Yup, Stanford loses in 5 sets as (conservatively) predicted by some in this thread, as both teams looked visibly tired in the 5th set and their home crowd carried Kentucky to that decisive final set.
As much as I'm OK with this result, I hope this particular loss does not cost Stanford the final NCAA Tournament #1 seed (and the opportunity to host all the way to the NCAA Regional Finals) if it comes down to a choice between Kentucky and Stanford....
Because, at this point, I predict:
(1) current #1 Texas from the Big 12;
(2) either current #2 or current # 3 Ohio State from the Big 10;
and
(3) either current #4 Pittsburgh or current #5 Louisville from the ACC;
all of them concluding their OOC schedule and entering their respective conference play undefeated, will most likely garner the first three (3) #1 seeds.
Nonetheless, I can see why Stanford enters PAC 12 conference play as the prohibitive favorite based on their OOC performance, with Washington and Oregon as their closest protagonists.
So let's all relax and enjoy the forthcoming PAC 12 play and hopefully witness Stanford continue to develop and improve, then peak come NCAA Tournament time....
As much as I'm OK with this result, I hope this particular loss does not cost Stanford the final NCAA Tournament #1 seed (and the opportunity to host all the way to the NCAA Regional Finals) if it comes down to a choice between Kentucky and Stanford....
Because, at this point, I predict:
(1) current #1 Texas from the Big 12;
(2) either current #2 or current # 3 Ohio State from the Big 10;
and
(3) either current #4 Pittsburgh or current #5 Louisville from the ACC;
all of them concluding their OOC schedule and entering their respective conference play undefeated, will most likely garner the first three (3) #1 seeds.
Nonetheless, I can see why Stanford enters PAC 12 conference play as the prohibitive favorite based on their OOC performance, with Washington and Oregon as their closest protagonists.
So let's all relax and enjoy the forthcoming PAC 12 play and hopefully witness Stanford continue to develop and improve, then peak come NCAA Tournament time....