At 5:30 AM on March 16th, Kayce woke up on time.
"Ugh, ugh…"
That overly evil B-grade functional drink from the dream space made even Kayce's powerful sense of taste feel uncomfortable.
After more than a year of physical training, the functional drink had been upgraded again; the dark green liquid looked a bit sinister.
Kayce forced down the discomfort in his heart and took a sip, a complex flavor surging into his mind. This taste made Kayce nauseous and woke him up with a retch.
"Ah! This new drink really packs a punch!"
Kayce felt that familiar sense of fullness returning to his body and was very happy. Although this stuff was slow to take effect, it was excellent as a physical recovery agent.
Even with the most intense schedule, Kayce would not worry too much about his recovery the next day.
He got up, went out for a jog, and had a good meal to soothe his stomach. With Britney and Anne coming today, Kayce's schedule was still very tight.
Since the games officially started tomorrow, Coach Ben's main focus today was routine training, just letting the players get their bodies moving a bit.
Coach Ben had a serious expression. Kayce knew he was actually very worried about the team but couldn't show it, so he just stood there with a stern face.
Collison seemed fine, but Holiday was clearly getting nervous. Seeing him miss shots, Kayce knew he was too invested in the game.
After all, NCAA games receive a lot of attention and can significantly impact draft positions.
Holiday's family background was average, so in this situation, nervousness, anxiety, and unease were all normal.
Kayce couldn't help him, as he himself couldn't guarantee an excellent performance. He could only go over and practice shooting with him more.
Everyone dispersed around 2 PM, as many people had to pick up their friends and family.
Kayce also planned to pick up Britney first; she was easier to appease.
"My dear, you've landed, right? I'll be there to pick you up right away."
Kayce was about to leave and called Britney first to gauge the situation.
"No need to pick me up! Anne and I are coming directly to you, tee hee." Kayce almost jumped when he heard the blonde sweetie's giggling voice.
"How did you two come together?" Kayce quickly asked, pretending nothing was amiss.
"Girl talk secrets, won't tell you! Gotta go, we'll be there soon, bye!" Kayce was already numb; this was the rhythm of a love triangle!
What's meant to be will be, what's meant to happen will happen. Kayce had no other choice but to wait.
By the time Kayce saw the two of them in the hotel lobby, an hour had passed, and he had completely given up.
Britney was holding hands with Anne. Both were tall and exceptionally beautiful, attracting the attention of a group of perverts as soon as they entered the hotel.
Slim-fit jeans paired with simple white T-shirts and classic AJ4s, their figures were graceful.
Kayce quickly went to greet them. Britney was especially happy, jumping directly into Li Ze's arms and laughing happily as she hugged her beloved big boy.
Kayce held Britney and saw Anne looking at him with a half-smile, feeling a little awkward inside.
"How did you two come together?" Kayce asked cautiously.
"I went to find Anne! We cleared up the misunderstanding, and Anne is really, really nice!"
Kayce didn't know what kind of sweet talk Anne had given this silly girl, but she immediately started praising Anne to him.
"Are you surprised? I remember a certain little boy always said he'd treat Britney and me to dinner, didn't he?" Anne said, secretly pinching the soft flesh on Kayce's waist.
"Hiss… Of course, it's my honor to treat two beautiful ladies." Kayce shouted in his heart, "It hurts so much!" but smiled outwardly.
Accompanied by the happy chattering of Britney, the three, whose relationship was becoming increasingly complicated, prepared to tour the sights of Houston.
Returning to the hotel in the evening, Kayce only felt mentally exhausted. Shopping with one girl was tiring enough, let alone with two.
Britney was overjoyed, while Anne kept pinching and twisting him the whole way. Fortunately, Kayce had thick skin, otherwise, he would have been in for it.
"It seems both the big tree and the forest are fine, so this can be considered a good thing, right?" Kayce didn't want to overthink it. The game started tomorrow, and he needed to adjust his mood.
On March 17th, before the game began, the Houston Texans' home stadium was already packed with people.
To earn more ticket revenue and boost the local economy, NCAA game venues are temporarily converted NFL fields.
The Houston Texans' home stadium can accommodate 72,000 spectators, and tickets were sold out long ago. Basically, everyone coming to watch the game had to bring their own binoculars, otherwise, it would be too difficult to see clearly.
Playing in such a large stadium with a massive audience, the players also felt a lot of pressure. Facing the thunderous cheers, boos, and applause, it was easy to underperform.
The first time Kayce played last year, his mind was almost blank, and the immense sound waves made it almost impossible for him to hear communication on the court.
This year, Kayce's mindset was much better. His physical condition was good, and his game experience had increased, so he wasn't flustered at all. A leader must look calm.
"Go, Bro, I look forward to your excellent performance tonight!"
Kayce saw the text message from Westbrook and was very happy. It seemed Westbrook still cared about his friends.
Kayce had already received good luck messages from Klay, Love, and Luc Mbah a Moute. There were even more messages from "superficial brothers," showing that his connections were quite effective.
The game started at 6 PM. One hour before the game, major media outlets and commentators were already in full swing. The live commentators were Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith.
Gamblers and team supporters had already entered, and the entire stadium was buzzing with noise.
"Wow, look at this atmosphere! I Love basketball games! March every year is full of passion! Buddy, which team are you rooting for tonight?"
Kenny Smith rambled a bit before getting to the point.
"Of course, I'm rooting for UCLA! They made it to the Final Four last year, and this year, they have Kayce, Darren Collison is back from injury, and Holiday makes their perimeter even more aggressive!"
Don't ask Reggie Miller; if you ask, he'll say he's rooting for UCLA. After all, it's his alma mater; whether they're good or not, he'll praise them first.
"No, no, no, you should look at their opponent! The University of Connecticut has Price and Hasheem Thabeet, one inside and one outside, and they have great chemistry!"
Smith immediately countered.
When it came to showmanship, TNT definitely had it down pat.
The two commentators blustered on. Reggie Miller said Kayce had a killer instinct like him, while Smith said Thabeet would tear through UCLA's interior, and no one could stop him.
The cheerleaders on the field began to sway their hips and buttocks, making the atmosphere even more lively.
Britney and Anne's seats were very close to the front, allowing them to clearly see the situation on the court without binoculars.
"Anne, what if Kayce loses this game? He works so hard lifting weights every day; if he loses, he'll be sad for a long time!"
Britney was wearing a UCLA jersey today and was already nervous even before Kayce appeared.
"You've said that so many times already!" Anne pulled Britney down to sit. Actually, she was also worried, but being proud, she wouldn't say it.
At this moment, the live DJ began to shout enthusiastically:
"Let's welcome the UCLA Bruins!"
The single-elimination game had arrived; March Madness officially began!