Walker's Troubles

"I understand." After hearing Tang Tian's words, Walker felt a heavy burden lifted, leaving him feeling completely at ease.

Perhaps only Tang Tian could help him resolve this kind of worry.

Following Tang Tian's instructions, Walker began training to adjust his power application.

This seemed like a simple task, but in reality, due to personal habit issues, it wasn't something that could be changed in just a day or two.

After a three-day rest, UConn returned home to face Seton Hall University, marking the second encounter between the two teams that season.

Walker's condition was not good, and Cahoon still didn't include him in the starting lineup.

However, Walker didn't mind; he was more focused on how to help the team win.

The game started quickly. Seton Hall University played exceptionally tough; they were ranked tenth in the league and were making a final push for the championship game.

After more than nine minutes of play, the score on the court was 13-9, with UConn holding a slim lead.

At this point, Cahoon substituted in Walker and Orland, moving Tang Tian to the small forward position.

As soon as Walker came on, he called for a pick and roll with Tang Tian. After the pick, he switched to attack the opposing forward.

Watching Walker's drive, the home crowd's emotions were complex.

Before Walker's injury, an opponent defending him one-on-one like this was almost equivalent to giving away points. But in the two games since his return from injury, Walker's success rate on drives had been quite low; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was wasting offensive opportunities.

The opposing forward also knew Walker wasn't in top form and defended him tightly with all his might.

Walker suddenly made a sharp crossover to his left. Because the defender was too close, he had no reaction.

Walker drove to his left for a layup. After jumping, he used a euro step to evade the opposing center and scored with his left hand.

"Beautiful!" The spectacular play drew exclamations from the live commentator.

The home crowd also erupted in cheers, as if they were seeing the familiar Walker again!

Walker was a bit excited after scoring, roaring towards the sidelines after the basket.

On Seton Hall University's offense, O'Riaqi directly blocked the opponent guard's shot. Tang Tian grabbed the loose ball and passed it to Walker, who then broke away for a fast break.

The opponents were in hot pursuit from behind.

However, Walker executed a beautiful behind-the-back dribble on the run. He switched the ball to his left hand, jumped off his left foot, and scored another floater off the glass.

Four points in under a minute!

The home crowd's emotions soared. The Walker they were familiar with was back!

As Walker retreated on defense, he actively found Tang Tian for a high five.

"Kemba, he..." Ollie was stunned at this moment, unsure how Walker had suddenly found his game again.

Cahoon, however, fixed his gaze on Tang Tian.

He remembered the situation with Lamb earlier. Seeing Walker actively seek out Tang Tian after scoring, it seemed Walker's change in form was likely related to him.

Could someone who could help his teammates emerge from slumps and improve successively be a suitable candidate for team captain?

For a moment, an idea flashed through his mind.

The game on the court continued, and Walker repeatedly broke through successfully from the left side.

It's worth noting that Walker wasn't a left-handed player. His previous offense was basically all on the right side. This sudden switch made the defenders appear very unaccustomed.

Unexpectedly, Walker led the reserve players on a scoring run, directly helping UConn establish a double-digit lead and ultimately securing the victory.

Walker still only played 20 minutes, but in those 20 minutes, he shot 7-of-11 from the field for 16 points, proving highly efficient.

Although he hadn't fully recovered to his pre-injury form, he had clearly regained his feel for the game.

After the game, Walker received a warm ovation from his teammates in the locker room.

Walker had an efficient 16 points in this game, Lamb also contributed 20 points, and Tang Tian scored 15 points. It felt like they were finally playing like the "three musketeers."

After the teammates had gradually left, Tang Tian and Walker went to the training facility for extra practice.

Tang Tian focused on his usual stamina and shooting drills, while Walker continued his power application adjustment training.

Tang Tian acted as a half-stamina trainer, helping Walker with his adjustments.

A few days later, UConn hosted St. John's University.

St. John's University was one of the most renowned prestigious schools in the country. Located in Queens, New York, they were on par with powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina, having produced over 50 NBA players over the years.

Although they had never won an NCAA championship, they had always been highly competitive in the Big East Conference. Currently ranked sixth in the Big East, they were striving to break into the top half of the standings.

Walker had performed exceptionally well in the previous game, so Cahoon directly placed him back in the starting lineup.

After the game started, Tang Tian's pick and rolls and Lamb's offensive gravity created many one-on-one opportunities for Walker, who had returned to the starting lineup.

However, he was unable to capitalize on these chances as he had in the previous game.

St. John's University was a New York team with a strong coaching staff. They had clearly made specific tactical adjustments before the game, and their players focused their defense on Walker's left-side drives.

Walker was hesitant to exert force with his right foot, and several of his drives failed.

UConn ultimately lost to their opponents 59-63.

Walker's performance was rather poor, scoring only 10 points and 3 assists on 3-of-13 shooting.

2 wins and 2 losses. This was UConn's record after Walker's return, a far cry from their previous four-game winning streak.

Moreover, with the regular season entering its final stretch, teams were fighting fiercely for rankings. After losing this game, UConn dropped from second to third in the conference.

Walker was in low spirits after the game, remaining silent in the locker room.

The atmosphere in the locker room was heavy. After showering, the players left one by one. Walker, however, sat there alone, wrapped in a towel, still in his uniform.

"Kemba, I know you want to win, but you have to learn to accept things." Tang Tian hadn't left either. He waited until everyone else was gone before approaching Walker.

"Accept what?" Walker's emotions were running high.

"I can't even lead the team to a win right now!" he exclaimed, punching the locker.

The metal locker let out a dull thud, sending a tremor through those who heard it.

"Injuries? I don't care! Playing poorly after returning? I can adjust slowly! But right now, I'm just a burden to the team! I'm being targeted, the team loses, why is this happening? Why!" he said, punching the locker again, his frustration evident.

Everyone has something they care about. What Walker cared about most was UConn's wins and losses. Usually, talented players would enter the draft right after their freshman year. The reason he stayed until his junior year was simply to help UConn return to its peak and fulfill his dream of winning an NCAA championship.

Thanks to Xingfeng Xiaoye for the tip.