Let the Battle Begin!

The NCAA championship game was electric. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, and the stakes couldn't be higher. In a testament to the game's importance, even the NBA had paused its schedule to give way to the spectacle.

Jay adjusted his wristbands as he stepped onto the court.

The game tipped off, and Stern secured the jump ball for Kentucky. Jay advanced the ball, carefully studying UConn's defensive setup. He passed to Randle, who posted up, testing his defender. But before Randle could make a move, UConn's center rushed over for the double-team, forcing Randle to pass out to Stern.

Stern swung the ball to Jay, who had found an open spot. Catching the pass, Jay immediately launched a shot. Catch and Shoot activated, and the three-pointer found nothing but net. 3–0.

Jay smirked as he noticed UConn's defensive strategy: focus on Randle, double-team him, and dare Kentucky's perimeter players to beat them.

Oh, so you don't respect our shooters? Jay thought. Let's see how that works out for you.

On the next possession, UConn's star, Napier, brought the ball up, and Jay stepped up to defend him. Kentucky's coaching staff had initially planned to double-team Napier, acknowledging his ability to shred defenses. In previous rounds, no player had managed to guard him one-on-one effectively.

But Jay had petitioned Coach Calipari for a chance to single-cover Napier for at least two possessions. If it didn't work, they would revert to the team defense plan.

Jay's request wasn't bravado; it was the confidence instilled by his Gary Payton template card. With his Clamps and Defensive Anchor badges, along with a perimeter defense rating of 75, Jay believed he could handle Napier.

Napier started at the top of the key, dribbling back and forth to test Jay's reactions, all while creeping closer to the three-point line. Jay, hyper-focused, didn't flinch, even as sweat trickled down his brow.

Suddenly, Napier exploded to his right with a crossover. Jay shadowed him step for step, refusing to lose position.

As Napier drove into the paint, he realized there was no help defense coming. Deciding to muscle past Jay for the finish, Napier turned his shoulder into him and prepared for a layup.

But Jay, bolstered by Clamps, stuck to Napier like glue. Frustrated, Napier pivoted, using his shoulder to create space, and went for a hook shot.

Just as he released the ball, Jay's Defensive Anchor badge lit up. Startled by Jay's relentless pressure, Napier rushed the shot, overshooting the rim.

"Rebound!" Napier shouted, knowing the shot was off.

Under the basket, Stern and UConn's center battled for position, with Randle crashing in to secure the board. Randle immediately fired a long outlet pass to James Young, who finished with a smooth layup.

On UConn's next possession, Napier called for a screen, clearly recognizing Jay wouldn't be an easy mark. UConn's center stepped up to set a pick, and Napier used it to drive toward the basket.

Jay, undeterred, slipped around the screen with ease as Pick Dodger activated, sticking with Napier.

But as Napier drove closer, a second screener blindsided Jay, knocking him off course. Napier stopped on a dime and hit a pull-up jumper before Jay could recover. The basket cut Kentucky's lead to 5–2.

Coach Calipari watched the play unfold and shook his head, clearly skeptical of the single-defense strategy.

On Kentucky's next possession, Jay once again fed the ball to Randle, who drew an immediate double-team. This time, Randle passed to James Young, who quickly swung the ball to Jay, now open on the right wing.

Jay didn't hesitate. With his Corner Specialist badge activating, he sank another three.

As Jay jogged back on defense, he glanced at UConn's coach, his expression practically daring him to adjust the strategy. But UConn stuck with their plan, continuing to gamble on Kentucky's perimeter shooting.

Thanks to Napier's offensive prowess, UConn kept the game close. At halftime, Kentucky led 35–30. Jay had scored 18 points, hitting 4 of 6 three-point attempts, while James Young added 9 points with three triples of his own.

However, Randle struggled under constant double-teams, managing just 5 points in the half.

After the break, Randle opened the second half as Kentucky's focal point while Jay rested on the bench.

UConn persisted with their strategy of doubling Randle, and with Jay sidelined, Kentucky's offense stagnated. James Young couldn't shoulder the scoring load alone, and Napier, freed from Jay's defense, put on a show.

Napier slashed through Kentucky's defense, hit jumpers, and dished pinpoint assists, carrying UConn to an 11–3 run that gave them a 41–38 lead.

Coach Calipari quickly called a timeout. Frustrated, he emphasized defensive adjustments and subbed Jay back in.

Napier glanced at Jay as he re-entered the game, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. Napier knew that without Jay, he would have been the undisputed star of the game.

Jay took control at the top of the key, drawing Napier's defense. Randle set a high screen, though his performance had been muted so far. Still, his presence attracted enough attention to open up opportunities for his teammates.

Jay passed to Randle, who immediately drew a double-team. This time, Randle swung the ball to James Young, who couldn't get off a clean shot and quickly passed to Jay, now stationed at the 30-degree angle.

Jay had realized through experimentation that his Corner Specialist badge covered a larger area than just the corner itself, extending to a significant portion of the wing. Confident, he rose for the shot.

Both Corner Specialist and Catch and Shoot badges lit up as Jay released the ball. The shot splashed through the net.

Jay celebrated by holding up three fingers, his gaze locking with Napier's. Napier returned the stare, the intensity in his eyes matching Jay's.

In that moment, it was clear to everyone watching:

The battle had truly begun.