First -- Let's Talk about the Game and the Team!
Gonzaga was Stanford's third official opponent and the first one to be part of the national conversation even if unranked. In fact, in the Top 25 polls, Gonzaga had received more votes than Stanford. The CARD dominated in the first two games, never trailing after the opening moments of the first quarter, scoring over 90 points in each of them, and "shooting the lights out." Still, questions remained -- how would Stanford do against a quality opponent, could the CARD continue to rain threes, could the CARD continue to put up gauzy stats, could the CARD keep scoring over 90 points a game? Additionally, there was the question of how this young team would respond to participating in a "big deal" game -- like this one honoring Tara VanDerveer.
All those questions were answered. The team continued to record an impressive number of assists -- this game it was 19 assists on 30 made baskets (63%) coupled with only 5 turnovers. The CARD also continued to have an impressive number of steals - today it was 10, bringing the season's total to 29. Stanford's three-point total and shooting percentages were down but only slightly -- but their three-point and free throw percentages were up slightly. Against Gonzaga Stanford hit 13 of 24 threes (54%) and 30 of 65 shots total (46%). All ten of the players in the regular rotation scored, led by Nunu Agara with 16. She was joined in double figure by Elena Bosgana and Jzaniya Harriel with 12 each and Chloe Clardy with 11. Six players hit three shots. Of course, the CARD didn't score over 90 points against Gonzaga -- they only got to 89, but that's pretty darn good! To put it simply, as Kate says, "We have good shooters."
Playing to Honor a Legend
Prior to Sunday's game there was a very special ceremony -- celebrating the naming of the basketball court for basketball legend Tara VanDerveer. With her mother, three of her siblings, numerous friends, former players, current Stanford athletes and coaches, and appreciative fans many wearing shirts honoring Tara's record setting career all looking on -- the public address announcer said, "For the first time, welcome to Tara VanDerveer Court at Maple's Pavilion." As the announcement was made, a cover was pulled off the new permanent logo.
All games including volleyball and men's basketball will, from now on, be played on Tara VanDerveer Court at Maples Pavilion. This singular recognition is a fitting honor for a woman who has changed not just women's basketball but women's sports and arguably the sports world.
Tara fell in love with basketball and coaching as a young woman -- back when coaching women's sports was paid like a hobby, if paid at all. She soaked up everything she could from Bobby Knight during her years at Indiana and took her first coaching job as an unpaid assistant at Ohio State. After two years at the University of Idaho, Moscow as their head coach, Tara returned to Ohio State as their head coach in 1981. In 1985 she accepted the job as head coach of Stanford's women's basketball team. A job she held until her retirement earlier this year. During her years at the helm of the CARD, Tara presided over the rise of not only Stanford women's basketball, but west coast women's basketball. Tara's encouragement of other coaches is another part of her legend. Her goals always included building the game and the world of women's sports. Most credit Tara's willingness to take an entire year away from Stanford to lead the US Women's National Team with developing the foundation for women's professional basketball in the US. But, through it all, Tara was never about promoting herself -- always about promoting the game. Today's honor was truly deserved.
A Torch Has Been Passed
This year's Stanford team continues to be a lot of fun to watch. Impressively, it appears to be a team that is a lot of fun for the players too. Coach Paye has them working hard, believing in themselves, cheering in the huddle, and celebrating each other's successes.
Good coaches win a lot of games when coaching a team full of All-Americans. Great coaches develop talented players into the best they can be and combine a team full of talented players into a winning unit. The current Stanford team doesn't have any preseason All Americans. In fact, the preseason ACC All Conference list didn't include a single Stanford player. But this team is winning and the players are getting better every game. Nunu Agara is on her way to being a star. Chloe Clarday is on her way to an impressive sophomore season. Elena Bosgana is blossoming, Everybody cheered Kennedy Umeh's baskets and Shay Ijwoye's assis. Ijwoye to Umeh is a connection we may hear about often for the next four years. All of this is the mark of a special coach. It looks like Stanford has gotten lucky in the coaching realm twice!
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