Klay Thompson

Cahoon certainly had the confidence.

The Big East Conference was the most popular league in the NCAA today. Since 2006, the conference had a record of having eight teams reach the tournament every year!

Sixteen teams advancing to the Elite Eight was a terrifyingly high qualification rate.

Meanwhile, the Pac-10 Conference, to which Washington State University belonged, was significantly weaker. Especially this new season, with their star players from last season having departed, they were clearly one of the bottom-tier teams among all conferences.

Of course, the reason Cahoon was hesitant was that Washington State University happened to be the current top team in that conference.

And then there was Klay Thompson, whom he had mentioned specifically.

Tang Tian felt a bit excited when he heard Thompson's name.

This was Thompson, Klay who would later form the Splash Brothers with Curry.

He hadn't followed the NCAA much in his previous life and only knew that Thompson's and Curry's college teams weren't very strong.

But now, it seemed the situation was different from what he had imagined.

Their teams might not have been great before these two joined, but after they arrived, it was likely a different story. While not the absolute strongest, they certainly weren't bad.

"Thompson's three-point shot is very accurate, and his style is a bit like Ray's, like Richard's. He's particularly good at off-ball movement, which makes him troublesome to deal with," Cahoon added, fearing Tang Tian might not know Thompson well.

Tang Tian knew all of this. Thompson's off-ball movement was indeed very similar to Ray Allen's and Hamilton's; they were the kind who had limitless stamina.

"I think we can play," Tang Tian said after some thought, giving his opinion.

"Tell me your reasons," Cahoon continued.

"First, I think UConn needs a tough game to regain its reputation. The opponent is the top team in the Pac-10 Conference, and we'll be playing away. If we win, it will definitely achieve that effect."

Cahoon nodded.

"Second, as you just said, besides Klay Thompson, the opponent doesn't have any other stable scoring options, and I can defend Thompson."

Cahoon couldn't help but laugh after hearing this.

Tang Tian actually had high aspirations.

This was a good thing. Defense required not only skill but also grit, endurance, and fighting spirit. Players without spirit, even with talent, might not perform well.

"I'll keep what you said in mind," Cahoon said, having listened. However, he certainly wouldn't make the final decision based solely on Tang Tian's words.

Tang Tian didn't mind. He had said what he needed to say. For him, the next game was an opportunity to showcase his three-point shooting. Playing against Thompson would be ideal, but if not, it wouldn't make much of a difference.

During the training session the next day, Cahoon announced some news.

The team would fly to Washington tomorrow to play an exhibition game against Washington State University.

The players had mixed reactions to this announcement, but most showed excitement on their faces.

Washington State University was the top team in the Pac-10 Conference, currently on a three-game winning streak and full of momentum. Facing such a strong team was both a test and an opportunity.

Passion was something a team composed mainly of young freshmen and sophomores certainly didn't lack.

"The opponent proposed this exhibition game at this time because they saw our poor performance this season and wanted to boost their team's profile by playing us. Therefore, this will undoubtedly not be an easy game, but I hope you all bring 120% effort and win this game," Cahoon said, striking while the iron was hot as he saw the passion on his players' faces.

"We will win."

"We will win!"

The passion spread, culminating in the players shouting their slogan in unison.

Cahoon nodded in satisfaction. Since everyone was ready to face this tough away game, he had no further reservations.

The news of UConn's trip to Washington quickly spread among the fans, who were also very excited.

The team's performance had been sluggish at the beginning of the season, and now that their form had recovered, using such an opponent as a stepping stone was the best possible outcome.

Some die-hard fans even went to great lengths to secure over a thousand tickets, planning to form a group and travel to the venue to cheer for the team.

This game even attracted the attention of many other NCAA teams.

An old powerhouse facing the league leader was already an attractive matchup, let alone the duel between two rising stars.

(Note: As of this season, Walker is averaging 22.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Klay Thompson is averaging 24.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, with an impressive 49% three-point shooting percentage, making over 4 threes per game.)

Washington State University also did its part in promoting the exhibition game.

The day before the game, this matchup directly hit the front page of NCAA news, garnering widespread attention.

Washington State University was taking this game very seriously. They did not use their campus basketball arena but instead opted for Martin Stadium, a venue they typically reserved for tournament games.

Martin Stadium is usually used for football games. Once seating is arranged, it can accommodate over 35,000 people, a capacity larger than all NBA arenas.

But this is the NCAA.

Keep in mind that the final championship games are usually held in venues with capacities of 60,000 to 80,000, creating an atmosphere far more intense than the NBA.

The stadium, with over 30,000 seats, was almost completely full that night. Apart from a thousand or so UConn fans tucked away in a corner, it was filled with home team supporters – students, middle-aged men, and even some elderly gentlemen. The atmosphere felt even livelier than an NBA All-Star Game.

There was even an opening ceremony, with players from both teams being introduced one by one.

Walker's introduction was met with cheers, but it was only when Thompson took the court that the venue truly ignited.

Thompson's scoring average was among the highest in the Pac-10 Conference, making him one of the league's hottest stars.

Tang Tian also saw Thompson, wearing the number 1 jersey. Unlike the "Buddha" he would later be known as by fans, he hadn't grown his beard yet at this time, his face full of youthful innocence, though his aquiline nose was as prominent as it would be in the future.

After the opening ceremony, both teams' players began their final warm-up drills before the game.

Just then, reporters on the sidelines interviewed Washington State University's head coach, Tony Bena.

Bena was only around 35 years old, making him one of the youngest coaches even in the NCAA.

He looked spirited and beaming with pride.

Washington State University had never advanced to the top 16 of the tournament before, and they weren't favored before the season. However, they were now at the top of the Pac-10 Conference and had even invited UConn to play, marking a peak in the school's history.

"Coach, what kind of opponent do you think the University of Connecticut is?"

"They are a great team. They have won two NCAA championships and even made it to the Elite Eight the year before last. Playing against an opponent of such strength is a very challenging endeavor," Bena praised UConn highly in front of the reporters.