When Su Xi took the court, the cheers he received were second only to those for Carmeron Anthony.
He was already a household name.
The roar from the New Orleans fans for him was far louder than for TJ Ford, a potential lottery pick who played the same position.
Head Coach Rick Banis stood on the sidelines, a dapper figure. He was one of the most prominent coaches in the NCAA in recent years. He joined the Longhorns in '98 and immediately restored the team to its former glory. He had led them to the Sweet Sixteen for three consecutive years, and this year, they had even reached the Final Four.
The board of trustees trusted him, and his players respected him. He was on the fast track of his career.
