Prove Them Wrong: Stanford After Three Games

 

Stanford women were picked to finish in 13^th place in the ACC, two places below last year’s 11^th place finish.  With the loss of the team’s top four scorers from last year’s team, this should come as no surprise.  Hailee Swain is the only regular starter to return.  Swain averaged 10.2 points per game last season but ended the final games with an uptick in performance. 

Swain is very talented and a hard worker.  It should come as no surprise that she is averaging 23 per game in this season's first three contests.  In the disappointing opening loss to Arizona, Swain scored a career high 21points; in the home opener against Saint Mary’s, Swain broke that career record with 22 points; and in the most recent hard fought win against UC Davis, Swain did it again, scoring a career record 26 points.  By season’s end, I expect more career records.

Swain reminds me a bit of Candice Wiggins.  They are not the same players but share some key strengths.  Both are 5’11” and offensively minded players.  Strengths in shooting the three ball and creating off the dribble are common.  Wiggins left with some all-time great Stanford stats – I expect Swain to do the same.  Swain was not on the list of preseason ACC all-conference selections.  My message to Swain: “Prove them wrong!”  She’s smooth, she’s competitive, she’s demonstrating maturity, she’s a potential All-American.

Two other returning Stanford veterans started all three games so far.  Shay Ijiwoye was and is a spark plug who started 4 games last season but will be a vital part of this year’s team.  She is averaging 10.3 per game so far and leads the team in steals (9) and assists (12).  She’s a money player who does things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.  Against Saint Mary’s, she drew offensive fouls (5 according to TV commentator Mary Murphy) that resulted in lost possessions for the opponent.  Ijiwoye was all over that season high 87 points that Stanford registered.  Against UC Davis, Ijiwoye’s late fourth quarter driving lay up ended a Stanford scoring draught and spelled the beginning of the end for UC Davis.  Expect more from this fiercely competitive player.

Alex Eschmeyer is the other returning Stanford veteran in the starting lineup.  She started 8 games last season, averaged 5.1 points and shot 32% from long distance.  Eschmeyer is the real deal.  As a 6’5” player who can run the floor, block shots, make post moves, and shoot from outside, she is averaging 9.7 points so far and leading the team in boards (6 per game).  She will be a vital part of the team’s success this season.

Looking to returning Stanford veterans, now comes the most surprising story.  Last season, 6’2” Nora Ezike played in only 9 games, averaging just over 4 minutes in those games.  Her stats were, well -- not impressive.  Injuries may have been an issue, but it was hard to look at this record and predict much for the coming season.  There were, however, a few notable things about Ezike: her speed, her athleticism, her strength, and her competitive nature. 

Three games in, I’d say Nora Ezike is way ahead in the most-improved-player category. Coming off the bench and averaging 23 minutes per game, Ezike is the second leading scorer (averaging 12.3) and second in steals (8).  She is shooting 50% on three-pointers.  On a per minute basis, Ezike is the team leader in steals and one of the best in rebounding and shooting.  Her free throw shooting at 17% (1 for 6) is miserable, but, given her three-point shooting record, seems likely to improve. 

Ezike made memorable steals that would make highlight videos in the games against Saint Mary’s and UC Davis.  Against Saint Mary’s, Ezike put up a career high 18 points, including knocking the ball away from a perimeter Saint Mary’s player, recovering it, and then dribble driving a half-court length to put away an uncontested layup.  When replaced near the end, a smiling Coach Paye stood to greet her.  The television feed showed Ezike sitting down next to a smiling and welcoming Eschmeyer.  Nice chemistry.

Against UC Davis, in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Ezike jumped into the passing lane to intercept a pass and once again made the long dash for an uncontested layup.  That play was a killer, giving Stanford a decisive lead that UC Davis could not overcome.  Ezike still has to show this kind of performance against tougher opponents, but the potential is there.  And it’s exciting.

Player development excitement goes on.  Kennedy Umeh is averaging just under 10 minutes per game and leads the team with 6 blocks while averaging 4 points and 2.7 boards per game.  She will provide a different post presence for opponents to defend and can offer vital rest for Eschmeyer. 

Then there are the three transfer players, two of them starters in the first three games.  Ines Sotela Miguez is a slasher averaging 6.7 points and an impressive 10 assists, second only to Ijiwoye.  It's fun to watch her pass the ball.  Charlotte Tuhy is shooting 60% on three-pointers (3-5) and probably is the team leader in boards on a per minute basis.  At American University last season, she led her conference in rebounds.  Ilse De Vires, whom some predicted might be the most impactful of the transfers, is averaging 11 minutes per game.  If she finds her outside shot, the minutes will likely increase. 

Those are the 8 players who saw the most minutes in the first three games.  There are still many questions to be answered, including how to defend three-point shooters, improving free throw shooting, how to deal with the team's lack of depth at the guard position, and lessening turnovers.  Overall, there is exciting development of this young team.  Looking at Stanford’s projected 13^th place conference finish, I’d say to the entire team: “prove them wrong.”