After losing the crucial game against Kainan High, Ryoukufu High, a virtually unknown basketball team, challenges Team Shohoku and a freshly shaved Hanamichi Sakuragi to an exhibition game. Coach Anzai sees this as a chance for Shohoku to rebuild their confidence, but it's been discovered that Ryoukufu has a newly constructed championship-calibre squad and might provide Sakuragi & Co. with their biggest challenge yet.