A week later, Arizona State ended their Denver journey with a win over Roberts University and the University of Michigan to reach the Sweet 16.

The ending was good, but it wasn't easy, especially against the University of Michigan.

Michigan, the school where the famous "Michigan Five" was once located in the United States, although there are no NBA talented players in the team this year, the average strength of the players is very strong.

This is the type that looks easy to fight, but is very difficult to fight.

In fact, the Devils were still trailing at the end of the first half.

However, you have to admit that the Devils team is very resilient on the court now, and under the leadership of Harden and Xu Yong, they successfully completed the comeback in the second half, and finally beat the opponent to get a ticket to Houston.

The next stage of the Southern Division will be played at Reland Stadium in Houston.

And the opponent of the Devils in the next round is the University of Memphis.

Although they reached the Sweet 16, Xu Yong and Harden's draft picks have not changed much.

After all, as the No. 4 seed in the South Division, this is a match they should win smoothly, not to mention that they are actually playing with Michigan very closely.

If you want to improve the ranks, you have to play Memphis and have a good performance.

There was an off-season in between.

Sandek knew that the team was under a lot of pressure, so he only scheduled a training session in the morning, and after watching some videos from the University of Memphis in the afternoon, he let the players rest.

After watching the video, there were already people waiting for Xu Yong in a car downstairs.

"Brother Zhang." After getting into the car, Xu Yong greeted each other cordially.

The person who came to pick him up was called Zhang Minji, Yao Ming's Chinese agent, and also a member of the "Yao team".

Before being reborn, because he was playing in the CBA and was in the Shanghai team, Xu Yong naturally signed with the Yao team.

And at that time, there was no choice, because only the Yao team had NBA experience in China, and the "Yi team" drafted for Yi Jianlian was also divided from it.

However, after being reborn, because he played in the NCAA, he did not have to hire a Chinese agent, so this step was omitted.

But both Shanghainese and playing in the United States together, how could there be no contact between him and Yao Ming.

Yao Ming has been helping him adapt to life in the United States, providing some advice, and sometimes he is busy, but Zhang Minji is communicating with him.

"Da Yao is already waiting for you at home, today Aunt Fang is the chef, he said that you must miss your hometown cuisine for so long when you come to the United States." Zhang Minji said with a smile.

When Xu Yong heard this, the corners of his mouth unconsciously secreted saliva.

It was true that he hadn't eaten Shanghainese food for a long time, and in order to live up to the opportunity to come back, he had returned to China once a year since he was reborn.

He also used to want to find Chinese food to eat in Phoenix, but those so-called Chinese foods have long changed their tastes for the market, just like a foreign girl in a cheongsam, which looks good but tastes wrong.

As for cooking by himself, he would like to, but the student dormitory doesn't have that kind of conditions.

Coupled with the tight training schedule, it is not as convenient as a burger.

So it's okay not to say it, this one, the gluttonous worms in your stomach are really digging and digging for you.

"Brother Yao, how is his injury?" Pressing down the gluttonous worm, Xu Yong then asked.

After coming to the United States for three years, he must have met Yao Ming, and when the Rockets went to Phoenix to play, he also invited Yao Ming to dinner, but the two were more in contact with text messages and phone calls.

The Rockets are still on their sweetest 22-game winning streak, but Yao Ming broke a bone at the end of February, when the two were still on the phone.

"The recovery is going very well, that is, you know, Da Yao is a person who is ...... in order to catch up with the Olympics," Zhang Minji said and did not continue.

Xu Yong sighed 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 whether he could play in the NBA during the interview of the Sydney Olympics, the firm "yes" made the young man look enthusiastic, and then what Zhang Minji said was happening, which was originally expected to take 8~12 months of recovery, and he was stunned to rely on the pool to recover and participate before the Olympics.

Such a man, how can you not admire him?

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 that there was not only Yao Ming sitting on the sofa in the living room, but also Maddie!

Yao Ming didn't text him to tell him that Maddie would come too.

He was a little excited, because besides Jordan, his favorite star was Maddie.

When he won the championship because of the 360 windmill that imitated Carter in the slam dunk contest, many people thought that his idol was Carter, but in fact, he liked Maddie.

The flowing style of the ball, the unsolvable dry pull, the super fast first step, and the similar height, it is difficult for him not to like it.

"T-mac, that's what I just told you about Xu." Yao Ming couldn't get up with a plaster cast on his legs, so he could only wave to Xu Yong while introducing Maddie beside him.

Maddie got up and stretched out her hand to Xu Yong with a smile: "Yao told me that you are the best player in China to dunk, I am curious." ”

Xu Yong shook hands with Maddie with a smile, then took over and said, "Yes, it's me." ”

Maddie froze for a moment, then laughed.

Yao Ming on the sofa also laughed into embarrassment.

"Special, you're so special, I have to take a picture with you." Maddie said and beckoned 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 a group photo belonging to Xu Yong and Maddie was available.

After the photo was taken, the three of them sat down and chatted for a while, and Maddie left first.

"Yao, remember to send me a photo." Before leaving, Maddie didn't forget to remind Yao Ming, and then glanced at Xu Yong by the way.

It can be seen that he remembers Xu Yong thoroughly.

"How's it going, how sure are you for tomorrow's game? Don't tell me it's ten. After Maddie left, Yao Ming and Xu Yong chatted about the game.

"Four or five points, I was watching their game footage before I came, Rose is very strong, we don't have anyone to guard against him." Xu Yong said honestly.

They're going to play the highest ranked team in the NCAAD1, and if that's pretty sure, they're making a fool of themselves.

"Well, don't worry too much about winning or losing for a while, and don't worry about many things, a good start is more important, you see I only entered the NBA at the age of 22, and it's just as good 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 in the living room.

When Xu Yong heard this, he got up and helped Yao Ming to the wheelchair.

"I won't be able to go to the scene tomorrow to cheer you on, but my mom is the chef today, and I asked her to add more gas, so you can eat more." Yao Ming said. [Note 6]

"Definitely." Xu Yong smiled and nodded.