Publication Date: Friday, March 05, 2004
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Winning another title helps
Winning another title helps
(March 05, 2004) Stanford needs to win Pac-10 tournament for high NCAA seed
by Rick Eymer
The future remains unsettled for the Stanford women's basketball team. Despite assuring themselves a berth in the NCAA tournament, the 12th-ranked Cardinal - champions of the Pac-10 regular season for the fourth straight year -- won't know where they will play, or how a high seed they will receive once the postseason party begins.
Stanford (14-4, 21-6) has only itself to blame after struggling on the road this season. A good showing at the Pac-10 tourney, which gets underway today at HP Pavilion in San Jose with Oregon State (14-13) meeting Washington State (6-21) at 6 p.m., will help the Cardinal.
After losing four if its last five games away from Maples Pavilion, Stanford could find itself seeded toward the middle of a region instead of near the top. The Cardinal could secure a No. 3 seed if they win the conference tournament, and may slip to a No. 5 seed if they don't.
"I don't have a crystal ball to tell what the NCAA tournament committee will do," said Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer. "It's important for our team to be healthy and come out excited about playing and we'll have a great shot at doing well in the Pac-10 tournament and the NCAA tournament."
Stanford enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed, and will play at 5 p.m. Saturday against either Oregon or California. The Ducks upset Stanford last week in Eugene.
"Trust me, our team has not forgotten last week," said VanDerveer. "I think sometimes it's a good situation for our team. Maybe losing to some teams in the regular season, our team will come out hungry. The hardest teams to play against are the ones you've played twice already."
What Stanford will have going for it is senior Nicole Powell, who regained her spot as the Pac-10 Player of the Year this season. Powell, a four-time all-conference pick, averaged 20.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game and recorded 18 double-doubles. She was the Player of the Year in 2002 before losing out to Washington's Giuliana Mendiola last year.
"She's probably the most versatile player I've ever coached," VanDerveer said of Powell. "In order four our team to even go to the next level we need more from Nicole - helping us run our offense, keeping things going and being a strong defender. She's definitely left her mark on Stanford basketball."
Susan Borchardt and Kelley Suminski were honorable mention selections and Kristen Newlin was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team.
Doing well in the Pac-10 tournament would help Stanford stay closer to home in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. This is the first year the NCAA has pre-determined sites for the first two rounds. In the past, the Cardinal knew they would host the first two rounds if they had a good season.
Stanford opened NCAA play at home in 12 of the past 15 seasons. The Cardinal were 14-1 at home this year, but just 7-5 on the road.
"I think people understand how hard it is to go into your conference opponents' gyms," said VanDerveer. "We're excited about the tournament. We need to work hard and come out and play well this weekend. We're making good progress. A lot of people are still not in tournament form yet. The most important thing for us at the end of the tournament is keep people healthy."
If Stanford continues to win, it will play on Sunday at 3 p.m. The championship game is slated for Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The Cardinal have struggled with injuries all season, as Powell, Chelsea Trotter, Azella Perryman, T'Nae Thiel and Newlin all missed games. Stanford enters the tournament in as good as health as it has all year.
Stanford shook off a tough final week of the regular season last year to win the conference tournament, and Powell had a lot to do with that. She raised her level of play and was honored as tournament MVP.
"She just needs to relax and play and not feel like she's carrying the basketball world on her shoulders," said VanDerveer. "Nicole kind of went through a bad stretch and slump would be one word to use. I think she's tired. I think she needs to play less. That's hard because the game is on the line and she puts a lot of pressure on herself."
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