GRANDMAESTA_30
patreon
Chapter 71: Wildcats vs Tar Heels 2
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 15:40:42 +0000 UTCThe battle was on—Davidson Wildcats vs. North Carolina Tar Heels. Lucas Oil Stadium was shaking with noise.
The cheers were insane when Lin Yi stepped up for the jump. Sitting next to Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian was stunned.
“Bro… they’re goin’ nuts for him. Has this kid really gotten that popular in the U.S. already?” Yi muttered.
Yao just shrugged. “That's the thing about sports. It doesn't matter about race. If you are good, the fans love you.”
On the court, UNC’s starting center Deon Thompson was already sweating. Lin Yi was half a head taller than him when they jumped.
Seriously?
How’s he that quick off the floor?
And what the hell’s with that wingspan?
Davidson got the ball first. Curry brought it up with Ty Lawson right on him. Lawson might’ve been short, but that guy played like a pit bull—tight defense, full pressure.
Off the ball, the other three Wildcats were feeling it. Just moving through UNC’s defense felt like running through mud.
This was big-boy basketball. A whole different level.
But Curry? Ice cold. Calm. Confident. No mistakes. He dribbled up, called for the pick.
Lin Yi slipped out of the paint. Time for the Wildcats’ bread-and-butter—pick and roll.
Lawson and Thompson switched instantly.
“Yo, that easy?” Lin caught the pass, saw Lawson standing in front of him, nearly a full foot shorter.
Lawson lowered his stance, arms wide, and stuck to Lin like glue.
UNC’s plan was simple: switch early, stay physical, and don’t let Lin and Curry get open threes.
Lawson was a defensive demon—2.3 steals per game. He figured Lin looked smooth, yeah, but come on—he’s a big. He got Lin on lock.
He was about to find out.
Lin didn’t waste time. No flashy handles. Just one quick move—boom, he accelerated right off the catch.
Lawson tried to hold his ground, but c’mon. Lin Yi was 216 cm and nearly 116 kg.
He took three steps from beyond the arc—like it was nothing—and glided in for the layup.
Lawson’s brain: Σ(°△°|||)︴
Hansbrough and Thompson couldn’t even rotate in time.
First bucket? Wildcats.
Lin Yi.
Let’s go.
Kobe, watching from the sideline, grabbed LeBron and cracked up.
“Yo… that was smooth..”
“Didn’t even care if it went in,” LeBron said. “He just made it look good.”
Sun Yue and Yi Jianlian? Mouths open. They weren’t ready for this.
Yao? Just smiling and applauding.
“If only that kid showed up a couple of years earlier…”
UNC wasn’t rattled, though. They moved the ball around, textbook team play. Wayne Ellington pulled up—mid-range jumper, cash.
2-2.
Davidson came back again. Another pick-and-roll. This time, Lawson backed off, not wanting to get bodied again.
Lin? Didn’t care.
Lin rose up—perfect form.
Splash and three.
Nothing but net.
Lawson: ┭┮﹏┭┮
Dude couldn’t catch a break.
Lin’s confidence was off the charts. With his upgraded shot, even slight contests didn’t bother him.
5–2, Davidson leads.
UNC coach Roy Williams was already frowning. He thought Lawson could handle Lin on switches. So far? Not lookin’ great.
He signaled for Ed Davis to start warming up. Guy was more athletic, quicker feet. Maybe he could handle Lin.
Next possession, Thompson was out. Barely two minutes into the game, and he was already benched. Dude looked crushed.
This was his shot at impressing NBA scouts… and he got cooked.
UNC came back—Ellington again. Ran a smooth route, pulled Lin out of the paint, and finished with a layup.
Lin couldn’t get back in time. Smart move.
5–4.
Davidson wasn’t done. Their third trip down—Lin again.
But this time, UNC switched to a 2-3 zone.
Lin saw it, smiled.
“Zone? Okay.”
Curry saw it too—and knew what time it was.
Pick and pop.
Lin and Beasley screened hard, Curry slid to the corner, wide open.
He caught it, squared up—
Bang!
8–4.
“UNC’s in trouble if they keep leaving him open like that,” Barkley said on the broadcast.
Smith shook his head. “They’re at least contesting shots—”
“Nah, nah, nah,” Barkley cut him off. “You let Steph shoot three clean ones in five minutes, you’re asking for trouble.”
UNC kept the zone for three more plays. Curry missed one, hit two. The damage was real.
By 4:11 into the first half, Roy Williams had seen enough.
Timeout, UNC.
Score: 14–8, Wildcats.
The crimson wave in the stands was getting loud.
Davidson wasn’t just holding their own.
They were swinging first.
And Roy Williams? He wasn’t just worried about Xs and Os now.
He was staring across the court at two guys—Steph and Lin—and realizing.
These boys didn’t come to play.
They came to take over March.
