Wake-up Call!

Smacked in the nose

 

            In January of 2021, a Stanford team that had been cruising got its nose blooded by Colorado and UCLA. The team responded by going on a run that ended with a National Championship.  In January of 2023, this Stanford team that had been cruising -- winning even when they were playing poorly -- got its nose bloodied by USC.  Hopefully it won't require a second loss for this talented team to answer the wake-up call.

 

            After her years at CAL, Lindsay Gottlieb knows a lot about how Stanford plays. It is no secret that the way to beat Stanford is to make the game a street fight not a track meet.  USC had the talent to make that plan effective against a Stanford team that was not playing the way it can play.   Stanford's play was marked by sloppy passing, poor shot selection, and defensive lapses. 

 

            Although the CARD outrebounded USC (40 - 36) and shot a slightly higher percentage overall (30.9% to 27.3%) and at the free throw line (80% to 65.4%), Stanford also committed more fouls, (23 to 9), had twice as many turnovers (14 to 7), had fewer assists, and shot worse from three (19% to 42%).  Good screens and fast breaks are the secrets to success from the three-point line by great shooters like Hannah Jump.  For anybody shooting less than 25% from three for the season, the player can figure that if they are wide open from three it is because the other team wants them to shoot from there.  Passing or driving to the basket are probably better decisions unless the coaches have specifically directed the player to shoot from three.

 

Questions

 

1. How will this team respond to a loss?

            Losses generally teach more than wins.  Winning without playing up to one's potential - as Stanford had for the last several games - can encourage bad habits.  Talented teams can occasionally need a reminder that games are won by your play not your talent - you must execute the play your talent makes you capable of to win.  Stanford students are generally "quick studies" -- we will see soon whether this was lesson delivered, lesson grasped.

 

2.  How good is USC?

            This USC team is basically a line-up of transfers with a few sophomores getting minutes.  It can take a while for a team with so little history together to "come together."  Time will tell whether USC's win over Stanford was just a lucky blip of catching the CARD while they were sleeping or reflects the real potential of this 14-4 team.