Champion

"Timeout!" Head Coach Roy Williams quickly called a timeout. During the break, he turned to Goodwin and asked, "How does it feel going up against the best?"

Goodwin pressed his lips together, gave a little grimace, and clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He glared at Head Coach Roy Williams and said, "Not great. But I'll beat him one day!"

Hearing Goodwin's words, Head Coach Roy Williams couldn't help but laugh. Even his teammates joined in.

The tense atmosphere vanished in an instant.

"What are you laughing at? Don't you believe me? I really will beat him one day!" Goodwin insisted.

Head Coach Roy Williams reached out and patted Goodwin on the shoulder. "I believe you, Goodwin." He didn't know whether Goodwin would ever beat Carmelo Anthony, but as a coach, at that moment, he needed to instill confidence in his player.

Still, he hadn't expected Goodwin's fighting spirit to grow stronger after Carmelo Anthony had beaten him soundly twice in a row. Head Coach Roy Williams had to give Goodwin credit for that.

He continued, "Goodwin, I'm going to keep you in the game. You can't help us on defense, but I want you to help us on offense."

Hearing Head Coach Roy Williams's words, Goodwin froze. He hadn't expected to stay on the court.

"Yes!" Goodwin called back loudly.

As long as I get a chance to shoot, I won't let Coach Roy Williams down.

Head Coach Roy Williams immediately picked up the clipboard, drew up an offensive play for the team, and emphasized the defensive plan, especially helping out when Carmelo Anthony drove.

"Remember, don't let Carmelo Anthony shoot whenever he wants!"

"Yes!"

The timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court. Kansas inbounded from the backcourt, passing the ball to Collison, who dribbled it up to the top of the key.

On one side, Hinrich used a screen and ran toward the left wing.

Hinrich's movement drew Syracuse's attention. After all, he had just made a mid-range jumper.

Just then, one of Kansas's big men ran toward the right corner and set a screen for Goodwin.

With a solid thud, he blocked Carmelo Anthony. Goodwin took the opportunity to run out to the right wing, beyond the three-point line.

Collison got the ball to him immediately.

The pass arrived just as Goodwin reached his spot.

Goodwin caught the ball, sprang up, hung in the air, and released!

The ball swished through the net as the entire crowd watched.

"Ahhhhh!" "Awooooo!" "Ahhhhh!" "Awooooo!" "Ahhhhh!" "Awooooo!" In an instant, the Kansas fans in the arena erupted.

86–85

Kansas had taken the lead.

"YES!" Goodwin immediately turned toward Head Coach Roy Williams on the sideline, as if to say, Coach, I didn't let you down.

Head Coach Roy Williams gave Goodwin a wholehearted thumbs-up. Beautifully done, Goodwin!

Goodwin glanced toward Carmelo Anthony, fighting back the urge to gloat. The game isn't over. It isn't over... He turned and ran back on defense.

"His three-pointer is deadly!" Carmelo Anthony murmured, watching Goodwin's back. He'd been a little careless. Since Goodwin hadn't been involved in Kansas's previous two possessions, Carmelo Anthony had unconsciously assumed the ball wouldn't go to him.

Reality had slapped him in the face.

Syracuse set up its offense again, and the ball went to Carmelo Anthony once more.

The moment he caught it, Kansas's players began to converge on him.

Carmelo Anthony noticed immediately and drove his shoulder into Goodwin.

With a heavy thud, the force sent Goodwin stumbling back a step and a half.

The rest of Kansas's players were already waiting, ready to stop Carmelo Anthony if he drove.

But then Carmelo Anthony chose to pass. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the ball to a teammate on the perimeter. The teammate adjusted and shot.

The crucial shot clanged off the rim.

On the Syracuse sideline, the head coach couldn't help shaking his head.

Before Carmelo Anthony arrived, Syracuse wasn't especially strong in either talent or basketball ability. After he joined the team, he transformed it into one of the nation's top programs and even led it all the way to the NCAA championship game. You could say Carmelo Anthony had carried the team there single-handedly.

But now, Syracuse's weakness was on full display. At such a crucial moment, none of his teammates could step up.

"Ball, ball!" The instant Goodwin saw the shot bounce off the rim, he sprinted upcourt, shouting as he ran.

Carmelo Anthony snapped out of his daze and immediately chased after him.

Collison had just grabbed the ball. Without a second thought, he hurled it upcourt to Goodwin.

The pass reached Goodwin cleanly.

Carmelo Anthony used the time Goodwin needed to secure the ball to close the gap. By the time Goodwin dribbled beyond the three-point line, Carmelo Anthony had already caught up and passed him.

You want a fast break? Not happening!

But then Goodwin did something that left the entire arena stunned. He gathered the ball and jumped right where he stood.

The fans: ?

Head Coach Roy Williams: ?

The Kansas players: ?

Even Carmelo Anthony, right in front of him, couldn't make sense of what Goodwin was doing. What are you doing?

He's not going to shoot a three from here, at this point in the game, is he?

Under Carmelo Anthony's disbelieving gaze, Goodwin rose, hung in the air, and launched a three.

The moment Goodwin saw Carmelo Anthony, he had decided to shoot. These days, the three-pointer was all he had.

Go, my three-pointer!

The ball traced a graceful arc through the air. With a swish, it pierced the net—and the hearts of Syracuse's players and fans.

He scored!

With 1:16 left in overtime, Goodwin capped off a defensive stop and fast break with a three-pointer, giving his team a four-point lead.

89–85

"Ah!" Goodwin shouted, raising both arms in excitement. Kansas's players rushed over and wrapped him in a group hug. Collison even ruffled Goodwin's hair again and again.

Carmelo Anthony stared blankly at the celebrating Kansas players. At that moment, he felt the championship slipping farther and farther away.

"Timeout!" Syracuse's head coach called one and drew up a three-point play for one last attempt.

Syracuse executed the play, but the shot wouldn't fall. The ball clanged off the rim, crushing the team's last hope.

NCAA teams had 30 seconds to shoot on each possession.

Kansas secured the rebound and began running down the clock.

With no other choice, Syracuse had to foul Kansas's players and send them to the free-throw line.

Standing at the line, Hinrich took a deep breath before shooting.

Swish. Swish. He made both free throws, stretching the lead to six.

There were just 38 seconds left!

The outcome was settled!

Still, Syracuse refused to give up and tried another three-pointer, but it missed again. Even Lady Luck had abandoned them.

As the final seconds ticked away, the clock ran down to zero.

The 2003 NCAA champions were crowned: the University of Kansas!