[81alum]

My heart was sinking when Santa Clara erased our lead and took the 1 point lead of their own.  At that point in the game our offense looks stagnant and discombobulated.  Then we hit a few threes, and all was right with the world.

This has been Stanford's story for years now.  We MUST make threes not so much because we need those points--although often we do--but because the rest of our offense depends so heavily on spacing, and the spacing becomes terrible if we do not have an outside threat.  Santa Clara packed the paint and made it very difficult inside, until our most experienced players (Lepolo, Agara, and Clardy) began to made some shots away from the basket.  Then, of course, the inside opened up as well, and the entire complexion of the game changed, for the better.

Defense is quite good.  We did have a few missed assignments, but their best player was held scoreless for most of the game, and their three point shooting descended from the heavens.

Tempie at the chalk talk absolutely agreed that playing time is necessary to retain players.  She also suggested a change in attitude toward freshmen.  They will be played more, but more will be expected of them.  The era of gradual transitions seems to be over.  They are paid professionals now, so no more kid gloves for the newbies.

[81alum]

My heart was sinking when Santa Clara erased our lead and took the 1 point lead of their own.  At that point in the game our offense looks stagnant and discombobulated.  Then we hit a few threes, and all was right with the world.

This has been Stanford's story for years now.  We MUST make threes not so much because we need those points--although often we do--but because the rest of our offense depends so heavily on spacing, and the spacing becomes terrible if we do not have an outside threat.  Santa Clara packed the paint and made it very difficult inside, until our most experienced players (Lepolo, Agara, and Clardy) began to made some shots away from the basket.  Then, of course, the inside opened up as well, and the entire complexion of the game changed, for the better.

Defense is quite good.  We did have a few missed assignments, but their best player was held scoreless for most of the game, and their three point shooting descended from the heavens.

Tempie at the chalk talk absolutely agreed that playing time is necessary to retain players.  She also suggested a change in attitude toward freshmen.  They will be played more, but more will be expected of them.  The era of gradual transitions seems to be over.  They are paid professionals now, so no more kid gloves for the newbies.