Chapter 053: Second Seed!
As we all know, there are a total of 68 teams participating in the men's basketball national finals of the NCAA Championship, according to the rules, the 32 league division champions in the NCAA Division I will advance directly, while the remaining 36 spots will be selected by the judges based on a combination of factors such as each team's performance, potential and attention in the past season.
In the first round, eight weaker wildcard teams will face off in the play-offs, with four teams and the remaining 60 teams in the round of 64.
The top 64 will be divided into four regions according to the region: Southern, Midwest, West and East, and 16 teams in each region will fight each other according to the seed order given by the judges, and the final four teams from the four regions will be the final four of the NCAA.
On the afternoon of March 14, 2009, the NCAA Organizing Committee officially announced the list of 68 teams participating in the competition, as well as the seeding order and division of each team.
The Davidson Wildcats were assigned to the Southern Division, where their game will be played in Houston.
According to the judges' selection, the Southern Conference champions, the Davidson Wildcats, were seeded No. 2 in the Southern Division.
The judges gave Davidson Wildcats a very high evaluation, but also mentioned in the evaluation that the team's shortcomings are too big: how far this team that once created miracles last season can go depends entirely on the play of Stephen Curry and Lin Yi, their first-round opponent Morgan State University is by no means a weak team, and the Wildcats are likely to be the first team to be seeded in one round if they are not careful.
Oklahoma City's Speedy Ace, who received a wild card, were named the No. 4 seed, and the judges decided that would-be Blake Griffin would have no problem leading the team to the second round because their first-round opponents weren't very strong.
In the basketball arena of the Davidson Wildcats, the gray-haired McLop was looking at his disciples with a serious face.
"We're the second seed!"
The second seed is really good, and it proves that the Wildcats are one of the favored teams.
But if you know who the No. 1 seed is in the South Division, you probably won't be happy that you got the No. 2 seed.
According to the geographical division rules, it is also possible for the Wildcats to be assigned to other divisions, but unfortunately the judges did not let this happen.
The Southern Division is recognized as the Devil's Division among the four major regions this year.
Because the No. 1 seed in this division is North Carolina.
No one wants to meet North Carolina before the finals, including their old rival Duke.
There is no need to go into detail about how strong North Carolina was in 2009, at least after McLopp showed the schedule to his disciples, except for Stephen Curry and Lin Yi, other players had a feeling that they had cooled.
"Actually, it's okay, we have a good seed pick, at least we have to meet North Carolina and get to the quarterfinals." Lin Yi looked at the schedule and thought thoughtfully.
"Yes, and if we make it to the second and third rounds, we can avoid Gonzaga and Kentucky, but there's a good chance we'll have to beat Syracuse University in the Sweet Sixteen." Stephen Curry agreed.
"I think the opponents we are going to face in the round of 32 should be stronger, I didn't expect to meet James again so soon, Stephen, you see, if everything goes well with James Harden, we will meet them in the round of 32." Lin Yi and Curry discussed the top 32 and top 16 lightly, and it seems that in their eyes, what Syracuse and Arizona are big, and it seems that it is a sure thing to win them!
Not to mention the University of Arizona, people have won ours, hey!
But wait, why does Syracuse University seem like a fish belly to the two of you!
That's Syracuse University, hey!
You must know that the most famous star that Syracuse University has ever produced is now the core of the NBA Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, as a team that has won the NCAA championship, the overall strength of this year's Syracuse University is also very strong.
They have the highest ranking NCAA point guard in the ESPN Draft and Draft, Jonny Flynn.
The physical Flynn is seen as the next Westbrook, and he has made a number of spectacular dunks in the NCAA this year, especially the 180-degree turn to catch the windmill in homage to Carter.
Wildcats players such as Anthony Beasley and McMillan all felt that Lin Yi and Stephen Curry's hearts were too big!
Wait, wait, isn't it very likely that we won't be able to pass the first round?
Other teams are not like us, our opponent in the first round, Morgan State, also has three players on the team who are going to run for the NBA, but it is not comparable to our part-time basketball players who will enter Silicon Valley to work or move bricks to Wall Street after graduation!
McLop was still thinking about how to cheer up his disciples, but Lin Yi and Stephen Curry showed calmness and calmness beyond his imagination.
"Anyway, the strongest is North Carolina, no matter what, if we want to win the championship, we will definitely meet them." Lin Yi said sensibly.
"That's right, guys, this is my last year of college with Lin! Although I am very reluctant to say it, and I feel that this will offend everyone, I still want to say that if I miss this year, there will be no next year! At this moment, Stephen Curry does not have the hippie smiling face of the past, but only serious and serious.
After listening to Curry and Lin Yi's words, Anthony Beasley, McMillan and others did not have the overwhelm and panic they had just now.
Yes, this is our last year.
Without Lin Yi and Stephen Curry, we would never have been here.
They're going to the NBA, so there's no way we're going to have that opportunity like this year.
While what Curry said was really shocking, it was the truth.
The NCAA's format is brutal, but it's also because of the brutality that the NCAA can steal all the focus on basketball in March.
It doesn't matter if you're a Laker or a Celtic, in March American basketball is only NCAA.
On the day the Davidson Wildcats traveled to Houston, all the students from all over the school signed their names together on a giant Wildcats flag.
The students of the whole school, especially the cheerleaders who have been cheering for the Wildcats for a whole season, are watching the team with antiquity and hope.
In Davidson, a town of only a few thousand people, all the townspeople walked out of their homes, watching the departing bus of the Wildcats, their cheers not stopping for a moment......
"I don't know if you'll continue to work in the basketball-related industry in the future!"
"I don't know if you really like basketball from the bottom of your heart!"
"Davidson College has never been a big school in American basketball."
"Our best all-time result was the quarter-finals last season."
"But I know how much sweat you have put into this moment! You are the players I brought in, I know very well what you are trying to do, you are fighting against your limits every day. ”
"Now, we're about to leave for the best stage, and all eyes will be on you! I hope that many years from now you will remember this story so that you will be proud, and you will be able to tell this history to your children, your families. ”
"If North Carolina is the king of American basketball, then let's go now and pull that king off the fucking throne!" Before setting out for the expedition, McLop said this in front of his disciples.
All the Davidson Wildcats players have their eyes on their coach.
We've given everything we have to get here, and this won't be where we end.
On the bus, Lin Yi opened the window, and he suddenly patted Stephen Curry on the shoulder, "Look, Stephen, rainbow." ”
Stephen Curry and the rest of his teammates came over.
A rainbow appeared in the small town of Davidson.
If Davidson is a home away from home, then we're heading to the fabled land of dreams.
To get there, you'll need to cut through the clouds, cross the mountains, and walk through storms......
Although it is difficult, if you do your best and give it your all, it will definitely be unforgettable......
It was a face with a dream, and all the players of the Davidson Wildcats clenched their fists at this moment.