Publication Date: Friday Dec 12, 1997

MEN'S BASKETBALL: He's top dog for Stanford

Usually, only the best athletes are tagged with a nickname. Call it a sign of respect. Stanford sophomore Mark Madsen, then, was destined for greatness even at an early age. He was tagged with the moniker "Mad Dog" as a fifth-grader at Montair Elementary in Danville by his P.E. instructor, Mr. Cournell.

"Me and a friend of mine (Jeff Peterson, who's a tight end on the St. Mary's College football team) we're always fighting growing up," said Madsen. "When we were on the playground, we'd do weird things. Mr. Cournell said, 'Madsen, some day you're going to have a nickname, and it's going to be Mad Dog.' My friend has been calling me that ever since."

The name has stuck on the basketball court because that's how he approaches the game. He's never seen a rebound he doesn't like, and he only knows one speed: all out.

Madsen's work ethic and tenacity during practice and in games has paid off in a big way this season. Not only is he Stanford's leading scorer (17 ppg) and rebounder (7.6 rpg), but Madsen also ranks No. 1 in the nation in field-goal percentage (80 percent) this season.

In addition, he's coming off a career-high in points (23) and rebounds (13) against Georgia last weekend on national television, a performance that earned him Pac-10 Player of the Week.

He's Stanford's "hot" item of the moment as the Cardinal (5-0 and ranked No. 11 in the nation) prepares for its next game on Tuesday at San Diego State at 7 p.m.

"It's a little bit of a surprise," said Madsen of his shooting percentage to date. "But I don't shoot a whole lot of three-pointers. My game is positioning and drop-stepping."

Madsen has yet to attempt a three-pointer in his Stanford career, which covers 30 games now, though he's listening to the call of the wild.

"I'd like to extend my range," he said. "I hear the three-point shot calling my name."

That may not happen any time soon, though. Madsen is also Stanford's leading rebounder this season with 38, including 17 offensive boards. It would be hard to take away his rebounding ability, no matter how tall the Cardinal stands along the front line.

And with guys like Arthur Lee and Kris Weems on the perimeter, there's no need for Madsen to stray too far from the basket.

Madsen has stepped forward in the early going among his more distinguished teammates such as Tim Young, touted as an All-American candidate; Peter Sauer, Lee and Weems. In fact, Madsen is the only starter this year who didn't start last year.

"In the early season I've been asked to post up more and carry more of the scoring load," said Madsen. "We still have a lot of go-to guys. Against Georgia (a 76-74 Stanford win last Saturday) we definitely wanted to go inside and it was similar against Butler (in the title game of the Big Island Invitational in which Madsen scored 17 points and had nine rebounds)."

In all, Madsen has been Stanford's leading scorer, and rebounder, in three of the five contests. What it all means is that Stanford is capable of attacking its opponent from anywhere on the court. Nine Cardinal players already have reached double-figures in scoring in a game.

Madsen has made 28 of his 35 shots from the field to date, and is on course to set the school, Pac-10 and NCAA records. John Revelli set the school record of .677 in 1982-83, UCLA's Jelani McCoy holds the conference record of .756 (minimum four made per game) in 1996-97, and Oregon State's Steve Johnson holds the NCAA record of .746 (minimum five made per game) in 1980-81.

At one point this year, Madsen made 14 consecutive shots from the field.

Making most of his shots is nothing new for Madsen, who made 73 percent of them in his senior year at San Ramon Valley High, and 54 percent of his shots a year ago for Stanford.

"What's unusual about Mark is his ability to improve," said Stanford coach Mike Montgomery. "Normally guys get to a certain level and there's not much room for improvement. But he's appreciably better than last year."

Madsen also took two years off between high school and Stanford to complete a religious mission with the Mormon church. While in Spain, he worked six days a week. He wasn't allowed to date or go to movies. And, he rarely touched a basketball.

Toward the end of his mission, Madsen received a phone call at 1 a.m. from Montgomery, who obviously had forgotten the time difference.

"Madsen, are you in shape," Montgomery asked.

Madsen thought for a moment. Let's see, he said to himself, I haven't picked up a basketball for six months and I haven't run in half a year. But, I have been doing my pushups.

"So I said, 'Yeah, coach, I'm in shape.'"

Well, not quite.

"At the first practice (in 1996) I was doing a warm-up drill with Karl Wente, and by the end of that drill I was exhausted," said Madsen. "I thought if the rest of the practice was going to be like that, I'd never make it."

Fast forward into his second season, and Madsen has not only made it, but made a huge impression. And for "Mad Dog," the best is yet to come. 

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