[JohnR34231]

I always enjoy Pat Forde's annual best/worst case scenarios for each Tourney team.  Here's ours: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/-ncaa-tourn...ncaab.html

No. 10 Stanford
Best Case: Upperclass-laden Cardinal have been waiting for this chance their entire careers and seize it. Behind guard Chasson Randle and stretch-four Dwight Powell, Stanford poses matchup problems for New Mexico and has the height to combat the long Lobos. After pulling that upset, Stanford gets a pregame pep talk from alum Richard Sherman, who cannot believe the Cardinal are being challenged by a sorry team like Kansas. Suitably angry and inspired, Stanford pulls the shocker and reaches the Sweet 16. Tiger Woods, Andrew Luck and Condi Rice hop on the bandwagon by then. Cardinal don’t beat Syracuse, but easily win the VIP seating competition.

Worst Case: Tip time in St. Louis is 11:40 a.m. MT, which is tough for the Lobos – but that’s 10:40 PT, which is even worse for the Cardinal – and their Tree, who at tipoff may still be drunk from the previous night. Stanford is slow to get going in a quiet, flat gym. Lobos, who have been in the NCAAs the previous two years, have the tournament experience edge over first-time-in-a-long-time Cardinal. Bad start leads to big deficit that is never overcome, and Dawkins seems to grow more pinched and drawn as the game goes along. Sherman, Tiger, Luck and Condi sit this one out.

Apparently Forde hasn't attended any games at Maples this year.  Otherwise, he would know that we are totally used to playing in a "quiet, flat gym."

I think he is attributing the slow start to the early playing time more than the quiet gym. If we get beat, you can bet some homer will use it as an excuse to justify the loss.

[JohnR34231]

I always enjoy Pat Forde's annual best/worst case scenarios for each Tourney team.  Here's ours: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/-ncaa-tourn...ncaab.html

No. 10 Stanford
Best Case: Upperclass-laden Cardinal have been waiting for this chance their entire careers and seize it. Behind guard Chasson Randle and stretch-four Dwight Powell, Stanford poses matchup problems for New Mexico and has the height to combat the long Lobos. After pulling that upset, Stanford gets a pregame pep talk from alum Richard Sherman, who cannot believe the Cardinal are being challenged by a sorry team like Kansas. Suitably angry and inspired, Stanford pulls the shocker and reaches the Sweet 16. Tiger Woods, Andrew Luck and Condi Rice hop on the bandwagon by then. Cardinal don’t beat Syracuse, but easily win the VIP seating competition.

Worst Case: Tip time in St. Louis is 11:40 a.m. MT, which is tough for the Lobos – but that’s 10:40 PT, which is even worse for the Cardinal – and their Tree, who at tipoff may still be drunk from the previous night. Stanford is slow to get going in a quiet, flat gym. Lobos, who have been in the NCAAs the previous two years, have the tournament experience edge over first-time-in-a-long-time Cardinal. Bad start leads to big deficit that is never overcome, and Dawkins seems to grow more pinched and drawn as the game goes along. Sherman, Tiger, Luck and Condi sit this one out.

Apparently Forde hasn't attended any games at Maples this year.  Otherwise, he would know that we are totally used to playing in a "quiet, flat gym."

I think he is attributing the slow start to the early playing time more than the quiet gym. If we get beat, you can bet some homer will use it as an excuse to justify the loss.