Do You Guys Want to Go to March Madness?

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The head coach's office at Butler University is not far from Hinkle Fieldhouse, and Liam arrived at the fieldhouse in just 5 minutes.

This is the home stadium of the Bulldogs and also the team's training ground, which can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators.

Although this number far exceeds the 4,000-plus student population at Butler University, Indiana, as the place with the strongest basketball atmosphere in the United States, has no shortage of fans.

On every game day, many local fans come to Hinkle Fieldhouse to cheer for the Bulldogs along with the school's students.

When Liam walked into the gym, training had already begun, and the players were conducting different exercises under the guidance of the coaching staff.

As a historic NCAA Division I team, the Bulldogs' past achievements may be bleak, but their professionalism is unquestionable.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Don't hesitate, make decisions quickly..." Stevens was clapping and shouting, his eyes fixed on a group of players doing dribbling and passing training. He saw Liam and greeted him, "Liam, you are finally here."

When the players heard what Stevens said, they all turned to look at Liam.

"Liam, you are late. I have never seen you late before!" Bulldogs' starting small forward Mike Green teased.

"Mike, how dare you call the coach's name directly? Coach, put him on the bench!" This is the substitute small forward Julian Beko, whose biggest wish is to become the team's main player.

"Liam, we are all waiting for your arrival," Stevens said with a smile.

The other assistant coaches also came over and greeted Liam.

Their names came to Liam's mind - Matthew Graves, Brandon Miller, Terry Johnson, and Brad Stevens, who together formed his assistant coaching team.

"Liam, Brad said you were feeling a little unwell. Are you feeling better?" Matthew Graves came forward.

He is a Black man with a bald head and a gentle smile on his face. He is responsible for recruiting players for the team.

"It's okay. I feel better than ever," Liam looked around and saw concern and worry in everyone's eyes.

This is one of the two most valuable assets that the original Liam left him: good interpersonal relationships within the team.

Another great asset is, of course, his solid and profound theoretical knowledge of basketball tactics.

"Liam, say something," Stevens suddenly suggested.

Others also looked at Liam expectantly.

Liam thought for a moment and came to the middle of the crowd, and the others automatically formed a circle.

"Everyone is familiar with me, so I don't need to introduce myself, right? After all, I am the youngest assistant coach in the history of Butler University. Oh, and now the youngest head coach." As soon as Liam opened his mouth, everyone laughed in good faith.

"I haven't been on the team long, even shorter than Mike and Julian, the juniors," Liam looked at Julian Beko and Mike Green, "not to mention Steven and Matthew. I know some players will question my ability to coach the team, which is normal. How can this young man from Colombia understand basketball? Maybe he can't even dribble well."

Everyone burst into laughter again.

"We have all seen your talent for a long time," Matthew Graves interrupted loudly.

Others also nodded. It was because Liam demonstrated outstanding professional ability and arranged the team's tactics in an orderly manner that Lickliter admired him so much, and these players and assistant coaches supported him to take over Lickliter's position.

"Very good, thank you all for your recognition," Liam said with a smile, "It seems that I have a good chance of getting my $300,000. Thank God, I finally have money. Does anyone of you want to go on vacation to Hawaii?"

"Coach, I want to go!" Julian Beko raised his hand and shouted.

"Very good. When I go on vacation, I will definitely send you the most beautiful postcard."

Liam's words triggered a third burst of laughter.

Stevens looked at Liam in surprise. He and Liam had the best relationship. They often watched games and discussed tactics together, and he knew Liam best.

In the past, Liam focused all his energy on the research of basketball tactics. He was a bit boring, and his relationship with players and assistant coaches depended on his helpful enthusiasm and solid work ability. But today, Liam seems to be particularly humorous, which is very different from before.

"I am very sad about Coach Lickliter's unfortunate injury. I will never forget the help Coach Lickliter gave me. It was he who broke the prejudice and gave me the opportunity to coach the Bulldogs." Liam's expression suddenly became solemn, and others stopped laughing.

"I have to admit that the Bulldogs' past history is a bit pale. Not to mention compared with giants like UCLA, North Carolina, and Michigan State, we can't even compare with those guys at Indiana State." Liam said as he recalled his original body's memories.

The players' mood became a little low.

The Bulldogs' past performance is indeed unremarkable, and the team is a sworn enemy of the powerful Indiana State University, which is also in the Horizon League, and is ridiculed by the opponent every time they meet.

"But fortunately, the school was no longer satisfied with the current status of the team. After Coach Lickliter was injured, they did not choose a good coach with 'qualifications'," Liam's voice gradually rose, "but let me take over the position of head coach, hoping that I could bring about changes."

"Are you satisfied with just playing the regular season every season and watching Indiana State shine on the stage of March Madness?" Liam asked loudly.

"No! I don't want to be pointed at and called a loser behind my back at school anymore!"

"I want to play March Madness, too!"

"I'm tired of those idiots at ISU smugly smiling!"

The players were very excited and complained bitterly. As players of a weak team, they had encountered too many unhappy things.

Several assistant coaches looked at each other and saw reluctance in each other's eyes.

If they are assistant coaches for top teams like Duke or North Carolina, after accumulating a few years of experience, they are likely to receive coaching invitations from other universities.

But with the Bulldogs, it will be hard for them to make it to March Madness; almost no one will pay attention to them, and they can only be assistant coaches forever.

Liam raised his hand to calm the players down, and they stopped talking. He continued,

"Why can we only watch others play in March Madness and enjoy the attention of the whole country, while we can only leave in disgrace after the regular season? Our training is not any easier than others!"

"I want to see the scenery of March Madness. I want to be a big coach that everyone pays attention to. I want to leave my name in the history of the NCAA. Do you want to go with me to see how crazy March Madness is?"

"Yes!" the players' voices were deafening.

"Very good, train hard. I will arrange the most suitable tactics for you, select the best starting lineup, and lead you to fight in March Madness!" Liam waved his hand and spoke in a firm voice.

Liam raised his right hand in the air. Everyone understood and put their hands on his hand. He shouted:

"3, 2, 1, Bulldogs, let's go!"

"Bulldogs, let's go!" everyone shouted in unison and dispersed to train.

Looking at the motivated players, Liam smiled.

"Clap, clap, clap."

A round of applause broke out, and Liam turned around. A middle-aged Black man who was nearly 2 meters tall was standing next to Stevens and looking at him:

"Liam, your speech was very exciting."

"Mr. Shrewsbury, I just said what I really thought." Liam walked up and shook hands with the Black man.

He is Micah Shrewsbury, director of basketball operations at Butler University. He was a former player for the Bulldogs and is now in charge of all basketball affairs at Butler University. It was he who signed the head coach contract with Liam.

"Call me Micah," Micah Shrewsbury said with some emotion, "The Bulldogs haven't made the tournament for four consecutive years. These kids haven't experienced the life-and-death feeling of March Madness. That feeling is so wonderful. Once you experience it, you'll never forget it."

"Micah, they will understand it soon." Liam said with a smile.

"Are you really sure you can lead the team into the championship?" Micah Shrewsbury stared at Liam.

Liam spoke without hesitation:

"Of course, this is my duty."

Micah Shrewsbury turned his gaze to the Bulldogs players and whispered:

"Although the team has only signed a one-year contract with you, the operations department has been under tremendous pressure. Some directors believe that an assistant coach with more experience and a background from a wealthier club should be invited to take over Lickliter's position."

"I will always remember the trust that the basketball operations department and the director have placed in me." Liam's expression was very sincere.

No matter how much face Lickliter had, the basketball operations department and Micah definitely played a key role in allowing a 23-year-old Colombian to serve as the head coach of an NCAA Division I team.

"This is also the judgment we made after comprehensive evaluation. You are an excellent coach, and I believe this decision is correct."

Micah Shrewsbury praised Liam for a few words, then changed the subject:

"But, as you know, Indianapolis is a relatively traditional city. Some people on the board of directors don't respect people of different skin colors and ethnicities like I do. If you can't achieve good enough results..."

He didn't finish his words, but Liam understood what he meant.

"Isn't it enough to enter the tournament?" Liam frowned slightly.

Micah Shrewsbury sighed:

"In the United States, white people put in 90% of the effort and get 100% of the results, while African Americans need to put in 120% of the effort, Latinos need to put in 150% of the effort, and Asians need to put in 200% of the effort. What's more, you are not an American yet."

Liam was speechless for a moment, and the two of them fell silent.

In the United States, anti-racism is absolutely politically correct, but racial discrimination exists on every inch of this country, and Asians are at the bottom of this chain of racial discrimination.

Micah Shrewsbury's words are not alarmist. In his original memory, he had experienced too much discrimination after coming to the United States.

"What are the board's requirements for the team's performance in the new season?" Liam asked.

Micah hesitated for a moment and said:

"We must at least make it to the top 16."

Note: This novel as you see I changed the name and nationality, as such is more complicated translate it I hope you support it.