Two Games, Two Different Results
The Cardinal had two games this past week, one was a road trip to perennial powerhouse Indiana. The other a home game against the MECA Conference's Morgan State. The results couldn't have been more different. The game against Indiana resulted in a 14-point loss that ended Stanford's brief first appearance in the national Top 25. The game against Morgan State was a 42-point blowout win that sent Stanford into Thanksgiving week with lots to be thankful about. The most important thing about both games is that they provided valuable lessons -- that's the most important thing in November basketball.
This year's Stanford squad is a young team. The only truly experienced player, Stanford's starting point guard for the last two seasons Talana Lepolo, is still recovering from the knee injury (that required surgery in the off-season). As a result, her availability and minutes have been limited. The team's two seniors both had experience as starters on last year's team, but they only averaged 6.7 (Bosgana) and 6.3 (Demetre) points per game and were fifth (Demetre) and sixth in total minutes. Of the remaining returning players only red-shirt junior Jzaniya Harriel had any experience as a starter (two games). Stanford's sophomores three sophomores all saw significant action last year, but none averaged more than 14 minutes per game. The two transfers on this year's team, junior Tess Heal and sophomore Mary Ashley (MA) Stevenson, both have significant college experience but are new to the Stanford system. Finally, the team's three freshmen are obviously lacking in both college and Stanford experience. With such a young team the number one task for the preseason is team and player development. That is the lens through which this week’s games should be viewed.
First Road Trip: Forgot to Pack the Three-Point Shot
The Indiana game was about as difficult a challenge for a young team's first road trip as one could imagine. Assembly Hall holds over 17,000 and is routinely packed with screaming fans. The Indiana team was incredibly motivated, first by having suffered back-to-back ugly losses in their two prior games and additionally by having suffered a 32-point blow out loss to Stanford last season. Absent vastly different talent levels, basketball games are won by the team that plays with the greatest intensity and physicality. That is how Indiana played against the CARD. Stanford simply didn't match Indiana's level of physicality and intensity. That difference really showed up in the three-point shooting -- with Stanford hitting two-of-eleven from three-point range while Indiana shot over 47% from three. There were some positives, mostly in the way multiple players contributed and the CARD's continued effort to the end. Nunu Agara continued to score well, but her efficiency was down. Overall, the game was most significant for the opportunities to learn what needs to get better.
Back Home!
Against Morgan State the Stanford team had plenty of opportunities to recover. The CARD came out with intensity, scoring the first 11 points of the game in route to a 26-6 first quarter lead. Despite having 31-point lead, the CARD came out with that same intensity to start the second half, scoring the first 13 points on their way to a blow-out win. Brooke Demetre and Elena Bosgana provided senior leadership both vocally and with their play on the court. Brooke was the game's leading scorer with 15 points, including three-of-four from three. Elena also scored in double figures and was the game's assist leader with six assists and ZERO turnovers. Brooke is one of those dependable players -- never flashy (except when her three-point shot is on fire) but always good for a solid contribution to the game even when her three-pointer doesn't fall. Elena is another solid player -- but what is most impressive is the transformation of her game from her freshman year, when she seemed to think that pass was not only a four-letter word but a dirty one, to her current status as one of the team's assist leaders. The Greek National Team is going to be happy to have her back when her Stanford days are over.
Memorable Moments
In addition to being a satisfying win, Friday night's game against Morgan State had some especially memorable moments. Freshman Kennedy Umeh, in what is almost certainly a glimpse of things to come, recorded the first double-double of her Stanford career. Kennedy had 11 points and 10 rebounds (along with two blocks) in just over 10 minutes of playing time. The 6'4" Umeh is the only true center on Stanford's roster. Her continued development will be important for Stanford's play in March.
The other big moment was when junior Lauren Green scored the first field goal of her college career. Lauren's career is an inspirational story. Accepted to Stanford academically, she convinced Coach VanDerveer to allow her to participate as a walk-on. She is never going to play professionally or get a big NIL deal. But her dedication, determination, and love for the game show up every day in practice where she is a tenacious defender and a competent three-point shooter. That kind of hard work should inspire any player who thinks limited minutes are an excuse to "take it easy" in practice. Lauren only gets to play in blow-out games. She took only one shot per season, both three-point attempts, in the first two years of her career. Prior to Friday's game, her only points were from the free throw line where is a perfect two-for-two. Against Morgan State, it appeared that Coach Paye called a play for Lauren to get an open shot under the basket and Lauren delivered! The bench and the entire crowd went wild! Players jumped up and down while fans joined in the celebration!
The Next Big Test on the Road Ahead
Neither of the next two Thanksgiving week games against Big West Conference opponents should be a huge challenge for the Cardinal. The schedule gets considerably tougher after that, with away games against currently undefeated LSU, Cal, and Ohio State. The only home game before ACC play begins in earnest is against University of Texas, San Antonio. Of those games, only the LSU game will require the CARD to get on a plane -- as the Ohio State game is at Chase Center on December 20. But the December schedule is a true gauntlet. Winning more than half of those games would certainly put Stanford back in the Top 25. After that, the ACC schedule will have Stanford playing home and away games alternating every other week until the regular season ends with Stanford at home on March 2 against Georgia Tech. The top 15 teams in the ACC will then play a win-or-go-home tournament March 5-9 in Greensborough, North Carolina.
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