq-esque, brutal finish instantly ignited Ohio State's comeback.

In the blink of an eye, the tide turned.

Xu Ling suddenly attacked the basket, but Oden's long arms completely blocked the shooting angle, and the layup bounced off the rim the instant it went out.
"Counterattack!" Dan Shulman roared from the commentary booth, "Oden turned the tide with his defense!"

The nightmare continued. Martin Zeno attempted to use his speed to break through the defense, but Oden relentlessly pursued him to the basket.

An even more terrifying blow came two minutes later. Jarius Jackson had just jumped from a mid-range position at a 45-degree angle on his right side.

Oden, who was originally guarding the paint, pounced out like a ghost, his huge hand swatting away the shot in mid-air!

"Third block!" Shulman's voice trembled. "Greg Oden's defensive threat completely covers every corner inside the three-point line!"

"When we talk about the modern-day Bill Russell, what are we talking about?" Parker exclaimed. "Oden provided the answer! He even anticipated the passing lane before blocking the shot, that's the most terrifying defensive IQ! When OSU was suppressed by TTU's outside firepower, when Eli displayed Pete Maravich-esque magic, Oden taught us a lesson with the simplest truth on the basketball court: defense is king!"

Great defenders can boost the confidence of offensive players because they know that even if they miss a shot, they will have someone to back them up on the defensive end.

Ron Lewis, who was completely outplayed by Xu Ling on both ends of the court in the first half, fired the first shot of the night from beyond the three-point line.

"Shh!"

hit!

This goal was not only Lewis' first of eight shots tonight, but it also helped Ohio State complete the comeback.

55:54.

OSU has completed the comeback.

At that moment, Bob Knight knew his players were in a panic, so he stepped in and stopped the game.

For some reason, a scene from a game flashed into Knight's mind—Game 6 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals.

That was the darkest game in his memory. The referee single-handedly saved the Lakers dynasty from collapse. Of course, that's not the point. The point is why the Lakers were beaten so badly.
Because Mike Bibby carried out a horrific "execution" on O'Neal with his pick-and-roll offense.

But would this strategy work for Oden?

He's not Shaquille O'Neal; he can defend him. Besides, Xu Ling's attack on him just now failed.
However, without addressing Oden's fundamental problems, the current situation cannot be reversed.

Everything about OSU stems from Oden's defense.

Knight was staring intently at the tactics board, his marker unconsciously circling Oden's name.

"coach."

Xu Ling's voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. The Chinese kid was wiping sweat with his jersey, but his eyes were unusually clear, completely unaffected by Oden's defensive intimidation.

"Let me deal with Oden."

Knight countered, "Didn't he block your breakthrough just now?"

“Because Daryl Dorra doesn’t pose a shooting threat,” Xu Ling said bluntly, “Oden can safely protect the paint. We need to bring Jon in.”

Knight stroked his stubble: "What about our defense and rebounding?"

“Coach,” Xu Ling said with unwavering certainty, “we made it to the semifinals not because of defense or rebounding.”

These words struck Knight like a hammer blow. He recalled every moment of the season.

“Interesting.” Knight suddenly threw his tactical board onto his chair. “Jon! Get ready to go!”

Then, Knight leaned closer to Xu Ling and lowered his voice: "Kid, you better know what you're doing."

Xu Ling replied calmly, "I know how to win, Coach. I always have."

When the whistle blew to end the timeout, Jon Plevka walked toward the scorer's table, and the commentators immediately stirred: "This substitution is risky, wait, is TTU going to play a five-outside lineup?"

Oden frowned in the opposite half of the court, clearly not expecting this change. Xu Ling stood at the top of the arc, gently flexing his wrists, but his eyes were already locked on the seven-foot giant.

"ridiculous!"

OSU head coach Saad Mata was dismissive of the change, as Oden could easily tear Plevka apart.

TTU briefly used a five-outside lineup against North Carolina in the quarterfinals and achieved good results, but the situation is different now.

TTU has just been overtaken. Oden is dominant on the defensive end and has the speed and willingness to switch onto perimeter players.

No matter how you look at it, this move was extremely risky, because Texas Tech completely abandoned their interior defense and rebounding for it.

Then, they threw the ball in from the sideline.

As Xu Ling dribbled past half-court, Ron Lewis immediately closed in, arms outstretched like a wary hunting dog.

"Just stop his three-pointers," Lewis silently recited the defensive principle to himself.

But this time it's different.

Xu Ling raised his hand and gestured, and the newly entered Jon Plevka immediately set a screen. Oden had no choice but to follow—this seven-foot giant possessed agility disproportionate to his size; his lateral movement speed would put many guards to shame. In the 21st-century NCAA, perhaps only Anthony Davis has displayed a more terrifying defensive coverage.

"Here they come! Eli vs. Greg Oden!" Dan Shulman shouted.

Xu Ling felt a long-lost excitement. In his previous life, he had mediocre talent, but he had honed his skills in fighting larger opponents to an extremely high level. After transmigrating, he rarely used this skill because there were very few opponents worthy of his attention.

But standing before him now was Greg Oden—the most formidable defensive barrier in college basketball.

"Will it work?" The thought flashed through my mind.

The next second, Xu Ling suddenly accelerated! Oden reflexively retreated, only to see Xu Ling abruptly stop and pull back with a crossover dribble, the basketball slamming onto the floor with a crisp sound. The seven-foot giant was caught off guard, his center of gravity shifting in an instant.
Xu Ling had already risen from the ground.

Oden lunged forward desperately, but it was too late. The basketball arced perfectly through the air, watched by 70,000 eyes.

"Shh!"

The sound of the swirling net flowers was like heavenly music.

"The Red Raiders have taken the lead!" Shulman shouted. "Eli made a spectacular shot over Oden from beyond the arc!"

On the sidelines, Knight pumped his fist hard. This "basketball fundamentalist," known for his stubbornness, was now cheering for the success of an unorthodox tactic.

In Texas Tech, a team with the lowest talent among the top four, tradition and dogma had long been abandoned. When Xu Ling suggested bringing Oden out for one-on-one play, Knight's first reaction was absurdity—until he remembered the simplest basketball truth: against an offensive genius, even the most perfect defense will eventually crumble.

“See that? This is Bill Russell’s curse!” Knight whispered to the assistant coaches, his eyes fixed on the young Chinese man on the court. “In that era where defense reigned supreme, Russell could dominate the game with blocks. But in this era,” he pointed to the three-point line, “offense is king.”

About twenty seconds later, Ohio State missed a three-pointer.

Oden leaped like a beast, grabbing the offensive rebound amidst the crowd and tossing it to his teammate on the perimeter. After missing his shot again, the seven-foot giant soared once more, this time completing a powerful putback dunk over Jon Plevka's head.

Overflowing talent flows in the paint. A super genius who became the number one high school player in the United States as a sophomore since 2005, with the NBA number one draft pick waiting for him, he absolutely does not want to lose to Xu Ling here.

But Xu Ling's response came even faster. He called for Plevka to set a screen again, and Oden switched out to defend without hesitation. This time, he carefully left half a body length of space—to prevent both a drive and a sudden stop.

In Xu Ling's eyes, a single step of space is enough to consider taking a shot, but you're giving me half a body length of space? Whatever your reasons, talk to me about shooting!
Before Oden could even regain his footing, Xu Ling had already taken to the ground. His shot was lightning fast, the arc of the basketball breathtakingly perfect. Oden stretched out his long arm in vain, unable to even interfere.

"Shh!"

The sound of the basketball hitting the net was crisp and pleasant, and the swirling net seemed to be enchanted, tracing elegant trajectories in the air.

The match reached a fever pitch, with the two teams' rising stars dominating the field in their own ways.

Oden dominated the paint, his powerful arms like a crane repeatedly grabbing rebounds, his strong play in the paint rendering Texas Tech's defense ineffective.

"28th point! Greg Oden scores again with his signature hook shot!" Shulman shouted excitedly. "Greg's shooting percentage tonight is close to 70%!"

But whenever Ohio State tried to take the lead, Xu Ling would respond with his accurate outside shooting. Like an elegant sniper, he constantly used Plevka's pick-and-roll to find mismatches.

Although Oden was agile, he still seemed powerless against Xu Ling's ghostly changes of direction and lightning-fast attacks.

"Eli hit his sixth three-pointer of the night!"

"This amazing number 1 has already scored 35 points!"

With two minutes remaining, the score was 79-77, with Texas Tech leading by two points. Ohio State inbounded the ball from the baseline, and Conley steadily dribbled it across half-court. Everyone knew they would pass the ball to Oden this time.

"Defense! Don't let him receive the ball easily!"

Knight was shouting at the top of his lungs from the sidelines.

Plevka did his best to hold off Oden, but the monstrous center was like a moving wall when it came to posting up in the low post.

Conley's pass was perfectly delivered to Oden, who backed down the ball, made a beautiful spin move to create space, and just as he was about to shoot...

Xu Ling suddenly burst out from the weak side and smashed the ball away with a precise slice!

Texas Tech's fast break surged forward like a tidal wave. Xu Ling made a no-look pass to Jackson, who easily made a layup!
81 to 77! The difference is now 4 points!
"Jon!" Knight shouted, "If Oden gets the ball again, foul him immediately!" Plevka nodded without hesitation. He knew his mission was complete—to create space and wear down Oden, and now it was time to use his last bit of value to send the behemoth to the free-throw line.

Conley dribbled the ball up the court, time was running out. He faked a drive, then dribbled between his legs, but Texas Tech's defense was impenetrable. With 10 seconds left on the shot clock, he finally lobbed the ball to Oden in the low post.

As Oden received the ball, he alertly scanned his surroundings.

Xu Ling's help defense left him feeling uneasy. After confirming there were no ambushes, he suddenly unleashed a powerful backhand attack, his broad shoulder sending Plevka staggering backward. Just as Oden was about to launch a second powerful attack...

"Snapped!"

Plevka slammed his hands on Oden's arms, and the whistle blew.

"Five fouls!" The referee signaled for Plevka to leave the court. The key inside player, panting heavily, walked to the bench and high-fived Daryl Dora, who came on as his replacement. The arena erupted in applause, but quickly fell silent again.

Oden stepped up to the free-throw line.

At the beginning of the season, Oden missed seven games due to a right wrist injury. After returning, he played mostly with his left hand, even shooting free throws with his left hand. Even so, he maintained a 60% free throw percentage. Scouts saw this as proof of his terrifying ball-handling skills: "This guy is better than many centers even with his non-dominant hand."

However, when he finally regained his right hand, the stats didn't take a leap forward—his free throw percentage improved to 70%, but it wasn't a game-changer. At that moment, he stood at the free throw line, took a deep breath, and the entire arena held its breath.

First penalty.
The basketball bounced off the back of the rim, rose high, and finally fell into the net.

81:78.

Second penalty.
The force was a little too much, and the ball bounced off the back edge of the rim!

Dora fought hard to get into position and grabbed the crucial defensive rebound!
"Good job, DD!"

Dora nodded and passed the ball to Xu Ling.

Time flies by.

Jackson and Zeno spread out to the left and right, while Xu Ling steadily controlled the rhythm.

With one minute left in the game, Xu Ling raised his right hand—a tactical gesture that Ohio State University would hate the most—and the damn center pick-and-roll was back.

But that soft, white guy who could only shoot hoops is gone. What can you do?

Oden, panting heavily, followed to the three-point line, sweat dripping from his chin. The seven-foot giant gritted his teeth: "Just one more minute."

But Xu Ling's eyes said it all. At this moment, he would reveal the most fundamental difference between the two of them.

In 2007, the basketball world was still mired in the misconception of prioritizing defense. Nelson's run-and-gun offense nearly led to the Mavericks suffering a humiliating upset, while Nash's Suns were still on their championship run. Meanwhile, Duncan's Spurs and Ben Wallace's Pistons, both teams built on defense, continued to dominate the league.

People always say, "He who controls the inside controls the game."

But the seeds of change had already been sown. When the Warriors won the championship in 2015, the basketball rules were exactly the same as in 2007. What changed was not the rules, but the perception.

The underrated truth: In the face of overwhelming offense, even the most perfect defense is futile.

At this moment, Xu Ling holds the key to ushering in a new era.

Oden cautiously maintained a one-step distance, his arms outstretched like a moving wall. But Xu Ling suddenly sprang into action—not a drive, but a step back, retreating two steps to the three-point line!
"Has he gone mad?" a reporter exclaimed from the sidelines.

Oden's pupils contracted sharply, and he lunged forward desperately, but it was too late.

The moment the basketball left his hand, Xu Ling knew he had it. The arc was so perfect, it looked like it had been painted by an artist, under the watchful eyes of everyone.

"Shh!"

84 to 78! The difference is now 6 points!
"My God, Eli! How could he have done that to Oden at that moment?"

Xu Ling retreated to defend, extending his right index finger and gently blowing in Oden's direction.

With little time remaining, Ohio State University must act quickly.

Mike Conley dribbled rapidly on the perimeter, creating a shooting space after a series of crossovers. The point guard, who had spent the entire night feeding Oden, now had to shoulder the offensive burden. However...

"boom!"

The basketball slammed against the back of the rim. But Ohio State's hopes were not dashed, because their giant was still under the basket.

The overwhelming power of talent is ruthless. Even though Daryl Dora had a better position, Oden still unleashed terrifying strength under the opponent's pressure, forcefully jumping up and grabbing the offensive rebound from behind Dora's head.

Daryl Dorra had locked up his position, but Oden, with his brute force, snatched the rebound over his opponent's head.

Ohio State supporters were already screaming, knowing Oden would finish the attack with another devastating dunk. But...
When Oden landed, he still instinctively shielded the ball with his abdomen. This bad habit, formed since high school, became a fatal weakness at this moment. Although he had already been caught off guard twice by Xu Ling, in this life-or-death moment, muscle memory still triumphed over vigilance.

When Xu Ling's figure appeared like a ghost, Oden's heart sank.

"Snapped!"

“Eli!” Dan Shulman roared incredulously, “He’s stolen the ball from Greg Oden again!”

With 39 seconds left in the game, trailing by 6 points, and a crucial offensive play being stolen, what can be done?
Oden chased after him like a vengeful ghost.

His speed is terrifying!

Is this the speed a seven-foot giant should have?
In the blink of an eye, he had caught up with Xu Ling. The two entered the restricted area almost simultaneously and jumped at the same time.

But at the last moment, Xu Ling flicked his wrist and gently lifted the ball backward and upward.

Daryl Dora, who was following up, roared and leaped up like a wounded beast. The center, who had been ravaged by Oden all night, now had a burning desire for revenge in his eyes.

The difference in talent seemed so ironic at this moment: if Oden's talent was rated at 100 points, Dora's was at most 70. But now, Oden, who had already lost his place, could only become a background character, watching helplessly as this "weakling" was put to trial.

“BOOMMMMMMMMMM!”

Dora's thunderous dunk echoed throughout the arena. His knee slammed into Oden's unbalanced body, shattering Ohio State's championship dreams and ending Oden's reign of dominance all night.

With less than half a minute remaining, the two sides are separated by 8 points.

The outcome of the game was no longer in doubt, but Ohio State University still called a timeout.

Shortly after, the whistle blew sharply to end the timeout, and the Ohio State players returned to the court with solemn expressions. The air inside the Georgia Dome seemed to freeze. Texas Tech fans had already stood up, ready to celebrate their victory, while Ohio State supporters silently prayed for a miracle from their seats.

But miracles will not happen in Columbus tonight.

Mike Conley received the ball on the baseline and, without hesitation, sprinted forward with all his might. Time was their greatest enemy. He didn't even attempt to orchestrate a decent attack; just past half-court, facing Jackson's tight marking, he barely managed a shot with a near-desperate step-back.

All eyes were on the basketball struggling through the air.

"boom!"

The basketball hit the front edge of the rim and bounced weakly.

Under the basket, Daryl Dorra used his last bit of strength to hold onto the distraught Oden, leaping high to embrace the game-winning defensive rebound as if hugging a lover.

"Mine!" he roared, passing the ball to Xu Ling, who had come to receive it.

There are four seconds left.

The Ohio State players had given up on fouling. Conley stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavily, while Oden slowly straightened up, his gaze blankly fixed on the number 1 player who controlled the basketball and his own destiny.

Xu Ling did not attack again. He simply stood on the outside, holding the ball with one hand, letting the last bit of time slip away.

"Beep!"

The referee's final whistle blew throughout the stadium!

Georgia Dome was instantly engulfed by a sea of ​​red!

The Texas Tech substitutes rushed onto the court like madmen, surrounding Xu Ling and Dora. Coach Knight also unusually threw away his tactical board, raised his arms and shouted, and hugged his assistant coaches tightly.

"Yes, you read that right. The Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the Southern champions, Ohio State, 86-78 to advance to the National Championship Game and become one of the final two teams in the 2006-07 NCAA season!"

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

News report
ESPN: "Kats Observation - Eli Xu's March Madness: Ending the Oden Era with Three-Pointers and Courage"

Author: Andy Katz
Published: April 1, 2007

Atlanta, Georgia Dome—the moment the final buzzer sounded, I bet an unbelievable sense of bewilderment filled the entire Ohio State bench. They had been defeated, in a way they never imagined. Texas Tech, considered the weakest team in the Final Four, had sent Ohio State, home with "generational genius" Greg Oden, by a score of 86-78. And all of this was thanks to that freshman from China—Eli Xu.

Associated Press: "Xu Ling dominates the game with accurate shooting and key steals, Texas Tech defeats Oden to advance to the finals."

Author: Shore Thorne
Published: April 1, 2007

In a direct confrontation between rising stars, Xu Ling dominated the game with accurate outside shooting and key steals, leading Texas Tech University to an 86-78 victory over Greg Oden and securing a ticket to the national championship.

Old Sina Sports headline: "Chinese youngster Xu Ling scores 38 points to defeat Oden! Texas Tech upsets Ohio State, advancing to the NCAA Finals for the first time in history."

Author: Zhang Bo
Published: April 1, 2007

When the final score was 86-78, 70,000 spectators at the Georgia Dome witnessed the most spectacular "David defeats Goliath" in NCAA history—Xu Ling, a freshman from China, shattered the championship dream of Greg Oden, the nation's top center, with 6 three-pointers and 4 key steals, leading Texas Tech University to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in its history!
Popular comments from netizens
@King of Intelligence in China:
Xu Ling is this year's number one draft pick! Oden is nothing! Xu Ling can easily shred him with a three-pointer! See? That's pure intellectual dominance! What kind of talent is that? It's all paper tigers in front of Xu Ling! Next game against Florida? Xu Ling will score 50 points and blow up Noah and Horford! Next year, Xu Ling will go to the Lakers and replace Kobe as their leader! Yao Ming can go home and sell insurance with peace of mind! With Xu Ling on the Chinese men's basketball team, a silver medal at the Olympics is guaranteed! Tremble, USA Dream Team!
@LuoyangFlowersBloom:

Xu Ling's playing style is the answer to modern basketball! Speed, shooting, clutch performance—100 times better than that other guy! Please, Xu Ling, don't make the national team! That kind of slow, drawn-out half-court offense will only turn you into the next Liu Wei—learn from that mistake! You want to team up with that other guy? Just wait to be criticized by his fans for "not passing the ball"! For your future, stay away from Yao Ming's core!
@RationalFootballViewing886:

Xu Ling was indeed impressive in this game, but don't overhype him! Oden's 28+22 performance was truly monster. TTU won because of their unconventional tactics, Oden's free throws, and the fact that his teammates were simply too weak. Xu Ling needs to build muscle first after entering the NBA! Right now, his physical strength is probably even worse than Chen Jianghua's; his best role model is Ginobili. As for the national team, Yao Ming and Xu Ling could theoretically complement each other, but Coach You's tactics are all inside-out, leaving him no room to perform.

@Wangzai Cowboy, my favorite drink:

Xu Ling is the pride of the Chinese people! What are the intentions of those who are badmouthing Xu Ling? Have they been groveling to foreigners for too long?! What is Oden? A dud hyped up by the Americans! Xu Ling's crushing victory is a glory for China! Do Liu Wei and Chen Jianghua even deserve to be compared to King Xu? Can't stand seeing good Chinese guards? I think you're all foreign lackeys! Anyone who dares to say another bad word about Xu Ling is a rare exception! Just wait and see, Xu Ling will enter the NBA next year, win MVP, and bring glory to our nation!
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