Co-Champs

Coming Up Short In Utah

            It is a testament to how "classy" Stanford's coach is that, in commenting on the Cardinal's loss at Utah, Tara simply said that Utah was the better team in the game.  She didn't point to the insane schedule the CARD had endured -- 3 ranked teams in six days (4 in eight), two plane trips (including one with a multiple hour delay), and a 43-hour turnaround after winning a double overtime game -- 43 hours that included that multi-hour travel delay.  If the CARD had pulled off a win against a highly motivated Utah team seeking a share of the Pac-12 title for the first time on the Utah home court, it would be time to start passing out Superhero capes.  Even with all that adversity, the CARD kept it close, trailing by only one point with less than two-and-a-half minutes to go in the 4th.

 

            The effect of fatigue on Stanford players was evident -- usually sure handed players had difficulty holding on to the ball, great shooters missed layups, and players moved a step too slow on defense.  Utah won the turnover battle, turning the ball over only 10 times while the CARD turned the ball over 21 times! But, in the final analysis, Utah won the game at the free-throw line, hitting 26 of their 33 free-throws while the CARD hit only 11 of 17.  The huge disparity in free-throws taken belies the fact that Stanford was only called for five more fouls (28 to 23).  To admittedly partisan eyes, it seemed that in some cases Utah players were ruled "in the act of shooting" when they were merely "on their way to the basket," while Stanford players getting knocked down while shooting didn't get an "and-one."

 

            Of course, Stanford players and coaches won't make any excuses for the loss.  They will simply learn what there is to be learned (mostly get a good night's sleep before a big game) and use it as motivation should they meet Utah in the Pac-12 Tournament Finals as they will if seeding holds. However, we certainly hope that the NCAA Committee takes that adversity into account.  Winning the Pac-12 Tournament would resolve that issue.

 

Bright Spots

            Perhaps the brightest spot is the fight that Stanford demonstrated.  After the gauntlet Stanford had faced, just showing up and jumping out to a 9-0 lead and battling back time and again -- pulling to within one, two-, or three-points numerous times after going down by more ten points -- is impressive. This team has heart!

 

            Another bright spot was the continued prowess of Cameron Brink at the free-throw line.  She only missed one free-throw for the ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.  Cam hit 8 of 8 against Utah, 15 of 15 against UCLA, 4 of 4 against Arizona, 5 of 6 against Arizona State, 4 of 4 against Washington, and 2 of 2 against Washington State (she did not go to the line against Colorado). Impressive for a player whose FT average was in the 60% range in her first two years! It was also a positive to see Hannah Jump score 24 points, including 6 threes. Those threes may put her back into the top 5 nationally. (Hannah is currently 7th nationally.)

 

            This game, coming at the end of a grueling stretch, also gave Stanford a chance to employ its depth.  Many of the players who have had fewer minutes during the Pac-12 season got a chance to show what they can do, and they all contributed. Stanford's bench contributed 24 points compared to Utah's 15.  

 

Questions

 

1. What will be the first upset of the Pac-12 Tournament?

Reflecting the conference's strength, the Pac-12 tournament regularly sees upsets. With the conclusion of the final regular season games, the tournament bracket is set -- but we can expect that the seeding will not hold perfectly.  Stanford is the #1 seed while Co-Champion Utah is the #2 seed. Stanford's first game, scheduled for 2:30 on Thursday, will be against the winner of Wednesday's game between Washington and Oregon. If that is Washington it would give the CARD the chance to avenge one of its three Pac-12 losses. Who knows what comes next.

Miracle in the Mountains!

 Never quit on the CARD 'cause they don't quit!

Stanford 73 -- Colorado 62

 

            Things looked dark for Stanford down by one with six seconds left in the game and Colorado's Jaylyn Sherrod going to the free throw line for two shots. Sherrod, a 75% free throw shooter, missed both.  Fran Belibi grabbed the rebound.  With three seconds left, Lauren Betts was fouled while shooting from deep in the paint. She made one of the resulting free throws, sending the game into a second OT. Despite the fatigue one would expect for a team playing at altitude against their third ranked team in less than a week, Stanford outscored Colorado 13 to 2 in the final five minutes of this 50-minute game! 

 

            When Pac-12 Player-of-the-Year candidate Cameron Brink fouled out early in the first OT, All American Haley Jones stepped up! She was directly involved in seven of Stanford's points in the final OT (four points and an amazing assist on a Hannah Jump three-pointer), while playing the point and -- even more -- being the team's leader.  Haley played every minute of the game, scoring seven points in the first OT to help keep the CARD in the game.

 

            Stanford reserve stars from Colorado -- senior Fran Belibi and freshman Lauren Betts -- were key players in this victory, partly due to Brink's foul problems!  Both played roughly 20 minutes over their season average.  Between the two, they accounted for 20 of the team's 73 points, 5 of the team's 10 blocks, 6 of the team's 16 assists, and 16 of the team's 53 rebounds.  Fran also had a critical steal.  She reminded us why we will miss her, and Lauren showed us how dominant she is going to become!

 

HARD TRIP!

            Trips to the mountains are always hard due to the need to play at altitude after plane rides.  This trip also has the difficulty of coming at 2 pm after a Monday night game, that was followed by an emotional Senior Night ceremony.  Stanford didn't even take the normal morning shoot-around.  That may have contributed to Stanford's slow start -- the CARD didn't score their first points until Haley Jones hit two free throws with 74 SECONDS remaining in the first quarter and didn't hit their first basket until 12 seconds left in the quarter! Stanford's defense kept the CARD in the game.  Despite Stanford's poor shooting, the CARD was only down by eight at the end of the first quarter.

 

            Once the Stanford offense got warmed up, the CARD outscored Colorado by two in the second quarter and 12 in the third quarter.  Fatigue may have caught up with Stanford in the 4th quarter when a motivated and well coached Buffalo team outscored the CARD by six to even the game at the end of regulation.  Having survived what looked like almost certain defeat in the first overtime, Stanford came out with new determination in the second OT.  They showed the heart of champions, scoring 13 points while holding Colorado to only two points over the final five minutes.

 

SNAKE BIT!

            Colorado star Jaylyn Sherrod must be feeling a little snake bit as this is at least the third time Stanford has turned what appeared to be a Colorado victory into a loss.  First it was Ashton Prechtel hitting a catch and shoot basket with only seconds to go four years ago.  Then it was Kianna Williams scoring six points in less than16 seconds to steal another win.  In this game Sherrod gave it more than her all but may have nightmares about those missed free-throws at the end of the first OT.  It is a tribute to J.R. Payne's coaching that Colorado is always one of the toughest challenges Stanford faces every year.

 

First Goal Accomplished!!!

            With the win Stanford wraps up at least a share of the Pac-12 title and the #1 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament next week.  (If Stanford and Utah end the season with equal 15-3 Conference records, Stanford wins the tie-breaker with the Utes.) That meets the team's first goal. Beating Utah to take sole possession would be sweet!  Then it's on to the Pac-12 Tournament with goal number two being winning that tournament.  

 

Questions

 

1.  Did Tara see something nobody else saw?

At the start of the season Pac-12 coaches were polled on who would win the Conference.  The rule is you can't pick your own team.  Stanford got 11 votes, Utah got one...so we know who voted for them.  The coaches picked Oregon second, Arizona third, UCLA fourth, and Utah fifth! Tara claimed her vote was purely based on Utah's second place finish in last year's Pac-12 tournament.  But one wonders if she saw something other's missed.

 

2.  Are the CARD getting ready to "gel?"

Stanford clearly has all the pieces of a championship team.  But a lot of those pieces are very young players.  And, the one problem with having so many fabulous pieces is getting the team to gel.  This team has great chemistry among the players but isn't playing like a well-oiled machine (yet). There have been flashes -- but not 40 consecutive minutes. If the CARD can bring all the pieces together for full game (and it is looking more likely), they will be lifting three trophies before April 3...

Funky Four Go Out With A Win

Senior Night

 

            Senior night is always interesting - especially when it marks the regular season home finale for four amazing seniors.  Everybody wants a send-off victory, although according to Haley Jones, the players try to put that out of their mind and stay within the game.  

 

            In the first half, it looked like the game was going to be easy. Stanford had an eight-point lead after one quarter and a 13-point lead at the half.  Unfortunately, the third quarter was not easy. UCLA came out on fire and Stanford did not.  Going into the 4th quarter, Stanford was down by one.  But the team stepped up to win by five.  The CARD was led by their All-Americans Jones and Brink, who scored 19 of Stanford's 21 points in the final ten minutes.  But lots of players made important contributions in that final quarter.  Seniors Fran Belibi and Hannah both had key steals and rebounds.  Freshman point guard Lepolo added a rebound, an assist, and scored the other two points on critical free throws giving Stanford a four-point lead with 13 seconds left in the game. 

 

            It was an interesting game statistically. Stanford was out rebounded 36 to 33, with an even greater disparity on the offensive boards. UCLA took 15 more shots than Stanford, but only had one more made basket.  The Bruins also took 14 more three-pointers than Stanford, hitting 7-25 while Stanford was 4 of 11.  The stats say that points-in-the-paint were even at 28 apiece but that stat doesn't include the 17 made free throws by Stanford "bigs" Betts and Brink. Stanford won this game at the charity stripe, going 23 of 25 while UCLA made 13 of 18. Cameron Brink was perfect from the line, hitting a Stanford record 15-straight free throws. 

 

Interesting Improvements

 

            It is exciting to see the improvements players have made.  In this game we saw again the gains that Lauren Betts has made. She looked confident in her 15 minutes on the floor, scoring 12 points, collecting six rebounds, and getting an assist on a great pass out of a triple team. Both Nivar and Lepolo also showed that they should no longer be considered freshmen. 

 

Saying Good Bye (sort of) to the Funky Four

            

            The hardest thing about the night was realizing that this was the last "official" home game for the four Stanford seniors who came in as the #2 recruiting class in the country.  Of course, their senior year is not really over.  There are two more regular season games, the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas, and the NCAA tournament.  Stanford will certainly be a top 16 seed (probably a Regional #1), so there will be tournament games scheduled at Maples -- but this was the last regular season home game.  They have been a joy to watch -- but more of that later when the season is closer to being truly over. 

 

First Goal: Winning the Pac-12 Regular Season Title

 

            With the win against UCLA, Stanford moves within one victory of clinching a share of the Pac-12 regular season title and the #1 seed for the Pac-12 tournament. Tara's team is heading to the mountains intent on grabbing two more victories.  Those wins would properly build the Cardinal's momentum for the Pac-12 tournament. 

Questions

1. Did you miss my column?

I was away in New Zealand and wasn’t able to watch any games after the Oregon sweep until I returned home.  Who knew that New Zealand would show the Super Bowel but not Stanford Women’s Basketball?!! Since returning, I have bing-watched all the games.  I will update this column with some comments.

2. How much will we miss watching the four seniors at Maples?

Of course, the four plus Agnes and Cameron all have Covid years….just saying.

   

Blocking the hopes of the Oregon teams

Ending a home stand on top of the Standings

 

            Stanford continues to hang its hat on its defense. Oregon State and Oregon came into Maples looking to get themselves back into the Pac-12 race.  Those aspirations were blocked by Cameron Brink.  Cam warmed up with six blocks against Oregon State, then followed with a school record 10 blocks against Oregon.  Those ten blocks were part of a rare triple-double -- 10 BLOCKS, 11 rebounds, and 16 points (plus 3 assists). The Brink block party anchored an excellent Stanford defense.  For the weekend, Stanford held both Oregon teams below their season averages primarily due to smothering team defense. But, of course, it was Cameron's historic triple-double that will likely make the headlines.

            

 

Stanford 63 - Oregon State 60

            The Oregon State game was a grind game -- with six lead changes and multiple ties.  Stanford's largest lead was only seven points.  The CARD never trailed in the fourth quarter, but the score was tied multiple times, with the three-point victory not secure until Lepolo grabbed and smothered Oregon State's inbound pass with two seconds left in the game.  

            Oregon State is one of the teams in the Pac-12 that can match up with Stanford in the height column.  They have 6'9 Mitrovic, 6'4 Beers, and 6'3 Gardiner -- but the CARD out rebounded the Beavers and outscored them in the paint.  OSU played strong defense, contributing to an uncharacteristically low percentage from the three-point range (25%).  The Beaver defense was not enough to hold down the offense of Cameron Brink (21 points) and Haley Jones (17 points).  Five other Cardinal players scored, and several players -- especially Fran Belibi -- did the "little things" like setting great screens to make it possible for other players to score.  Seven players grabbed rebounds, led by Brink (13) and Jones (8) as Stanford outrebounded the Beavers.  Still, Cardinal fans breathed a sigh of relief when Lepolo wrapped up that steal of OSU's inbound attempt.

 

Stanford 62 - Oregon 54

            The Sunday afternoon Oregon game was also a battle, but not as intense as the Oregon State game.  Stanford took a 4-3 lead early in the first quarter and never trailed again, extending their lead to 16 points with under four minutes in the fourth quarter.  Given that Oregon has great shooters even a 16-point lead is not totally secure, but the Stanford defense was up to the challenge.  An Oregon 3-pointer with two seconds left in the game prevented the final margin from being in double digits, but it was a solid win.  The Cardinal's defense was again smothering, holding an Oregon team averaging over 45% from the floor to only 25%! Some of that was, of course, due to Cam's awesome shot-blocking-extravaganza.  But, the rest was due to the sticky presence of Stanford defenders as they followed Ducks around the court, mostly preventing the open looks Oregon shooters are accustomed to seeing.

            Oregon is another team with impressive height, particularly Phillipina Kyei, a 6'8 sophomore from Canada.  It is a testament to Brink's shot blocking artistry that several of her blocks were on shots by Kyei.  One wonders if practicing against 6'7 Lauren Betts has increased Cam's confidence against taller players. Kyei was the game's top rebounder, on a rare night when the CARD was outrebounded.  She had 17, one more than Haley's impressive 16 rebounds (along with 8 points, 4 assists, a steal, and a block).  

            As with Oregon State and most other Pac-12 teams, Oregon focused on keeping Hannah Jump contained.  However, against Oregon several of Stanford's other three-point shooters started taking and making their shots.  Nothing stops teams from sagging off on players better than when those plyers start making those threes.  The three-point barrage was led by Brooke Demetre who was 3-for-3 from three, scoring nine points in her eight minutes on the floor.  The CARD also benefited from Talana Lepolo returning to full speed after her ankle injury. Talana had six assists and only one turnover along with her five points and four rebounds. The bench showed up for this one, with sophomores Elena Bosgana joining Brooke Demetre in showing off continued improvement and freshmen Indya Nivar and Lauren Betts reminding us that the future is bright. 

 

Questions

 

1. How will Stanford do on the road?

We've reached the past the mid-point of the Pac-12 season with the CARD on top at 9-1, followed by Utah at 8-2, Colorado at 7-3, and a gang of 3 at 6-4. Stanford's 9-1 record has only included one two-day road trip and a "road trip" across the bridge to Berkeley.  The only loss came on the second game of a true road trip.  In the next four weeks the CARD have three weekend road trips including a potentially brutal one to the mountains -- playing two ranked teams at altitude with a long bus ride in-between.  They follow that with the Pac-12 tournament. The only home games will be against nationally ranked UCLA and USC, the team that beat us in Southern CAL. This stretch will be a major test -- preparing the team for a deep run in the NCAA tournament.  If the CARD come through that gauntlet unscathed it will likely be next stop Dallas....

 

2. Which teams will earn the four Day One byes in the Pac-12 Tournament?

The top four teams in the Pac-12 teams don't need to play on the first day.  If the season ended today, that would be Stanford, Utah, Colorado, and either UCLA, Arizona, or USC.  But, those three are followed by two teams at 5-5. With eight games to go on the Pac-12 schedule, any of those teams could theoretically earn a first day bye.  It's beyond difficult to believe that the CARD could lose enough games to drop out of the top four...but who will join them resting on the first day is an open question.

 

3. Will you notice that I'm not here?

Tomorrow the Stanford Fan Girl will be leaving on an international trip where I may not have access to the games -- or to the internet.  That means no blogs until our next home game weekend.  

 

BLOCK PARTY

BRINK Leads the  Block Party - JONES Cleans the Glass 

           It was a “block party” at Maples as the Card took on the always intense Colorado Buffalos.   (https://twitter.com/StanfordWBB/status/1617393670969495555?s=20&t=VHVrnUPcCysVqEst-3jk5g) Cameron Brink had six blocks - no surprise - but she was joined by six of her teammates in recording a team high 14 blocks.  Haley Jones was captain of the cleaning crew as she grabbed 18 rebounds (along with 11 points, three assists, two steals, and a block).  As with the blocks, Jones was joined by eight teammates in corralling missed shots.  Hannah Jump led all scorers with 21 points including 5 three-pointers, only three points short of her career high. She was joined in the scoring column by eight teammates. Eleven players had meaningful minutes and all of them made positive contributions on the stat line, along with the important little things that don’t show in the stats.  In other words, this contest was a team win led by stars.    

        Colorado came into Maples tied for first place in the PAC-12.  They left in 4th place after being soundly defeated 62-49 by a hard working Stanford team. This win was particularly impressive as Stanford was without freshman spark plug point guard, Talana Leopolo, out with the ankle injury she sustained on Friday night.  Point guard duties were shared by freshman Indya Nivar, red-shirt freshman Jzaniya Harriel,  and Haley Jones - with Haley continuing to demonstrate her incredible versatility. 

        Stanford’s defense was impressive!  The CARD held Colorado under 50 points for the game, virtually all from their starters.  The total team character of this win was special. Colorado’s bench played 55 minutes and scored one point! Stanford’s bench played 49 minutes and added 11 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals. GREAT JOB!

Questions    

1. Can the CARD hold on to this new, energized play?

Since the disappointing game against USC, Stanford has shuffled their offense, increased their focus, and showed great energy.  This improved play portends well for the rest of the PAC-12 season and the NCAA tournament.

2. Can the CARD cut down the turnovers?

At this point, the biggest visible weakness for the CARD is turnovers.  They continue to have double-digit turnovers, against Colorado there were 15.  Taking care of the ball is always important - especially against the elite level of play in the PAC-12.  

3. How terrific are those warmup shirts?

For the second game in a row, the Stanford team wore black warmup shirts with “HUMAN > ATHLETE” across the chest and the number 3 on the sleeve.  Haley Jones explained that these shirts were a player initiated action.  Players wanted to remind us that athletes are more than athletes, their humanity is first — and that life is fragile.  We applaud this message!  Thank you CARD!

The Answer

Message Received, Response Delivered

 

            On Friday night Stanford and Utah played for the Pac-12 lead with the national #4 Cardinal and the #8 Utah Utes both coming in at 5-1 in conference play.  Last Sunday Stanford lost to a Pac-12 opponent for the first time since January 2021, going down to unranked USC.  The question for the night was, how would the CARD respond to a loss? The answer, very well, thank you.

 

            Utah came in averaging almost 87 points a game -- the 4th highest average in the country.  They left having scored only 62 points, 25 under their average -- and three of those were scored on a last second three when the game was already totally over.  Stanford's 74 points were also under their 80 plus average -- but only by 6 points, and it came in a win.

 

            The beginning of the game was a bit stressful for fans looking for reassurance after the CARD's uncharacteristically poor offensive performance in the loss to USC.  Utah jumped out to a 10-2 lead.  But even though the score wasn't comforting, the intensity of Stanford's play, full of motion and aggressive offensive play was encouraging.  That intensity was soon rewarded, with the CARD evening the score at 12-12 with 4:29 left in the first quarter.  With a minute left in the first quarter, Stanford was up by two and never trailed again.  The CARD was up by nine at the end of the first half.  

 

            The second half never turned into a rout, with the Utes pulling to within three several times.  But Stanford remained in the lead for the entire game, entering the 4th quarter with a five-point lead. Stanford stretched its lead into "almost comfortable" territory in the 4th quarter.  By the last two minutes, Stanford fans were able to relax and exhale.

 

            One of the scariest moments of the game came early in the first quarter when Talana Lepolo, our poised freshman point guard leader went down with an ankle injury.  Talana eventually reappeared, first with ice on her ankle, later in a boot, but was obviously unable to re-enter the game -- and almost certainly will not play on Sunday.  The good news was that Indya Nivar entered the game and performed admirably.  Indya's athleticism stood out on several plays, especially a beautiful lay-in against three defenders on a solo fastbreak.  Her final stat line - four points, three assists, two rebounds, a steal and no turnovers -- was a great contribution.  

 

            The "Big Three" came out firing -- with Brink and Jones both scoring 25 points as part of double-doubles.  Hannah Jump was the team's other double-digit scorer, 13 points including two three pointers.  The bad news for the CARD was that only 11 of Stanford's 74 points were scored by players not named Brink, Jones, or Jump.  Now some of the reason the Big Three were able to score was because the other players did their part.  However, it will be good to see other players stepping up their offense.  

 

Questions

 

1.  Having defeated a second highly ranked team in eight days, will the CARD suffer a letdown against Colorado?

Last week Stanford defeated ranked UCLA, then lost to unranked USC.  I'll bet against a let down -- Stanford student's rarely make the same mistake twice. But Colorado has often been a very tough game for Stanford. It may be even tougher without Lepolo's solid play at point-guard against Colorado's aggressive defense.

 

2. Who will step up as a reliable 4th scorer?

Brink and Jones are amazing players.  As I've said before, Stanford fans are privileged to get to watch these two amazing young women play.  Hannah Jump is one of the game's best 3-pt shooters and has turned herself into a well-rounded player.  But, to win a National Championship, the team needs at least one other strong scorer.  Who will it be?

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. 

Stanford Beats UCLA 72 - 59 at Pauley

Photo by AP

Jones and Brink: Leadership and Dominance

            

            The number two ranked team in the country, Stanford, had a road game against the number eight team, UCLA, at Pauley Pavilion.  UCLA was the last Pac-12 team to defeat the Card -- in January 2021.  The Bruins hoped to do it again.  They learned that it’s hard to beat a deep and talented team led by two All Americans. 

 

            The game was relatively even in the first half with six ties and ten lead changes.  No team led by more than five points, and each team had a lead of five at some point.  The first quarter ended with Stanford up by one and the half ended in a tie. 

 

            What was most distressing to Stanford fans (and apparently coaches as well) was that the team seemed flat.  Stanford's normal smooth, high energy, movement-oriented offense seemed off.  A team that usually passes up a good shot to get a great shot was taking too many less than great shots.  In her brief half time media interview on the Pac-12 network Coach Vanderveer said the team wasn't "doing what they need to do" on offense or defense.  It is a testament to the talent on Stanford's roster that, despite not playing well, they were tied with a team ranked #8 in the country.  Stanford's defense held UCLA to 32 points in the first half -- but Stanford's usually potent offense had only scored 32 points.

A Better Second Half

   Photo by AP

 

            It was clear that Tara got the team's attention at halftime.  The CARD came out strong in the 3rd -- with the ball moving.  Stanford's first three baskets were all facilitated by assists.  The defense was also motivated; UCLA had only one basket in the first 3:25 of the second half. Stanford took a seven-point lead -- the game's largest to that point.  That lead eventually stretched to ten -- but with Brink on the bench due to her third foul, UCLA was able to slow the CARD offense.  At the end of the 3rd, Stanford's lead was down to two points.

 

            Stanford shifted into 4th gear for the 4th quarter, putting away a feisty UCLA team 72 -59 with a dominating performance in the quarter.   While the 21 points scored by the CARD in the 4th was the team's highest total, it was the defense that was inspired.  UCLA's coach said coming out for the second half that she thought her team should drive to the basket more. Cameron Brink demonstrated why that was a bad idea.  She was a beast.  Cam had six blocks in the quarter -- matching what had been her career high for a game in one quarter. (She finished with 7.) Brink also had a "steal" in the paint that could have been scored as a block.  Stanford led by 17 with two minutes left in the game. Cam’s paint dominance was supported by the inspired defense of Agnes Emma-Nnopu.  Agnes demonstrated the defensive intensity that earned her a starting role early in the season. 

 

            The crowd at Pauley was full of WNBA coaches and scouts.  They saw Haley Jones demonstrate the mix of skills, will, and leadership that have some basketball observers predicting that Jones could be the top draft pick in this year's WNBA draft.  Haley's stat line: 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. They saw Cameron Brink delivering a monster performance. Cam's stat line: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 7 blocks, 2 assists, and a steal!  But although Jones and Brink were the stars, this was a team win.  Eight players not named Brink or Jones scored.  Iriafen and Emma-Nnopu had nine points, Lepolo and Jump had eight.  The success of Leopoldo and Emma-Nnopu from behind the arc was an important factor in the CARD’s victory.  Although Talana may not see herself as the team’s main offensive weapon, it is clear that Stanford plays better when she is willing to take her shots when the defense gives them to her.  The same is true for Emma-Nnopu.  Rebounding was another team strength. Ten players grabbed rebounds as Stanford dominated the boards, 48 to 31. 

 

Questions

 

1.  Who is Stanford's MVP?

On some teams it is crystal clear who is the team's star.  For the 2022-23 Cardinal, not so much.  It's clear that Haley Jones and Cameron Brink are the teams two brightest stars, and that they complement each other's play -- but choosing one over the other is a difficult task.  

 

To me, Haley is the team's leader.  It's not just her stats, although she is at or near the top in every category on the stat sheet.  It's not just her amazing skill set -- I mean, how many players can make the passes Haley makes from her knees or the shots she makes while falling to the floor!?! It's that she LEADS this team.  She keeps them focused and she keeps them loose.  If I were a WNBA General Manager, Haley Jones would be my first pick in the draft.  She was the number one player in the country her senior year in high school and four years of being coached by Tara Vanderveer has only made her better.  

 

Cameron is the team's dominator!  She scores, she rebounds, and she protects the paint -- blocking and altering shots at an incredible level.  Her body control and timing are a thing of beauty.  Cameron reminds me of Aja Wilson -- I look forward to seeing them square off in the WNBA for many years.  But, for now I "just" see Cameron giving the CARD a legitimate shot at another National Championship trophy.

 

So, which one is the team's MVP?  I don't know -- it's like choosing between sunrise or sunset, they are different and both fabulous.  I think I'll just enjoy the privilege of watching these two amazing athletes lead this talented team.

 

Pulled back from the brink by Brink

It pays to have two All Americans

 

            The weather has been ugly lately, but Stanford's game against CAL might have been uglier. Just as the Bay Area was battered by rain and high wind this week, Stanford was battered by Cal's defensive intensity.  But great teams win games even when they aren't playing their best.  That's what Stanford did at CAL, beating the Bears 60 to 56. 

 

            Of course, when the going gets rough, it helps to have two All American's on the roster -- two players who refuse to lose and have the talent to back up that focused will.  Stanford's two All Americans, Cameron Brink and Haley Jones, accounted for 37 of the team's 60 points, 28 of the CARDS's 46 rebounds, and four of the CARD's seven blocks.  Brink was a warrior! Her numbers are eye-popping; 25 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks. Time and again, especially in the second half, despite being hounded and battered by CAL's swarming defense, she answered CAL's baskets with one of her own. Haley Jones' numbers are slightly less impressive, "only" a double-double (12 points, 11 board, 4 assists, and a block); but her play was AMAZING.  This woman has all-world focus, body control, court vision, basketball skills, and will-to-win. Perhaps the most striking sequence came late in the 3rd when Haley corralled the rebound from a Brink miss, was knocked to the floor by CAL's defense (no foul called), kept her dribble alive from her knees, and from the floor passed the ball out to Hannah Jump.  Jump knocked down the three-pointer to give Stanford a four-point lead with ten minutes and 23 seconds left in the game.  

 

            Jump and Kiki Iriafen were the only other Stanford players to score more than one basket. Although FIVE others scored at least two points, and collectively corralled five steals and 10 rebounds.  Hannah, like Haley, played all 40 minutes of the game, scoring seven points and dishing 3 assists. Brooke Demetre made particularly valuable contributions in her 24 minutes on the floor; including solid defense, plus four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.  Perhaps Brooke's most important contribution was hitting two free throws in the game's waning seconds to give the CARD a four-point margin, putting the game basically out of reach, eliminating the possibility of a miracle ending for CAL.

 

            The going was rough in this game because the CAL defense was VERY physical.  Even though much of the rough play went uncalled, CAL put the CARD on the free-throw line frequently.  Stanford's plus nine at the charity stripe (16 of 19 compared to 7 of 10) was greater than the margin of victory. That physical defense contributed to the game's general ugliness -- it had a disjointed and hectic feel.  The lack of flow is reflected in Stanford's low score total (over 23 below their season average) and uncharacteristically low assist total -- only 11 compared to an average of over 17.  

 

            In addition to escaping with the win, the good news for Stanford was how well the CARD defense played.  Only one CAL player, Leilani McIntosh, scored in double figures (19).  CAL star Jada Curry was held to nine points, that's six under her season average, and hit only one of five from three. 

 

            Rivalry games as generally considered "special" -- with frequent upsets.  Unfortunately for Stanford, every team looks at their game against Stanford as a rivalry game.  Every team wants to knock off the defending Pac-12 champion, ranked #2 in the nation! That means that Stanford had better get ready for the type of intensity CAL brought at Hass. 

 

Questions

 

1. How well will this young team travel?

            The CAL game was Stanford's first Pac-12 road game, and it was only across the Bay. Friday night Stanford will be playing #12 UCLA on their home court and a tough USC team on theirs.  Hopefully the lessons from this tough win will carry over. 

 

 

Starting the New Year right!

    

        Stanford's game against #15 Arizona had an 11:30 am start time.  Three-and-a-half minutes into the game it seemed the Cardinal needed a wakeup call.  Stanford had three fouls - two of the on Haley Jones, four turnovers, three missed shots, and zero points.  Haley Jones and Hannah Jump delivered that call with a Jones steal leading to a Jump three pointer.  Less than four minutes later an Indya Nivar layup on an assist from Haley Jones put the Stanford ahead for good. The CARD had turned a 0-6 deficit into a 12-11 lead.  

 

            Coming into the game both teams had high power offenses; Stanford averaging over 85 points per game, Arizona averaging over 81. And, both teams pride themselves in their tough defense. The CARD holding opponents to an average of only 57 points, the Wildcats holding opponents to just over 59.  On paper those stats suggest a close game.  It wasn't.  Stanford won 73 - 57. Kudos to the defenses -- Arizona held Stanford to 12 points under their average, but Stanford held Arizona to 24 points under theirs. In the second quarter Stanford scored 17 points while holding Arizona to only 7, giving the CARD a comfortable cushion that they held onto for the rest of the game.

 

            Before the game, Coach Paye warned that we could expect this game to be "gritty not pretty."  After the game Coach VanDerveer summed up the game as "gritty not pretty."  There seems to be a theme there!  It was a pretty good description. Both teams were aggressive on defense - with Arizona being whistled for 26 fouls, including one flagrant foul.  The CARD's 20 points at the free throw line compared to Arizona's 7 was a significant contributor to the final result. 

            As usual, this was a team victory -- ten players entered the game and all of them contributed -- whether it was scoring, rebounding, setting a screen, or just making a defensive play.  But, also as usual, there was an All American with a star-turn and an impressive performance by the "star du jour."  All American Haley Jones had a double-double (18 pts., 16 rebounds) and again put numbers into ever statistical category - adding five assists, a block, and three steals.  Unfortunately, she also had an uncharacteristic four personal fouls and seven turnovers -- giving her, as she put it, something to correct. The "star du jour" was Fran Belibi, one of the "funky four" senior class.  Fran's minutes have been down this year.  She is one of Stanford's loaded group of bigs and has been dealing with an injury to her thumb.  Today she was a star -- a double-double with 14 pts and 10 rebounds and a steal in 17 minutes. 

 

            Fran and Haley were joined in double digit scoring by Hannah Jump and Cameron Brink.  Hannah's four three pointers added to her nation leading total. Cam's four blocks keep her comfortably among the nation's block leaders. Talana Lepolo added four assists to her team leading total along with 6 pts and 3 rebounds. Kiki Iriafen also showed off her speed, court sense, and defensive chops. Indya Nivar and Lauren Betts also displayed the exciting talent that will make this team even stronger as they grow more comfortable in the college game.

 

Questions

 

1. How are fans going to manage without any home games for the next 18 DAYS?!!!

            We've had seven straight home games -- and only five of Stanford's 16 games have been outside of Maples.  I guess we can start by making the trek over to CAL, despite all the flooding and such.  At least all the games will be on the Pac-12 Network.

 

2. How good is this team?

            Stanford was undefeated in December. Tne game against #15 Arizona was expected to be a toughl test.  If it really was, then this group is looking like a truly elite team.   One thing for sure -- it's a fun team to watch.  

Happy 21st Birthday Cameron Brink

 

           As the world prepared to turn the page to New Year 23, number 22 Cameron Brink turned 21 in front of family, friends, and fans.  Cameron and her teammates celebrated by routing a plucky Arizona State team 101 to 69.  The fans who braved floods and debris to show up in person (and those who watched on Pac-12 Bay Area from the comfort of hopefully dry homes) were treated to an enjoyable game -- although the biggest questions of the night were how many points Stanford would score and how big would the final margin of victory would be?! The Card started seven to zero, with Kiki Iriafen scoring four points and recording an assist on Hannah Jump's game opening three-pointer.  

 

            Brink honored her birthday by earning another double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds) punctuated by 2 blocks and four assists.  Brink also set several nifty screens and, like her teammates, did a lot of important little things that don't show up in the record book.  She was joined in double figures by fellow All-American Haley Jones, three-point ace Hannah Jump, and freshmen Talana Lepolo and Lauren Betts.  Jones was three rebounds short of her own double-double but demonstrated her all incredible versatility by putting numbers in every statistical category! And, of course, Haley continued to demonstrate the leadership and enthusiasm that make this team special.  Hannah Jump,  added to her nation leading three point total, hitting six three pointers in route to a game high 20 points. 

 

            Stanford was never really threatened in a game that remained entertaining because new Head Coach Natasha Adair's team continued to play hard despite being clearly outmatched against the talented and unselfish Cardinal team.  Arizona was led by junior transfer Tyi Skinner who followed Adair to Arizona from Delaware.  The 5'5' Skinner is tied with Washington State's Leger-Walker for the Pac-12 scoring lead.  Despite a defensive effort focused on stopping Skinner, she managed to score 20 points - only one point below her season average.

    

         In addition to the team's play, there was one quintessential Stanford moment on Saturday night.  Stanford routinely introduces a "Professor of the Game" -- a Stanford faculty member invited, usually by a player, to attend the game.  How many schools do that? At this game, the Professor of the Game was Carolyn Bertozzi, a 2022 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry!  How many schools CAN do that?  Dr. Bertozzi, age 56, is a avid supporter of Stanford sports and has been an "out" lesbian since the 1980's. How "Stanford" is it to celebrate diversity, academic excellence, and athletic competition at the New Year? 

 

Looking Back - Looking Forward

 

            As we have turned the page on 2022, it is a good time to reflect on what has passed and what is still to come.  At this point in the season Stanford is 14-1 overall, 2-0 in Pac-12 play.  The Card's only loss was an overtime loss to #1 South Carolina.  There is every reason to believe that their goal of another National Championship is a real possibility.  

 

            The team answered one of the season's big questions -- who will play the point --due to the solid play of freshman Talana Lepolo.  Stanford's amazingly talented All Americans Haley Jones and Cameron Brink have shown that they are happy to lead an unselfish TEAM oriented group of winners rather than simply seeking gaudy stats for themselves.  Hannah Jump is well along on her journey from three-point shooter to an all-around player -- defending, driving, and dishing in addition to record book level three-point shooting.  Kiki Iriafen has emerged as a solid post player, averaging close to ten points and over five rebounds a game.  The uber talented Lauren Betts is progressing nicely in mastering the transition from high school to the faster, more physical college game.  Betts is fifth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and second in blocks despite averaging less than ten minutes a game -- and like Lepolo, she is only a freshman!!!! The Card has a deep and talented bench with seniors Ashton Prechtel and Fran Belibi as well as defensive wiz Agnes Emma-Nnopu leading a group of exciting underclassmen. We can say with confidence that watching this team for the next three months (and two days -- we hope) will be a treat to savor. 

            That is all true -- and the future holds challenges. The Pac-12 is an incredibly strong conference.  To date Stanford has only played one team ranked in the top 20 nationally -- South Carolina.  Seven of the next sixteen games will be against teams currently ranked in the top 20 - and that number does not include the feisty Washington State team or the J. R. Payne coached Colorado team that always plays the Card tough. By the end of the Pac-12 season the CARD will be battle tested and battle hardened.  

 

Questions for the NEW YEAR

 

1.  Can Stanford make it through the Pac-12 season undefeated?

            Given the remarkable talent in the Pac-12, going undefeated is an almost ridiculous goal -- winning the Pac-12 is more than enough.  After all, Stanford had two Pac-12 losses in the 2021 National Championship season.  But, if any Pac-12 team can make it through unscathed, the Cardinal get my vote.  

 

2.  Will Cam and Kiki get better at NOT Fouling?

            A lot has been said about the way Cam's time on the floor has been limited by her foul trouble.  Less has been said about Kiki's fouls because she isn't an All-American (yet).  But the two are the team leaders in fouls  - although Cam's come mostly from defensive exuberance (trying to get every block or steal) and Kiki's from offensive exuberance (dropping her shoulder as she turns to shoot).  Between the two of them, they have committed over 30% of Stanford's total fouls this season.  Both have had games where their playing time was curtailed by foul problems.  Cam is showing progress -- she only picked up one foul against ASU -- and that came late in the 3rd quarter.  We hope she can master that! If Kiki can learn cut back on hers as well she will be further on her way to Allstar status.

 

3.  Will the refs stop letting teams beat up Stanford's "bigs?"

            The somewhat frustrating bookend to the number of fouls that get called on Stanford's trees is the number of things that look like fouls to me which don't get called against opposing teams.  Our "bigs" get banged in the head, scratched to the point of drawing blood, and body-banged over and over -- much of the time without a whistle.  We've seen a bit of an increase in Tara appearing to school the officials about that stuff.  Hopefully they will listen.

 

Pac-12 Play Begins

            

            Stanford tipped-off its Pac-12 season with an easy 90-69 win over Cal. The Bear's only lead came in the opening minute when a 3-pointer from McIntosh put them up 3-2.  Stanford quickly reclaimed the lead on a 3-pointer from Cameron Brink and never looked back.  By game's end, all 15 of Stanford's players had seen action for at least two minutes and 12 players spent at least nine minutes on the court.  Tara was active on the sidelines, instructing her young players and encouraging their play. 

            Haley Jones led all scorers with 21 points in only 27 minutes.  Her stat line - 21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 2 steals - reflects Haley's amazing "Swiss Army knife" skill set. But the stat line doesn't include the important leadership role Haley plays.  Her enthusiasm and evident joy on the floor are Steph Curry-like and infectious.  Haley makes the game fun for everybody -- her teammates and the fans!  

            Hannah Jump had the other starring role -- five threes and 17 points.  Cameron Brink scored 11 points in 17 minutes but also managed to pick up three fouls.  Her stat line would undoubtedly been more extensive (she also had five rebounds, two blocks, and two assists) if Stanford had needed her on the floor. The same is true of Kiki Iriafen, who scored 9 points with seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal in her 15 minutes on the floor.  Lauren Betts again averaged almost a point a minute, scoring nine in her ten minutes on the floor. 

            The defense was good, especially in the opening twenty minutes.  Cal's Jada Curry was held to two points in the first half. She did manage 20 points for the game, but most of them were scored against reserves with the game's outcome already settled.  

            The lighthearted-feel good atmosphere carried over into the behind the bench Q&A.  Fans were provided a holiday treat that included an appearance by juniors Cameron Brink and Agnes Emma-Nnopu. Coach VanDerveer shared her delight at having her mother Rita at the game, a rarity due to COVID.  Coach Paye noted that players were scrambling to catch flights to join family for the teams' four-day holiday break.  

 

The Second Part of the Season

 

            For a successful team like Stanford, the season can be divided into three parts.  First comes the non-conference season, then the Pac-12 season, and finally the post-season.  The non-conference season usually has two goals -- to get the team ready to compete in their conference and to establish the team's credentials for post-season seeding.  That first part concluded with the team's victory over Creighton, its twelfth.  Unfortunately, that game was only one of three against ranked teams on Stanford's non-conference dance card.  That changes with the beginning of Pac-12 play.  Four Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top 20 and there isn't a "gimmie" game anywhere.  

            One confusing thing about the Pac-12 season this year is number of familiar players on a different team.  We saw the first round of that against Cal when Peanut Tuitele, previously with Colorado, showed up on the Cal team.  In her post-game comments, Tara pointed out that Stanford is the only Pac-12 school whose roster does not include a transfer from another Pac-12 school!  That should make for an interesting season!  Given the quality of Pac-12 teams, the next 17 games will be exciting -- so get ready to enjoy the journey.