[Note: If the host can win the NCAA championship he will gain a mysterious gift package ]
"A mysterious gift bag? How mysterious is it? Is there anything good? If winning the championship gets me a gift bag, count me in!"
[Rest assured, the host, the mysterious gift package is of purple quality. That means there's at least one item inside that's of purple level]
"Oh!"
Upon hearing this, Lian Dao's interest was instantly piqued.
He had seen the purple-tier prizes on the system's grand lottery wheel before, and Lian Dao couldn't help but salivate at their rarity.
To put it in perspective, Jordan's mid-range fadeaway jumper is classified as a purple-tier skill.
"Sickle, DeMar, Gibson, you three go to the press conference!"
Tim's voice interrupted Lian Dao's reverie.
The three of them had participated in press conferences before, but with the tournament underway, there was one after every game. NCAA needed the exposure, especially for players eyeing the NBA after college.
Unlike the NBA's commercialized press events, NCAA conferences were less extravagant, though still significant, especially for a second-seeded team like USC.
Robert Morris Colonials were already seated when USC arrived. The hall buzzed with reporters, many standing to capture photos.
As Lian Dao, Demar, and Gibson settled onto their stools, camera flashes threatened to blind them.
Seeing Gibson in sunglasses, Lian Dao understood why. He'd thought Gibson flaunting his looks, but it was defense against the media glare.
"Seriously?" Lian Dao shot Gibson a look of disbelief.
Gibson, catching Lian Dao's expression, smirked.
"How do you evaluate your opponents tonight?" a reporter queried.
Lian Dao hesitated, but Coach Tim jumped in, "There are no underdogs in March Madness. Robert Morris is strong."
"Do you consider yourself the key to tonight's win?" another reporter asked Lian Dao.
"I think everyone on our team plays a crucial role," Lian Dao answered smoothly, recalling similar questions from past conferences.
"Are you entering the NBA draft this year?" came the next query.
"I'm focused on winning games right now," Lian Dao replied, sticking to the script.
The spotlight shifted to DeMar and Gibson.
"Next up, Siena Saints, who just upset West Virginia. DeMar, thoughts on Kenny Hasbrook, their shooting guard?" the reporter inquired.
DeMar looked puzzled. He hadn't studied Siena yet.
"Who's Kenny Hasbrook? I'm not familiar," DeMar admitted, his confusion evident.
The reporter quickly noted DeMar's response, hoping for more insight.
It wasn't a misstep; DeMar simply didn't know who Hasbrook was.
Coach Tim intervened, sensing the unease among the media, and steered the conversation back on track.
After leaving the press conference, both DeMar and Lian Dao let out sighs of relief.
"For players like us, dealing with those reporters is more exhausting than playing a game," DeMar remarked.
Lian Dao nodded in agreement. "Every question feels like walking through a minefield. One wrong step and you're blasted."
"They love to twist words," DeMar added. "One slip-up and they'll skew your words to fit their narrative."
They shared a love-hate relationship with the media. On one hand, exposure meant endorsements and financial opportunities. On the other hand, reporters' tendency to misinterpret or sensationalize stories could be frustrating.
"They even drove Jordan to retire early with their antics," Lian Dao joked, referencing a past player known for his short temper with the media.
DeMar chuckled. "If they can rile up someone like him, imagine what they could do to us."
As they walked back to their rooms, they both hoped their responses hadn't sparked any unnecessary controversies.
After the game, the team took the bus back to the hotel. Since the next game was also scheduled to be played in the same arena, there was no need to change venues until the 16-to-8 game.
The next day, everyone gathered in the screening room of their rented training hall. Today's agenda included analyzing the upcoming game against the Siena Saints and engaging in some basic training.
Although USC did not believe that this dark horse could continue its surprising run indefinitely, they knew the importance of taking their opponent seriously. This caution was deeply ingrained in all USC players. After all, this season, USC itself had been a dark horse—starting from a position of skepticism in the preseason to achieving a dazzling record in the regular season playoffs and climbing steadily in the rankings.
Lian Dao paid special attention to Siena Saints' small forward, Alex Franklin. It wasn't Franklin's skill that stood out to Lian Dao, but his sneaky tactics. Every time Franklin defended an opponent, he concealed his elbow jabs to the waist and even twisted it subtly, all unnoticed by the referees. These hidden moves made life difficult for his opponents and nearly sparked conflicts on the court.
"Watch out for their sneaky moves," Tim emphasized during the analysis session.
All the USC players watched the video footage of Franklin's tactics, their expressions growing increasingly serious. They knew how frustrating and potentially dangerous such tactics could be.
"What do athletes hate the most?" Tim asked rhetorically, breaking the silence. "Injuries. And most injuries stem from these kinds of small actions on the court."
Understanding the importance of staying alert and avoiding unnecessary confrontations, the USC players made a mental note to be cautious. They knew that maintaining their health and focus was crucial for advancing further in the tournament.