The game was over.
The Bruins destroyed the Spartans 104-84, winning by 20 points.
Although fans and media had generally favored UCLA to advance, nobody expected it to be this lopsided.
After all, the Elite Eight wasn't just a name—every team that made it this far was formidable.
Post-game interview.
Appling spoke candidly: "We have to congratulate UCLA. Yu is even better than advertised. Tonight we threw everything at him and still couldn't slow him down."
Spartans head coach Tom Izzo deflected questions about his tactics.
Playing it safe with reporters, he knew complimenting the team that beat you was never wrong.
"I believe Yu is the NCAA Freshman of the Year—I genuinely believe that. Even if we'd faced Kentucky and AD instead, they couldn't have put on this kind of individual performance against us."
Tom Izzo had been coaching Michigan State since 1995, leading them to six Final Four appearances and winning the championship in 2000.
A veteran like him could handle reporters as easily as breathing.
"When we evaluate a player, we always like to say don't judge their value purely by statistics."
"But when discussing Yu tonight, we can't ignore the numbers. Even in a game of this magnitude, he shot 56% from the field and finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists."
"How many 30-point games has Yu had now? I've lost count. But what's remarkable is that despite his incredible scoring ability, he also has an exceptionally cool head."
"I don't think his comparison should be Jordan. Michael didn't pass like Magic did. Yu only looks selfish—he's actually very team-oriented."
Such praise was almost absurdly high.
But if you'd watched Yuuto play, it somehow felt appropriate.
Yuuto's college performances had been nothing short of miraculous.
"I believe Yu is ready to be an NBA player—even an NBA star. Compared to the other nine players on the court, he's operating at a different level."
"Will he be the number-one pick? I'm not saying that, because Kentucky's AD is equally impressive. But I can say with certainty that Yu won't let you down. Congratulations in advance to whatever team gets him."
Magic Johnson also offered high praise for Yuuto's performance after the game.
He even sought Yuuto out afterward.
"Ready to become the next big thing in the league?"
"Of course."
"I love your confidence. If I were an NBA GM, I'd do whatever it takes to get you."
"That's an honor, Magic. You're the gold standard in this business."
Yuuto understood Magic's underlying meaning and graciously accepted the goodwill.
He wouldn't refuse to join the Lakers—it was one of his dream destinations.
But in the short term, he couldn't have any connection with them.
The next day.
ESPN covered the game and Yuuto's post-game interview.
"Whenever I want, I can dominate Draymond. But despite that, I still respect the effort he put in tonight."
Yuuto insisted he didn't want to talk about Green, but he'd certainly said plenty.
"Honestly, I don't really want to discuss the only non-elite player in the Elite Eight. Since entering March Madness, I haven't had a truly easy game."
The New York Times sports section ran the headline "Asian Storm Sweeps America."
They provided detailed analysis of the Bruins' winning formula.
"Steve isn't a legendary coach, but he smartly bet everything on Yu, and it paid off handsomely—a trip to the Final Four!"
"At this level, you rarely see NBA superstar-style dominance, but Yu delivered. Consecutive 30-point games and a spectacular triple-double prove his ability and potential."
"I believe the Knicks trading Amar'e for Yu wouldn't be a gamble—it would be a worthwhile investment!"
New Yorkers' famous bluntness was on full display.
They'd already completely forgotten how ecstatic they were when Stoudemire first joined the Knicks.
But that was New York.
The Knicks had the NBA's biggest market, home to the most wealthy fans in America. Their standards were understandably high.
If you could lead them to victory, you were God.
If you couldn't?
Then your value depended entirely on New Yorkers' mood that day.
Other cities' newspapers echoed similar sentiments, all praising this Asian prodigy.
It was hard not to suspect someone was orchestrating this behind the scenes.
NBA teams smelled something—they suspected David Stern might be behind it.
The commissioner hadn't retired yet, and he desperately wanted to replicate Yao Ming's success.
Therefore, he was more than willing to help promote this rising star.
As a result, numerous college basketball experts updated their 2012 NBA mock drafts.
Yuuto was now locked into the top two, splitting the odds of going number one with Anthony Davis at fifty-fifty.
But considering that UCLA and Kentucky had both made the Final Four and could potentially meet in the championship game, many believed the question of who would go first between Yuuto and Anthony Davis would be decided by their head-to-head matchup.
With UCLA reaching the Final Four, the Bruins became California's most-watched team—bar none.
Neither the Los Angeles Lakers nor the Golden State Warriors commanded as much attention.
Even Hollywood celebrities publicly declared their support for UCLA.
Yuuto's "agent" Walker had established the Yu Fan Association during this period.
He was getting a head start on his work.
On UCLA's campus.
Students plastered posters on dorm walls featuring Yuuto at the moment of his free-throw line takeoff.
The caption read: "Make UCLA Great Again—Keep Marching Forward!"
Meanwhile.
The Final Four bracket was set.
Kentucky, UCLA, Ohio State, and Louisville.
UCLA's next opponent would be the Ohio State Buckeyes.
This school needed no introduction—another traditional NCAA powerhouse, one of the programs that had produced the most first-round picks in NBA history, with 24.
Their roster didn't have a lineup of future NBA players, but they were disciplined and cohesive.
Pre-game, fans and media expected a fierce battle.
The result was shocking.
UCLA crushed the Buckeyes 109-78 at the Georgia Dome.
The reason for victory was simple: every Bruin exploded tonight.
Reeves Nelson had 17 points. Mosely poured in 21. Norman Powell added 12. Yuuto scored 24. Those four alone combined for 74 points. The game even featured garbage time—Yuuto played just 28 minutes before resting.
Suddenly.
Fans were crying "wolf"—UCLA looked ready to claim the national championship.
...
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