[teejers1]

There's more than the D&D "chance" (great scene, btw) with this Cardinal team.  They have players with the game to beat any opponent.  Obviously, to beat the better teams, the players will have to play well (and not just okay).  Ki will have to play great - which I think we've seen enough to know that is a reasonable expectation against the better teams.  Lexie will have to play well - 1 for 14 won't cut it, but again, Lexie has been very good most of the year that expecting the same come tourney time is reasonable.  The wild cards - the high beta players who need to play at high end of their game during the tourney - are Prechtel, Lacie, Fingall, and perhaps Dodson (assuming she gets her legs back).  And Wilson and Brown  - when they get in to give Ki the requisite break (and perhaps spell other guards) - also need to play well.  I actually feel pretty good about their games/contributions.  They may not be noteworthy numbers due to PT limits, but they usually contribute concretely when in (Brown a little more of a wild card).

I guess another way to restate the above is as follows:  for Stanford to go really far in the NCAAs, the bigs will have to play very well.

I would add Jump on the list of high beta players.  She can knock down 3 three's in a two minute span and blow a game open or mount a furious comeback.

I agree - and having watched Jump play with and against one of my kids, I have special rooting interest in her success. I'm just concerned that opponents will not give her any space to let fly the trey.  We shall see.

[teejers1]

There's more than the D&D "chance" (great scene, btw) with this Cardinal team.  They have players with the game to beat any opponent.  Obviously, to beat the better teams, the players will have to play well (and not just okay).  Ki will have to play great - which I think we've seen enough to know that is a reasonable expectation against the better teams.  Lexie will have to play well - 1 for 14 won't cut it, but again, Lexie has been very good most of the year that expecting the same come tourney time is reasonable.  The wild cards - the high beta players who need to play at high end of their game during the tourney - are Prechtel, Lacie, Fingall, and perhaps Dodson (assuming she gets her legs back).  And Wilson and Brown  - when they get in to give Ki the requisite break (and perhaps spell other guards) - also need to play well.  I actually feel pretty good about their games/contributions.  They may not be noteworthy numbers due to PT limits, but they usually contribute concretely when in (Brown a little more of a wild card).

I guess another way to restate the above is as follows:  for Stanford to go really far in the NCAAs, the bigs will have to play very well.

I would add Jump on the list of high beta players.  She can knock down 3 three's in a two minute span and blow a game open or mount a furious comeback.

I agree - and having watched Jump play with and against one of my kids, I have special rooting interest in her success. I'm just concerned that opponents will not give her any space to let fly the trey.  We shall see.