A week later, Arizona State University ended its journey to Denver. They defeated Roberts University and the University of Michigan and successfully reached the Sweet 16.
The ending was great, but the process was not easy, especially against the University of Michigan.
Michigan is the school where the "Michigan Five" were once famous in the United States. Although there are no NBA talented players in this year's team, the average player strength is very strong.
This is the type that looks easy to fight, but is very difficult to fight.
In fact, the Devils trailed at the end of the first half.
But you have to admit that the current Devils team is very tough on the court. Under the leadership of Harden and Xu Yong, they successfully completed the reversal in the second half, and finally defeated their opponents and successfully got a ticket to Houston.
The next stage of the South Division competition will be played at the Rylant Stadium in Houston.
The Devils' opponent in the next round is the University of Memphis.
Although they reached the Sweet 16, the draft picks of Xu Yong and Harden did not change much.
After all, as the fourth seed in the Southern Region, this is a game they should win smoothly, not to mention that they actually played very anxiously with Michigan.
If you want to move up the draft, you have to perform well against Memphis.
There is an off-season in between.
Sandek knew that the players were under a lot of pressure in this game, so he only arranged a training session in the morning. After watching some videos of the University of Memphis in the afternoon, he let the players rest.
When the video came out, someone was already waiting for Xu Yong in a car downstairs.
"Brother Zhang." After getting in the car, Xu Yong greeted him cordially.
The man who came to pick him up was Zhang Minji, Yao Ming's Chinese agent and a member of "Yao's Team".
Before his rebirth, because he was playing in the CBA and with the Shanghai team, Xu Yong naturally signed with Yao's team.
And there was no choice at that time, because the only team in China with NBA experience was Yao's team, and the "Yi team" who drafted Yi Jianlian was also separated from it.
However, after his rebirth, because he played in the NCAA, he did not need to hire a Chinese agent, so this step was omitted.
But as they are both from Shanghai and played together in the United States, how could there be no connection between him and Yao Ming.
Yao Ming has been helping him adapt to life in the United States and providing some advice. Sometimes when he is busy, Zhang Minji is the one communicating with him.
"Dayao is already waiting for you at home. Today, Aunt Fang, the chef, said that you must miss your hometown food after being in the United States for so long." Zhang Minji said with a smile.
Hearing this, Xu Yong's mouth secreted saliva unconsciously.
It's true that he hasn't eaten Shanghainese food for a long time. In order to live up to this opportunity, he has returned to China once a year since his rebirth.
He once wanted to find Chinese food in Phoenix, but the so-called Chinese food had long ago changed its taste for the market. It was like a foreign girl wearing a cheongsam. It looked good but tasted wrong.
As for cooking by himself, he would like to, but the student dormitory doesn't have the conditions.
In addition, the training time is tight, so it is better to have a hamburger.
So it’s okay if you don’t say it, but if you say it, the glutton in your stomach will really dig, dig, and dig for you.
"Brother Yao, how is his injury?" Xu Yong pressed Greedy Chong down and asked.
After coming to the United States for three years, he must have met Yao Ming. When the Rockets went to Phoenix to play, he even invited Yao Ming to dinner, but the two of them mostly communicated through text messages and phone calls.
The Rockets are still experiencing the sweetest 22-game winning streak, but Yao Ming suffered a fracture at the end of February, and the two were still on the phone at that time.
"The recovery is going very smoothly. As you know, in order to catch up with the Olympics, Dayao..." Zhang Minji said and stopped talking.
Xu Yong was filled with emotion after hearing this.
He admires Yao Ming very much, not only because Yao Ming is from Shanghai, but more importantly because of Yao Ming's character.
When he was asked during the Sydney Olympics interview if he could play in the NBA, his firm "yes" made the young man's blood boil. Then what Zhang Minji said was happening. It was originally expected to take 8 to 12 months to recover. I just relied on the swimming pool to recover in time to participate in the Olympics.
How could you not admire such a man?
About half an hour later, they arrived at Yao Ming's villa.
When he entered the living room, his expression was stunned for a moment because he saw not only Yao Ming but also Tracy McGrady sitting on the sofa in the living room!
Yao Ming didn't tell him in text messages that Tracy McGrady would be coming too.
He was a little excited because besides Jordan, his favorite star was Tracy McGrady.
Because he won the slam dunk contest with a 360 windmill that imitated Carter, many people thought his idol was Carter, but that was not the case. He liked Tracy McGrady.
It's hard not to like him with his elegant style of play, his unstoppable pull-up, his quick first step, and his similar height.
"T-mac, this is the Xu I just told you." Yao Ming couldn't get up because his leg was in a cast, so he could only wave to Xu Yong while introducing McGrady beside him.
McGrady stood up, smiled and extended his hand to Xu Yong: "Yao told me that you are the best dunk player in China. I am very curious."
Xu Yong smiled and shook hands with McGrady, then said, "Yes, it's me."
Maddie was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
Yao Ming on the sofa also laughed like the word "囧".
"Special, you are so special, I have to take a photo with you." McGrady said and asked Zhang Minji for help.
"I have a camera on that shelf." Yao Ming stretched out his hand and said to Zhang Minji.
Zhang Minji nodded and took the camera, and there was a photo of Xu Yong and Maddie.
After taking the photo, the three of them sat down and chatted for a while, and Maddie left first.
"Yao, remember to send me a photo." McGrady reminded Yao Ming before leaving, and then glanced at Xu Yong.
It can be seen that he has completely remembered Xu Yong.
"How are you, how sure are you for tomorrow's game? Don't tell me it's 10 points." After McGrady left, Yao Ming and Xu Yong chatted about the game.
"About four or five points. I was watching their game videos before coming here. Rose is very strong and none of us can guard him." Xu Yong said truthfully.
They are going to play the team with the highest ranking in NCAAD1. If you are absolutely certain about this, you are simply deceiving yourself.
"Well, you don't have to worry too much about winning or losing in the moment, and you don't have to be so anxious about many things. A good start is more important. You see, I entered the NBA when I was 22 years old, and I am doing just as well now." Yao Ming said with a smile.
Xu Yong nodded. He knew what Yao Ming meant, but he didn't say anything.
"It's time to eat." At this moment, Ye Li shouted to the living room.
After hearing this, Xu Yong stood up and helped Yao Ming to the wheelchair.
"I won't be able to go to the scene to cheer you up tomorrow, but my mom is the chef today, so I asked her to add more oil, so you can eat more." Yao Ming said. 【Note 6】
"Definitely." Xu Yong smiled and nodded.
