Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!

Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered! The Indianapolis Star. Behind him, a group of players ran over and formed a circle around Zhang Yu, putting their arms over their teammates' shoulders as they spun around and cheered at the top of their lungs. "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." No wonder. After beating Indiana State, the Bulldogs had played four more games and won them all, bringing their record to 5–0 and putting them in first place in the Horizon League. He greeted the students along the way, went into his office and sat down, then opened the newspaper to read it. But the aftershocks of the game were confined to Indiana. The Bulldogs were still a small team, and people's attention remained fixed on powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA. Outside Indiana, nobody had even mentioned Zhang Yu or Curry... "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." That morning, Zhang Yu left his apartment, took the day's newspaper from the mailbox downstairs, and headed to his office. Smiling, he hugged the players one by one, then went to the scorer's table and shook hands with McKenna. "Of course, Butler's head coach, Ronan Zhang, deserves a mention. This Chinese coach is the youngest head coach in NCAA history, at just twenty-three years old. Known as 'Coach Z,' he has shown exceptional in-game adaptability and commands great respect in the locker room, earning praise from his players. It is said that he was the one who recognized Curry's potential and recruited him to the team." That quote came from the "Truth," Larry Bird, a legendary Indiana State alumnus. The reporters then asked Zhang Yu a few routine questions, and his answers were impeccable, leaving them somewhat surprised. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Congratulations. You almost won." This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. But the aftershocks of the game were confined to Indiana. The Bulldogs were still a small team, and people's attention remained fixed on powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA. Outside Indiana, nobody had even mentioned Zhang Yu or Curry. McKenna's face stiffened. He said nothing, flicked his hand, and turned to leave. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This was USA Today, one of the three newspapers with the largest circulation in the country and one of North America's best-known sports media outlets. The reporters then asked Zhang Yu a few routine questions, and his answers were impeccable, leaving them somewhat surprised. After Zhang Yu and Curry sat down, murmurs of surprise rose from the reporters below. "The untold story of Stephen Curry: from repeated rejections to a 29-point game"—the headline came from a daily newspaper known for its human-interest coverage. That quote came from the "Truth," Larry Bird, a legendary Indiana State alumnus. Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. "I'm very grateful to Coach. Without him, I might never have made it into the NCAA," Curry said. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Shocking! Indiana State loses to an unknown team, whose opponent is the youngest head coach in NCAA history"—the headline came from a tabloid famous for sensationalism. On the way, students greeted him warmly. "Could you tell us more about the tryout?" another reporter asked. On the way, students greeted him warmly. "Quit acting like you're my senior." "Of course!" Zhang Yu replied with a smile. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. Zhang Yu felt a wave of satisfaction. Sure enough, winning was the only truth. Behind him, a group of players ran over and formed a circle around Zhang Yu, putting their arms over their teammates' shoulders as they spun around and cheered at the top of their lungs. "Could you elaborate?" the reporter pressed. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. "Before this game, Coach McKenna said he was going to teach me a lesson. I hope other coaches will come along and teach me one, too." "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. On top of that, Curry was averaging 28.7 points per game, currently leading the NCAA in scoring, which was what had earned the Bulldogs a spot on the front page of USA Today's sports section. The game ended with the Bulldogs beating Indiana State, 77–67. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. Zhang Yu hugged the players one by one, then went to the scorer's table and shook hands with McKenna. "What would you say now to the people who doubted you?" After beating Indiana State, the Bulldogs had played four more games and won them all, bringing their record to 5–0 and putting them in first place in the Horizon League. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "...Over the past five games, Butler University has won every time. The standout player has been freshman Stephen Curry, the eldest son of former NBA star Dell Curry. He is averaging 28.7 points, currently the highest in the country, and has a three-point percentage of 43.5%. He has been the biggest reason the team sits atop the Horizon League standings." Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. But the Bulldogs had Zhang Yu, an oddity in his own right. As the youngest head coach in NCAA history, his age and appearance drew plenty of attention. If the Bulldogs' record had been mediocre, that might not have mattered, but they had won five straight and sat atop the league, winning every game by at least ten points. The team instantly attracted attention nationwide, and Zhang Yu himself became much better known. After the Indiana State players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. And his name on the front page of the sports section could only mean one thing—he was famous. "Good morning, Coach Z!" "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" Micah Shulsbury had also come to watch the game. He approached Zhang Yu with a broad smile. "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. After the Indiana State players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" "Huh? Coach Z? You mean me?" Zhang Yu looked surprised. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. He had greeted the students along the way, gone into his office, and sat down to read the newspaper. But the aftershocks of the game were confined to Indiana. The Bulldogs were still a small team, and people's attention remained fixed on powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA. Outside Indiana, nobody had even mentioned Zhang Yu or Curry. Of course, with the different levels of competition across the conferences, this scoring title wasn't taken very seriously. Only performances in March Madness could earn universal recognition. This was USA Today, one of the three newspapers with the largest circulation in the country and one of North America's best-known sports media outlets. He walked in, saw USA Today on the desk, and gave Zhang Yu a knowing, amused look. "Could you elaborate?" the reporter pressed. Micah Shulsbury nodded repeatedly. "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." On the way, students greeted him warmly. "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." "Before joining the Bulldogs, I tried out for a lot of prestigious schools, but they all turned me down. Duke, North Carolina, VT... They all thought I was too skinny to handle the intensity of the NCAA. Only Coach believed in me. He offered me a full scholarship and even made me the team's starting point guard," Curry explained. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Zhang Yu put down the newspaper, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." Now that the team had beaten the formidable Indiana State, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. "Congratulations. You almost won." "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" "The untold story of Stephen Curry: from repeated rejections to a 29-point game"—the headline came from a daily newspaper known for its human-interest coverage. "Shocking! Indiana State loses to an unknown team, whose opponent is the youngest head coach in NCAA history"—the headline came from a tabloid famous for sensationalism. After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. If this had been all, it wouldn't have meant much. The NCAA Division I was divided into thirty-two conferences, each with its own level of competition. People focused on the Big Ten, the Big East, and other conferences filled with prestigious schools and fierce competition. The smaller conferences, like the Horizon League, received little attention. Micah Shulsbury knew he had made the right move. Based on Zhang Yu's in-game adjustments, he was definitely an excellent head coach. The reporter then turned to Curry for an interview. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" "The untold story of Stephen Curry: from repeated rejections to a 29-point game"—the headline came from a daily newspaper known for its human-interest coverage. Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. "...Over the past five games, Butler University has won every time. The standout player has been freshman Stephen Curry, the eldest son of former NBA star Dell Curry. He is averaging 28.7 points, currently the highest in the country, and has a three-point percentage of 43.5%. He has been the biggest reason the team sits atop the Horizon League standings." Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "Could you elaborate?" the reporter pressed. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" On the way, students greeted him warmly. The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. "Of course!" Zhang Yu replied with a smile. They had no idea that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. He walked in, saw USA Today on the desk, and gave Zhang Yu a knowing, amused look. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" "Huh? Coach Z? You mean me?" Zhang Yu looked surprised. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. He greeted the students along the way, went into his office, sat down, and began reading the newspaper. But the aftershocks of the game were confined to Indiana. The Bulldogs were still a small team, and people's attention remained fixed on powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA. Outside Indiana, nobody had even mentioned Zhang Yu or Curry. Of course, with the different levels of competition across the conferences, this scoring title wasn't taken very seriously. Only performances in March Madness could earn universal recognition. This was USA Today, one of the three newspapers with the largest circulation in the country and one of North America's best-known sports media outlets. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. If this had been all, it wouldn't have meant much. The NCAA Division I was divided into thirty-two conferences, each with its own level of competition. People focused on the Big Ten, the Big East, and other conferences filled with prestigious schools and fierce competition. The smaller conferences, like the Horizon League, received little attention. Micah Shulsbury nodded repeatedly. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Zhang Yu smiled and hugged the players one by one, then went to the scorer's table and shook hands with McKenna. "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." Now that the team had beaten the formidable Indiana State, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. But the Bulldogs had Zhang Yu, an oddity in his own right. As the youngest head coach in NCAA history, his age and appearance drew plenty of attention. If the Bulldogs' record had been mediocre, that might not have mattered, but they had won five straight and sat atop the league, winning every game by at least ten points. The team instantly attracted attention nationwide, and Zhang Yu himself became much better known. After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. And his name on the front page of the sports section could only mean one thing—he was famous. "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" "Huh? Coach Z? You mean me?" Zhang Yu looked surprised. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." On the way, students greeted him warmly. "Of course!" Zhang Yu replied with a smile. "Before joining the Bulldogs, I tried out for a lot of prestigious schools, but they all turned me down. Duke, North Carolina, VT... They all thought I was too skinny to handle the intensity of the NCAA. Only Coach believed in me. He offered me a full scholarship and even made me the team's starting point guard," Curry explained. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" "Good morning, Coach Z!" "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. "Shocking! Indiana State loses to an unknown team, whose opponent is the youngest head coach in NCAA history"—the headline came from a tabloid famous for sensationalism. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. These two sat onstage looking less like a coach and player and more like a pair of students. Curry had a baby face and looked young to begin with, while Zhang Yu was only twenty-three and looked young as well. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "Could you elaborate?" the reporter pressed. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" If this had been all, it wouldn't have meant much. The NCAA Division I was divided into thirty-two conferences, each with its own level of competition. People focused on the Big Ten, the Big East, and other conferences filled with prestigious schools and fierce competition. The smaller conferences, like the Horizon League, received little attention. Micah Shulsbury knew he had made the right move. Based on Zhang Yu's in-game adjustments, he was definitely an excellent head coach. The reporter then turned to Curry for an interview. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. "...Over the past five games, Butler University has won every time. The standout player has been freshman Stephen Curry, the eldest son of former NBA star Dell Curry. He is averaging 28.7 points, currently the highest in the country, and has a three-point percentage of 43.5%. He has been the biggest reason the team sits atop the Horizon League standings." Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "Stephen, you were the best player in this game. What do you have to say?" Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." After Indiana State's players left the court, Zhang Yu told his players to bow to the fans, and another deafening roar filled Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. Curry had opened his NCAA career with an astonishing 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. He had gone six for ten from three-point range, scoring 18 of his points that way. Mike Green had added 12 points, while Ben Sladon, given more playing time by Zhang Yu in the second half, had scored only three but dished out five assists, playing the role of a surprise weapon. "Could you elaborate?" the reporter pressed. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" "Good morning, Coach Z!" "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." These two sat onstage looking less like a coach and player and more like a pair of students. Curry had a baby face and looked young to begin with, while Zhang Yu was only twenty-three and looked young as well. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Before this game, Coach McKenna said he was going to teach me a lesson. I hope other coaches will come along and teach me one, too." Now that the team had beaten the formidable Indiana State, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "I'm very grateful to Coach. Without him, I might never have made it into the NCAA," Curry said. "Before joining the Bulldogs, I tried out for a lot of prestigious schools, but they all turned me down. Duke, North Carolina, VT... They all thought I was too skinny to handle the intensity of the NCAA. Only Coach believed in me. He offered me a full scholarship and even made me the team's starting point guard," Curry explained. The reporters glanced at one another, excitement in their eyes. This seemed like a big story! "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." Now that the team had beaten the formidable Indiana State, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "I'm very grateful to Coach. Without him, I might never have made it into the NCAA," Curry said. "Before joining the Bulldogs, I tried out for a lot of prestigious schools, but they all turned me down. Duke, North Carolina, VT... They all thought I was too skinny to handle the intensity of the NCAA. Only Coach believed in me. He offered me a full scholarship and even made me the team's starting point guard," Curry explained. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" "On the way, students greeted him warmly." "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. "Shocking! Indiana State loses to an unknown team, whose opponent is the youngest head coach in NCAA history"—the headline came from a tabloid famous for sensationalism. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. These two sat onstage looking less like a coach and player and more like a pair of students. Curry had a baby face and looked young to begin with, while Zhang Yu was only twenty-three and looked young as well. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, you're currently the youngest head coach in the NCAA. A lot of people have questioned your ability, and many NCAA coaches have even called your appointment to lead the Bulldogs 'absurd' and 'unbelievable.' What do you have to say about that?" another reporter asked, his question more pointed. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The reporters glanced at one another, excitement in their eyes. This seemed like a big story! "I wanted most to go to Duke at first, but when I met Coach K, he said right away that I wasn't suited to the NCAA..." "Could you tell us more about the tryout?" another reporter asked. "I wanted most to go to Duke at first, but when I met Coach K, he said right away that I wasn't suited to the NCAA..." The game ended with the Bulldogs beating Indiana State, 77–67. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" "Good morning, Coach Z!" Behind him, a group of players ran over and formed a circle around Zhang Yu, putting their arms over their teammates' shoulders as they spun around and cheered at the top of their lungs. "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. He walked in, saw USA Today on the desk, and gave Zhang Yu a knowing, amused look. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" Curry glanced at Zhang Yu and smiled. "...Over the past five games, Butler University has won every time. The standout player has been freshman Stephen Curry, the eldest son of former NBA star Dell Curry. He is averaging 28.7 points, currently the highest in the country, and has a three-point percentage of 43.5%. He has been the biggest reason the team sits atop the Horizon League standings." Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "Could you tell us more about the tryout?" another reporter asked. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. "I'm very grateful to Coach. Without him, I might never have made it into the NCAA," Curry said. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." "On the way, students greeted him warmly." "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. "Shocking! Indiana State loses to an unknown team, whose opponent is the youngest head coach in NCAA history"—the headline came from a tabloid famous for sensationalism. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. These two sat onstage looking less like a coach and player and more like a pair of students. Curry had a baby face and looked young to begin with, while Zhang Yu was only twenty-three and looked young as well. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "I'm very grateful to Coach. Without him, I might never have made it into the NCAA," Curry said. "I wanted most to go to Duke at first, but when I met Coach K, he said right away that I wasn't suited to the NCAA..." "Coach Z, you're currently the youngest head coach in the NCAA. A lot of people have questioned your ability, and many NCAA coaches have even called your appointment to lead the Bulldogs 'absurd' and 'unbelievable.' What do you have to say about that?" another reporter asked, his question more pointed. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The reporters glanced at one another, excitement in their eyes. This seemed like a big story! "I wanted most to go to Duke at first, but when I met Coach K, he said right away that I wasn't suited to the NCAA..." "Could you tell us more about the tryout?" another reporter asked. "I wanted most to go to Duke at first, but when I met Coach K, he said right away that I wasn't suited to the NCAA..." The game ended with the Bulldogs beating Indiana State, 77–67. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" "Good morning, Coach Z!" The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. "Of course!" Zhang Yu replied with a smile. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." "Before joining the Bulldogs, I tried out for a lot of prestigious schools, but they all turned me down. Duke, North Carolina, VT... They all thought I was too skinny to handle the intensity of the NCAA. Only Coach believed in me. He offered me a full scholarship and even made me the team's starting point guard," Curry explained. Little did they know that in his previous life, Zhang Yu had watched countless interviews with coaches and players. In that age of information overload, he had also enjoyed plenty of spectacular spats between stars and fans, Durant in particular. With so many cautionary examples to learn from, he knew exactly how to handle the media. As director of basketball operations, Micah Shulsbury had shielded Zhang Yu from pressure from the board, but he himself had been uneasy, unsure whether appointing Zhang Yu to replace Rickert had been the right decision. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, tomorrow can we win?" "The son of a legend shines as Butler beats Indiana State, shaking up the Horizon League standings"—the headline came from the well-known Indiana newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, and was the most straightforward of the bunch. "Shocking! Indiana State loses to an unknown team, whose opponent is the youngest head coach in NCAA history"—the headline came from a tabloid famous for sensationalism. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." The next day, every local Indiana newspaper had Butler's game against Indiana State on the front page of its sports section. These two sat onstage looking less like a coach and player and more like a pair of students. Curry had a baby face and looked young to begin with, while Zhang Yu was only twenty-three and looked young as well. Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before answering slowly. This young man was far too polished—he didn't seem like a rookie head coach at all. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. "No problem. I like that name," Zhang Yu said with a smile. "As for winning, beating Indiana State is only the beginning. From now on, the Bulldogs will keep winning." "You were right! Stephen played like a superstar. Now I understand why you valued him so highly." "Ronan, what are you grinning about?" Stevens pushed open the door while Zhang Yu was in high spirits. "Ronan, congratulations! We actually beat Indiana State. It's the first time we've beaten them in three years. You were amazing!" "Huh? Coach Z? You mean me?" Zhang Yu looked surprised. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. Indiana State's Moore had scored only eight points in the first half, but exploded during the first half of the final five minutes to finish with 24 points and four assists. Kerr had gone five for twelve from three-point range, scoring 15 points, while Tannell had been highly efficient with his midrange shots from the free-throw line, hitting six of eight for 12 points. "This is only the beginning," Zhang Yu said calmly. "Coach Z, what do you have to say about beating Indiana State?" the first reporter asked, keeping the question routine. Curry spoke at length as the reporters rapidly tapped away at their keyboards. "I'm very grateful to Coach. Without him, I might never have made it into the NCAA," Curry said. "I'm very grateful to them. Without those setbacks, I wouldn't have met Coach." "Of course!" Zhang Yu replied with a smile. "Quit acting like you're my senior."