Chapter 48: The Barrel Effect of Kentucky—The King of New York, Ewing Is Here!
"Director Zhang, do you think it's possible for Alex Mo to touch the top of the backboard?"
Su Qun's voice was filled with excitement as he replayed the footage of Mo kissing the rim during their exclusive interview.
Zhang Lili chuckled. "If anyone can do it, it's him. His vertical leap, those long arms... touching the top of the backboard? It's definitely within his reach!"
The Chinese media duo exchanged enthusiastic glances. They knew that Alex Mo wasn't just an exceptional athlete; he was redefining what was physically possible on the basketball court. The baskets were kissed—how far could the top of the backboard be?
Meanwhile, in Kentucky...
Antoine Walker sat in front of the cameras, flashing his trademark confident grin as he fielded questions from ESPN.
"We know Georgetown is the favorite," Walker admitted, "but hey, every tournament has an upset. Who's to say we can't be that Cinderella story?"
The Kentucky Wildcats had been overshadowed by Georgetown's Mo and Iverson hype train, but Walker and his teammates were not ones to back down. With their sights set on victory, they embraced the "underdog" narrative—even if they were anything but.
Coach Rick Pitino, however, took a different approach.
"People are missing the essence of college basketball," Pitino stated firmly. "This isn't the NBA. In the NCAA, it's not about individual stars—it's about the team."
He elaborated on what soon became known as the NCAA Barrel Model Theory, which proposed that a team's success isn't determined by its best player, but by the overall quality of its weakest link.
"A barrel is only as good as its shortest plank," Pitino explained, "and our Kentucky team has no weak links."
Pitino's comments quickly sparked heated debates across sports talk shows and fan forums. Many experts found merit in his argument—Kentucky's lineup was deep, with every starter projected to be an NBA-level player. By contrast, Georgetown heavily relied on Mo and Iverson to carry them to victory.
Alex Mo Responds: "Strength Speaks Louder Than Words"
Back at Georgetown's hotel, Mo sat down with ESPN reporters, calm and composed. When asked about Pitino's theory, he grinned.
"I heard about it," Mo replied casually. "Coach Pitino is a smart guy. But basketball isn't about barrels—it's about buckets."
The room erupted in laughter, but Mo wasn't done. "If their team's built like a barrel, well... we're bringing a sledgehammer."
The Madison Square Garden Showdown Begins
April 7th. New York. Madison Square Garden.
The NCAA finals had arrived, and the excitement in the air was electric.
"CCTV No. 5, CCTV No. 5! Hello everyone, I'm Zhang Lili, bringing you live coverage of the 1996 NCAA Finals at Madison Square Garden!"
Sitting beside him, Su Qun scanned the packed stands, pointing out NBA stars in attendance.
"Director Zhang, I see a lot of familiar faces! Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar... even Shaq is here!"
NBA legends packed the arena to witness the historic showdown, and none were more invested than New York Knicks' Patrick Ewing, who would be serving as a guest commentator.
"This is Georgetown's time," Ewing declared confidently. "Mo and Allen are bringing another championship home!"
The stakes couldn't be higher.
Chapter 49: The Last Battle of the Moai Combination
The starting lineups took the floor.
Georgetown: Iverson, Williams, Harrington, Alex Mo, and a role player.
Kentucky: Delk, Anderson, Walker, Moser, and Pope.
The referee tossed the ball, and with a graceful leap, Mo swatted it into Iverson's waiting hands. The crowd roared.
And just like that, Moai was in motion.
"Whoosh!" Iverson's signature quarterback pass cut through the air, finding Mo sprinting down the court like a freight train. Kentucky's defenders scrambled, but it was too late.
BAM!
A thunderous windmill dunk rattled the rim, sending shockwaves through Madison Square Garden.
"This connection is pure magic," Zhang Lili marveled. "Even in the NBA, this would be unstoppable!"
But Kentucky wasn't rattled. On the other end, Antoine Walker called for an isolation play.
"Bang!"
Walker pulled up for a quick jumper, only to be met by Mo's monstrous reach.
"Blocked! Mo Ran sends it into the third row!" shouted the ESPN announcer.
Chapter 50: Blocking the Entire Kentucky Team—Mo's Hot Pot Restaurant Is Booming!
Possession after possession, Kentucky tried different strategies to attack Georgetown's defense. It didn't matter. Mo was everywhere.
Ron Moser tried a floater—swatted.
Tony Delk attempted a crafty scoop layup—rejected.
Even Mark Pope, Kentucky's center, got in on the action, only to have his shot smothered by Mo's second-jump ability.
The crowd roared with every block, and the energy reached a fever pitch when Mo sent a shot straight into Magic Johnson's lap.
"Whoa!" Magic laughed, holding the ball up. "This kid is something else!"
Mo wasn't done.
Seizing the loose ball, he charged down the court, igniting another fast break. Kentucky defenders hesitated, unsure of how to stop him. Mo's eyes locked on the rim, and in a split second, he launched himself for another windmill dunk—this time over two defenders.
"OH MY GOD!" ESPN's announcer bellowed. "Alex Mo just baptized them both!"
The Knicks' owner, James Dolan, watched wide-eyed from his courtside seat.
"Earl," Dolan turned to his GM, "I don't care what it takes. Get him to New York!"
Kentucky's Struggles—Pitino's Barrel Cracks
As the first half wound down, Kentucky's "perfect barrel" showed cracks. Georgetown's relentless defensive pressure exposed their weakest links, and despite Walker's best efforts, they trailed by 12 points at halftime.
In the locker room, Pitino was livid. "We're better than this! Play smart, play tough!" But deep down, he knew—there was no answer for Mo.
On the other side, Coach John Thompson kept it simple. "Keep feeding Mo. They can't stop him."
Back on the court, Iverson grinned at Mo. "One more half, big guy."
Mo nodded. "Let's finish it."
The Final Blow
With five minutes left, Georgetown led by 18. Mo, relentless as ever, soared for an alley-oop, slamming the ball down with such force that the basket shook violently.
The camera zoomed in on Pitino's face—defeat was evident in his eyes.
As the final buzzer sounded, Georgetown secured their first NCAA Championship since 1984.
Score: Georgetown 92, Kentucky 74.
The crowd erupted, fans stormed the court, and Mo embraced Iverson in a triumphant hug.
"This," Iverson shouted, "is just the beginning!"
As confetti rained down, Mo waved to the crowd, flashing a confident smile.
The Moai era had arrived.