NBA: GIANT KILLING

March had finally arrived, carrying with it the madness that every college player dreamed of.

Players were buzzing, the audience excited, the bettors, manic.

Everybody who follows even a bit of basketball set their eyes on collegiate-level basketball.

Yes, college basketball, not the NBA.

Why? Because March Madness is here.

For Oliver, this was the stage he had been waiting for.

The Atlantic Athletic Metropolis League had never been known as a powerhouse conference. Outside of Mo Williams, there weren't many future NBA-caliber players. Only now, with the tournament upon them, could Oliver finally test himself against the nation's elite—players destined to carve their names into basketball history.

This was the arena where future legends were born.

Carmelo Anthony from Syracuse University, Dwyane Wade from Marquette University, Chris Bosh from Georgia Tech—these were the crown jewels of the Silver Generation.

Beyond them, names like Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, Mickaël Piétrus, Nick Collison, David West, Kendrick Perkins, and Josh Howard stood as proof of this era's immense talent.

But above all, it was Wade whom Oliver longed to face the most.

Wade, the man who would claim an NBA championship in just his third year and later win two more alongside LeBron James. The electrifying connection between Wade and LeBron had captured the hearts of basketball fans across the world.

As a fellow guard, Oliver wanted to measure himself against Wade—against the speed, the craftiness, the unrelenting attack. He had read the articles, heard the praise, but none of that mattered. He wanted to see for himself.

Yet, despite the significance of the moment, Oliver remained eerily calm.

Even Golin noticed.

"Bro, do you even realize how famous you are now? Can't you at least act excited?"

Oliver simply shook his head.

"What's there to celebrate? I haven't won March Madness yet."

Golin was a bit speechless at that reply.

Oliver had never cared for media attention, and now was no different. Words meant nothing. The moment the tournament began, the true contenders would be revealed.

March Madness had always been a crucible—where unknown players rose into the spotlight and where projected lottery picks sometimes collapsed under pressure.

Oliver understood that.

He wasn't in a rush.

Because soon, it would be his turn.

The NCAA Selection Process

After the conference tournaments, the NCAA Selection Committee—an assembly of league commissioners and school administrators—gathered to decide the 68 teams that would compete for the national title.

Each conference champion secured an automatic bid. The remaining 36 teams were handpicked as at-large selections.

These teams were then split into four regions: East, Midwest, South, and West, with each region holding 17 seeds. The lowest-seeded teams, the #16 and #17 seeds, battled in a preliminary round. Only the winners advanced to the official 64-team tournament.

And from there, the chaos truly began.

A single-elimination gauntlet. One loss, and you were gone.

The format was ruthless:

#1 vs. #16

#2 vs. #15

#3 vs. #14

And so on.

One shot. One chance.

For Oliver and his team, the journey was about to begin.

A Tough First-Round Matchup

The moment the bracket was revealed, a wave of tension swept through the University of Aina's locker room.

Seeded #13 in the Midwest Region, they were set to face #4 seed Georgia Tech in the opening round.

Despite their undefeated conference record, no one believed in them.

It was the same story every year—teams from the Atlantic Athletic Metropolis League were seen as early exits, mere stepping stones for the real contenders.

No matter how good the results of their run in their league, it was the Selection Committee who would ultimately decide their standing.

The announcement had barely sunk in before Golin slammed a basketball against the floor.

"Are you kidding me? Georgia Tech?!"

A deep sense of dread settled over the team.

Georgia Tech wasn't just a strong team—they were a juggernaut. And at the heart of their squad was a monstrous freshman who had been tearing through college competition all season.

Oliver pulled up their roster and let out an excited grin.

Chris Bosh.

His first opponent in March Madness would be a future NBA All-Star.

That sounded… perfect.

But when Golin noticed Oliver's expression, he groaned.

"Man, you're impossible," he muttered. "I know you love playing against the best, but this time is different. That Bosh guy—he's a projected top-five pick. He's a beast!"

Oliver merely smiled.

"I know."

His voice was quiet, yet there was a certainty in his tone that made the room fall silent.

Then he added, "But… I'm strong too."

For a moment, no one spoke.

The confidence in Oliver's words settled deep in their bones.

And for the first time, his teammates started to believe.

Maybe—just maybe—they could win.

Game Day in Chicago

When the day of battle finally arrived, the University of Aina stepped onto the court of a packed arena in Chicago.

Unlike regular-season games, the NCAA Tournament was played at neutral venues. And this was Chicago—a city that bled basketball, a city covered in murals of Jordan and Bulls banners fluttering in the wind.

The stands were packed with roaring fans. But almost none of them were there for Aina.

Everywhere Oliver looked, he saw waves of yellow and navy—Georgia Tech colors.

Banners with "Georgia Tech for the Win!" were hoisted high above the court. The chants were deafening.

For Aina, there was no home crowd.

No familiar cheers.

Only the weight of expectation pressing down on them.

The Media's Perspective

March Madness was a magnet for reporters, all eager to document the rise of future NBA stars.

Naturally, powerhouse teams like Georgia Tech attracted the lion's share of attention.

In the front row, a reporter from FOX Sports, Tony, sat with his cameraman, Allen.

Tony had covered March Madness for years, and nothing about today surprised him.

The one-sided crowd? Expected.

The dismissal of Aina? Predictable.

What did surprise him, however, was how little people believed in Oliver—despite all the noise surrounding him.

Beside him, a sharply dressed man in gold-rimmed glasses smirked.

"So, you're still backing that so-called superstar point guard?" he asked.

Tony didn't answer right away. He simply adjusted his notes, watching as Oliver took the court.

Then, with a knowing grin, he muttered under his breath:

"They'll regret underestimating him."

Because soon, the world would see—

The Giant Killer had arrived.