Stanford is one of the great eight

CSTV.com writer Jeff Lippman thinks that only eight teams have what it takes to advance through the NCAA Tournament and cut the nets down in Tampa in April. Stanford is one of them because:

Coach Tara VanDerveer knows the time is now for her Cardinal. Candice Wiggins is a senior, and she's finally completely healthy after dominating international competition all summer long with U.S. national teams. Stanford's happy-go-lucky point guard is ready to own the Pac-10 like few players ever have.

While Stanford lost center Brooke Smith, they trade finesse for power with 6-foot-4 Jayne Appel, who, entering her sophomore year, will become a force to be reckoned with on the inside. And if Appel can't handle the entire load, the Cardinal bring in freshman 6-foot-4 forward Kayla Pedersen, who has great quickness for a player with her height.

Like most of the teams on this list, Stanford combines senior leadership and young talent, but what sets the Cardinal apart is Wiggins. Although maybe not the most talented player from the teams on this list, Wiggins is certainly hands down the best leader.

Here are the other seven.