Who Was He?

Both teams had played quite well after the opening tip, but Marquette University had clearly done much better than UConn.

Walker was double-teamed when he brought the ball upcourt. This time, he relied on his speed to force his way through, drove into the paint, and drew a defensive foul from Allen after initiating contact.

Both free throws were made, and UConn finally got on the board.

The atmosphere among the on-site fans was stirred up once again.

But before long, Butler got past Smith and scored before O'Riaqi could rotate over to help.

UConn's defense was practically nonexistent.

"Get up on him! Get up on him!" Ollie shouted anxiously from the sideline.

Smith and Orland, the newly recruited players, were barely acceptable on the offensive end, but their defense was truly hard to watch.

The game continued. Thirteen minutes had passed in the first half, and UConn trailed 26-35, with the gap about to reach double digits again.

Butler went into a mismatch isolation against Orland in the low post. After a series of hesitation steps, he suddenly accelerated, muscled past him, and finished with a dunk.

The on-site fans erupted in uproar.

A double-digit deficit. The air seemed to be stained crimson—another night of bloodbath loomed ahead.

Cahoon raised a hand and called a timeout.

After calling the timeout, he rested his chin in his right hand and fell silent for a moment. Then he walked to the end of the bench and called Tang Tian over.

"You'll play Power Forward and guard Butler. Remember, his shot isn't stable. Do everything you can to push him out of the three-second zone," Cahoon instructed Tang Tian specifically.

Tang Tian nodded.

Butler's offense had not actually been that good during his NCAA days. UConn's defense was simply that poor.

"Stay patient. Remember, you are members of the Connecticut Huskies. Any difficulty can be overcome!" Before they returned to the court, the old man raised his voice as much as he could and shouted at the players.

"Let's go!"

"Connecticut!"

The players shouted their chant once, then headed back onto the court.

The team was down by 11. Although the situation was unfavorable, the on-site fans still cheered loudly for the home team under the DJ's lead.

Walker stepped up again, driving through Butler's defense for a made layup.

With Walker around, UConn's offense was not actually bad.

What was truly worrying was their defense.

Marquette University had possession. After crossing half court, the ball was passed to Butler.

Butler was 2.01 meters tall and played both Power Forward/Small Forward in the NCAA. At the moment, he was playing Power Forward.

When he saw that the man in front of him had changed—replaced by someone he did not recognize at all, someone not even mentioned during the coach's pregame preparation—Butler was briefly stunned.

Was UConn planning to give up in the first half? Or had they brought out some unexpected weapon?

Based on what he had seen so far, the former was clearly more likely.

"Who was he?"

At that moment, not just Butler—most of the on-site fans were confused as well.

NCAA rosters had no set limit, which meant teams often had personnel changes. The players fans remembered were either the team's core members or at least rotation-level players. It was perfectly normal for them not to know someone like Tang Tian, who sat at the very end of the bench.

"Isn't that Tang Tian?" someone in the stands said.

"Who is Tang Tian?" The question immediately drew intense attention from the people around him.

"My roommate!"

"..."

"Wait, wasn't he a work-study ball boy? How was he playing now?"

No one outside the team knew Tang Tian had joined the school team, including his roommate.

But what Tang Tian's roommate said immediately caused a commotion among that section of fans.

UConn had actually put in a ball boy?!

And that ball boy was guarding Marquette University's ace, Jimmy Butler?!

Had Cahoon gotten old and gone senile?!

Of course, they did not say it aloud. They only thought it.

But merely thinking it was already enough to drive them crazy.

Orland's defense against Butler had been like paper. This ball boy would probably be wider open than an early-morning highway.

While they were ridiculing him internally, Butler had already come back to his senses and launched an attack with the ball.

He dribbled right with a change of direction, leaned into Tang Tian, and drove forward.

This was one of Butler's favorite offensive moves, and it had worked every time against Orland.

This time, it looked just as effortless.

But very soon, a restless murmur rose from the crowd.

Tang Tian had firmly seized the defensive position, never allowing Butler to drive into the paint.

After only a few steps, Butler was forced to pick up his dribble!

It had happened far too suddenly!

Their expectations had already fallen to rock bottom, making the moment an indescribable surprise for the fans.

Butler had not expected this unfamiliar bench player to claim defensive position so well.

And the moment he picked up his dribble, Tang Tian raised both arms and pressed his body in, leaving him no room to shoot easily.

He was forced to pass.

Smack!

Just as he raised the ball, his opponent suddenly exploded upward and stole it right from his hands!

Defense, forcing Butler back, then the steal.

Tang Tian had somehow created on the defensive end the same smooth flow usually seen on the offensive end!

After Tang Tian's steal, he immediately gave the ball to Walker. Walker went on a full court drive from the backcourt to the frontcourt, then passed to Lamb after drawing a double-team. Lamb quickly finished a layup.

UConn had put together a 4-0 run!

"Who the hell was he?!" The fans nearby could not help pressing Tang Tian's roommate for an answer.

"My roommate!"

"...Your roommate is a ball boy?"

"Yeah!"

"You're kidding, right? A ball boy could get on the court? And defend that well?"

"I... I have no idea!"

The fans could not get a clear answer, but Tang Tian's name gradually spread through the stands.

The man who had just stopped Butler—the yellow-skinned man—was called Tang Tian.

Perhaps because of his skin color, Tang Tian had needed only one possession to make most of the on-site fans remember his name.

"Defense! Defense!"

Led by the DJ, the on-site fans began cheering for the home team again.

After that small run, the fans were fired up, and their cheers now rang especially loud.

Butler reached the frontcourt, held out a hand to receive the ball from the guard, then chose to post Tang Tian up.

As a senior, he had plenty of experience. After facing him head-on for one possession, he knew he would not gain much of an advantage that way.

After backing him down, Butler suddenly spun and turned toward the basket.

Bang!

But the instant he turned, he collided squarely with Tang Tian, nearly losing the ball.

Tang Tian, who should have been left behind him, had somehow appeared directly in his driving lane!

As another elite defender, Butler immediately realized that this bench player who had appeared from nowhere might not be any worse defensively than he was!

The issue with sitting out due to the ball suspension really was a blind spot in my knowledge. I wrote it wrong, but it is hard to change now, so I'll just roll with it! Also, stop bringing up that book—it was obviously written by me too. Are some of you trying to be funny? Lastly, if you think this is good, send over some recommendation tickets! Love you all!!