The Stanford Crimson’s next opponent was the Oregon Ducks.
The University of Oregon is a renowned powerhouse in American college basketball, even if its fame is slightly less than that of schools like North Carolina, Duke, and UCLA.
But in reality…
they were a formidable team.
They had reached the tournament 14 times and won the Pacific Division title six times.
In 2003, they even made it to the tournament’s Elite Eight.
However, over the past two years under coach Dana Oldman, they had undergone a long rebuilding phase.
Early this season, they finally developed great chemistry, stringing together 10 consecutive wins and taking the top spot in the Pacific Division.
But injuries to starting point guard Aaron Brooks and key small forward Malik Hairston caused their record to slump.
Yet, a resurgence in their last five games saw their record improve immediately.
They were even rallying with the goal of qualifying for the tournament.
Following Stanford’s victory in their last game, the two teams were now tied for fourth place in the division.
For the Oregon Ducks, this was a must-win game; a victory would secure their spot in the tournament as the fourth seed in the Pacific Division.
And Stanford…
didn’t seem like a difficult opponent.
So, they were full of confidence.
“Hey, Aaron.
Did you watch the last game?
Stanford’s number 10 is almost as fast as you.
I think you two are going to have a fierce showdown.” The team’s center, Mattilenin, teased his senior teammate.
Oregon is known for its “small-ball” style of play, and their key trio consists of Marty Leunen (sophomore), Marco Hairston (sophomore), and Aaron Brooks (junior).
Brooks, standing 180 cm tall and weighing 73 kg, is an incredibly fast guard with exceptional offensive skills; in the NCAA, some even likened him to Allen Iverson.
Hairston stands 198 cm tall and weighs 100 kg.
A McDonald’s All-American in high school, he lagged slightly behind his peers in college.
He plays as a swingman, possesses a strong physique, and excels in fast-break situations.
(Note: He was selected 18th in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, then traded to the San Antonio Spurs, where he played for two seasons.) Marty Leunen stands 206 cm tall and weighs 98 kg.
He is the Oregon Ducks’ leading scorer.
At the collegiate level, at least, he demonstrated elite versatility, capable of scoring both inside and out, posting up, and hitting three-pointers.
Defensively, he is incredibly tough and often criticized for using dirty tactics.
However, he is undeniably the defensive anchor of the Ducks’ small-ball system.
(Leunen was the 53rd pick in the 2008 draft and played for the Rockets in the Summer League; while a dominant force in the NCAA, he struggled to adapt to the NBA.) “I didn’t watch that much-talked-about game.
But in the Pacific Division, no one is faster than me.
If we face each other, I’ll leave him eating my exhaust fumes.” Aaron Brooks was very thin, yet his tone was incredibly arrogant.
On the bus to Stanford, no one questioned his confidence.
Because he was truly that good.
…
Meanwhile, on the bus back to Stanford, Coach Jamie Lin was also suppressing his excitement over the hard-won victory.
He began explaining the technical characteristics of each Oregon player to his own squad; he even identified their specific matchups and highlighted details they needed to watch out for—such as a particular player’s tendency to dribble with his left hand but finish with his right.
It must be said that Jim was incredibly serious and meticulous in his work; this extensive research often took up his entire night.
Without any assistants, he had to handle everything himself.
Although the whole world knew he was merely a temporary placeholder in the head coach’s seat, he seized the opportunity, remaining steadfast despite the slim odds.
“You can think of Brooks as an offensive version of yourself; he’s a bit shorter and similar in size, but heavily offense-oriented.
You have to be 100% focused on the court, or else he’ll launch a lightning-fast attack.” Jamie Lin approached Bruce Li and began briefing him on Brooks.
He even pulled out a thick notebook and showed Bruce some edited video clips.
Brooks did indeed have a playing style reminiscent of Allen Iverson—albeit…
a much weaker version.
“Oregon also plays a ‘small-ball’ lineup, and their offense is potent.
Their three key players are each executing their roles effectively and performing at a high level…” As Jamie Lin spoke, Bruce added, “I think we need to disrupt the connection between those three players.
If Brooks is forced into one-on-one situations, our chances of winning will increase significantly.” “My strength lies in facilitating for my teammates, while his strength is scoring.
If we both play to our respective strengths, our odds of winning will be even higher,” Bruce Li said confidently.
His words surprised Jamie Lin but also filled him with anticipation: If they could actually beat the University of Oregon, they would have a real shot at making the tournament!
That meant March Madness—the most intense basketball stage in the United States.
Everyone wants to make it to March Madness; countless players and coaches have made a name for themselves in that single-elimination tournament.
Jamie Lin clenched his fists tightly; his dream was to become a top-tier coach.
However, he quickly relaxed and said to Bruce Li, “Don’t feel pressured about the outcome.
Just play to the best of your ability.
Winning or losing doesn’t matter; the most important thing is staying injury-free.” He cared deeply about Bruce’s health.
He knew Bruce Li was fiercely competitive and feared he might take unnecessary risks to secure a win.
Even though they had won their last game, Bruce’s heart had nearly stopped during the repeated collisions with Pruitt.
The team bus arrived at the school at 8 PM.
After enjoying the victory celebration the school had prepared in the cafeteria, the players returned to their dorms with happy smiles.
Bruce, however, headed straight to the gymnasium.
After a brief warm-up, he began to train intensely.
On one hand, he wanted to elevate his game; on the other, he wanted to work up a good sweat.
He wanted to draw out the talents stored in his mind—and ideally, unleash them with even greater power.
After all…
taking someone else’s talent wouldn’t truly destroy them; if they trained diligently, they could still win it back.
Moreover, it served as a wake-up call for players who had grown complacent: if they didn’t maintain their discipline, their innate talent wouldn’t last.
With this thought in mind, the mental burden Bruce had been carrying quickly lifted.
He practiced shooting on the court for two hours, then moved to the weight room for nearly an hour and a half.
His workout gear was soaked with sweat, dried, and soaked again; he was clearly sweating more than during his previous sessions.
Yet, his mind remained a blank slate.
It seemed…
the difficulty increased every time.
But instead of feeling discouraged, he became even more determined.
As long as there was hope of becoming stronger, wasn’t it all about training relentlessly?
If perseverance could change his destiny, Bruce was ready to dedicate his life to it!