Chapter 8: A Battle for Respect

Compared to the serious and intense warm-ups at the University of Massachusetts, the players from the University of Connecticut were far more relaxed and confident.

For them, this stage wasn't new—it was where they belonged.

They had made deep tournament runs before, and with NBA-ready talent like Ray Allen leading the way, they fully expected to dominate.

And it wasn't just Allen.

They had Jon Rooney, an elite inside presence with strength and defensive skills that rivaled Marcus Camby.

Many scouts even believed Rooney's ability to handle physical matchups was on par with the best big men in the country.

Combine that with a roster stacked with experienced players, and it was clear why UConn wasn't worried about this game.

To them, UMass was just another stepping stone to the next round.

They were about to learn how wrong they were.

---

With the referee's whistle, the game began.

Marcus Camby won the jump ball for UMass, tapping it back to point guard Auston Marcos, who quickly pushed up the court.

Almost immediately, the team looked to Camby for the first offensive play.

This was their usual strategy—establish the inside dominance early.

Though Camby was known primarily for his defensive ability, his offense was nothing to overlook.

He averaged 18.8 points per game, making him one of the best scorers in the NCAA.

As expected, UMass went straight to Camby in the post.

Bang!

A hard collision between Camby and Rooney in the paint.

Rooney was strong—stronger than most Camby had faced all year.

But Camby was patient.

With a quick footwork adjustment, he spun off the contact and floated in a soft hook shot.

Swish.

The first points of the game belonged to UMass.

The crowd erupted as Camby jogged back on defense.

But UConn wasted no time responding.

Ray Allen ran off two staggered screens, freeing himself for an open three at the top of the key.

As soon as the ball left his hands, the entire arena knew it was good.

Swish.

Perfect form.

Perfect release.

The best shooter in college basketball had struck first.

2-3. UConn leads.

Ethan Walker, watching from the perimeter, nodded in approval.

He could already tell—Ray Allen wasn't just hype.

His movement, his footwork, his timing—everything was precise.

"That was clean," Ethan muttered.

This wasn't going to be an easy battle.

But he wouldn't have it any other way.

---

The game quickly became a back-and-forth battle.

On the next play, Marcos caught UConn's defense off guard, speeding past defenders for an easy layup.

4-3, UMass.

But UConn responded again, pushing the tempo and finding Allen for a mid-range jumper.

4-5, UConn.

Both teams traded buckets, refusing to let the other gain momentum.

Yet, through the first few minutes, there was one noticeable absence—

Ethan Walker hadn't taken a single shot.

It wasn't by accident.

UConn's head coach had prepared for him.

Ethan was being shadowed by Marshall, a long, athletic defender with a relentless motor.

From the opening tip, Marshall had been glued to Ethan, denying him any space.

The strategy was clear—shut down Ethan early, make him uncomfortable, and throw UMass off balance.

And so far, it was working.

Ethan was completely neutralized.

---

Ray Allen wasn't impressed.

After sinking another long-range jumper, he turned to his teammates and clapped his hands aggressively.

"Come on!" Allen yelled. "Let's play harder—I don't want this game to be close!"

Despite UConn's talent, UMass was keeping up.

And that frustrated Allen.

To him, this shouldn't even be a competition.

The fact that UMass was still within striking distance was an insult.

They needed to crush them now.

And so, UConn turned up the pressure.

Their defensive intensity increased, making it harder for UMass to get into their sets.

Their offensive ball movement became sharper, leading to easy baskets in transition.

For the first time in the game, UMass was struggling.

Camby was still battling inside, but Rooney's defense had adjusted.

On one possession, Camby tried to back Rooney down again—but this time, the UConn big man held firm.

When Camby finally turned for his hook shot—Rooney blocked it cleanly.

The ball was instantly scooped up by UConn's guards.

They quickly pushed the ball forward, creating a fast break opportunity.

Ray Allen sprinted ahead, received the pass, and—

Boom!

A thunderous one-handed dunk sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The momentum had officially shifted.

UConn had taken control.

---

The commentators could sense it.

"The University of Connecticut has started to take over! Their defense is much more aggressive, and UMass is struggling to keep up!"

"I have to be honest—I don't understand Coach Randolph's decision. Are we sure this Ethan Walker kid is actually good? Because right now, he looks completely out of place."

"Yeah, I don't see it. Maybe he should be playing soccer or table tennis instead—he sure doesn't belong here!"

The disrespect was real.

Competitive sports are ruthless—the weak get mocked, and the strong get praised.

And right now?

Ethan Walker was looking invisible.

A non-factor.

A waste of a roster spot.

At least, that's what the world thought.

But Ethan?

He was calm.

Because he knew what was coming.

---

On the UConn bench, their head coach nodded in approval.

He had studied Ethan's tape.

He had seen his scoring bursts in past games.

And he knew that stopping him early was the key to disrupting UMass' offense.

So far, the plan had worked.

And with Ethan struggling, all they had to do was slow down Camby, and the game would be over.

Everything was going exactly as they had planned.

But what they didn't realize—

Ethan Walker was just getting started.