The Road to Dallas

The Cardinal has been seeded No.2 in the Lexington region and its road to Dallas will begin in Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas (map) against No. 15 New Mexico State on Saturday, March 18 at 10:30 am PT.

IF the Cardinal wins that game (one game at a time), its second-round game will be against either No.7 Kansas State or No. 10 Drake on Monday, March 20 at time tbd.

IF the Cardinal wins its first and second round games, its next game(s) will be at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky (map) on Friday, March 24 and Sunday, March 26.

IF the seedings hold true, Stanford will play Texas in the Sweet Sixteen and Notre Dame in the Elite Eight.

IF the seedings hold true, the Final Four at the American Airlines Center in Dallas (map) on Friday, March 31 will be UConn vs Baylor and Notre Dame vs South Carolina.

In regard to the rest of the Pac-12:

• Oregon State is the No. 2 seed in the Stockton region. Its first game will be in Corvallis against No. 15 Long Beach State.


• Washington is the No. 3 seed in the Oklahoma City region. Its first game will be in Seattle against No. 14 Montana State.


• UCLA is the No. 4 seed in the Bridgeport region. Its first game will be in Los Angeles against No. 13 Boise State.


• Arizona State is the No.8 in the Stockton region. Its first game will be in Columbia, South Carolina against No. 9 Michigan State.


• California is the No. 9 seed in the Oklahoma City region. Its first game will be in Waco, Texas against No. 8 LSU.


• Oregon is the No. 10 seed in the Bridgeport region. Its first game will be in Durham, North Carolina against No. 7 Temple.


• Washington State, Colorado and Utah have been selected to play in the WNIT. WSU's first game will be at BYU on Thursday, March 16. Colorado's first game will be at home against UNLV on Thursday, March 16. Utah's first game will be at home against UC Davis on Friday, March 17. Here is the WNIT bracket.

Here is the NCAA tournament bracket.

Ticket Information

You can order your first and second round tickets in the Stanford section from Stanford after 10:00 am tomorrow (Tuesday, March 14). Order online or call 800-STANFORD (Option 1).

IF the Cardinal advances to the regionals, you'll be able to buy tickets in the Stanford section from Stanford after the second round is completed.

IF the Cardinal advances to the Final Four, you'll be able to buy tickets in the Stanford section from Stanford after the Elite Eight is completed.

Regardless of the Cardinal's progress through the tournament, you can buy tickets now, as available, for any of the postseason games from TicketMaster (click here for details and links).

Cardinal have momentum heading into NCAA Tournament

Jacob Rayburn (Cardinal Sports Report) tells all about the Cardinal waiting for Selection Monday — defense, offense and benergy: Cardinal have momentum heading into NCAA Tournament

Alanna is stepping up big

Alanna is one of three players that Michelle Smith (Pac-12) has tabbed as building momentum heading into the postseason:

Alanna Smith is the first international player in the history of Tara VanDerveer’s time at Stanford and Smith has turned out to be a great find. Smith, from Melbourne, Australia, has had a handful of breakout games this season, including a 27-point game against Cal and a 24 point game against Oregon earlier in the season.

In the Pac-12 championship game, Smith came off the bench to give the Cardinal offense a critical spark after a difficult start. She finished with a game-high 18 points on 6 of 14 shooting from the floor. She added four blocked shots and proved a difficult matchup because of her versatility both in the paint and out on the perimeter.

Smith said she has been focused on being more aggressive late in the season and it’s paying off. It will certainly help the Cardinal as it looks to embark on another long NCAA run. After winning the Pac-12 Tournament, Stanford expects a high seed in the NCAA field. “For me, it's just having an aggressive mindset, and just slowing down and reading the defense,” Smith said. “That's something my coaches have been telling me and I've really been trying to take on board.”

VanDerveer likes what she sees from her sophomore forward. “It's been really exciting to see Alanna's improvement throughout the year,” the Hall of Fame coach said. “She has a lot of talent. She gives us a big body that can score on the perimeter, score on the block, runs the floor. She's had some super games for us, and she really stepped up big (Sunday night).”

Here is Smith's complete story: Women's Basketball stars emerge from postseason spotlight

Academic Honors

Bird was named to the 2016-17 Academic All-American Division I second team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) last week.

She's the eighth academic All-American in program history, joining Chiney Ogwumike, Kristin Folkl, Kate Starbird, Chris MacMurdo, Julie Zeilstra, Jeanne Ruark Hoff and Louise Smith.

Read more here.

A school-record eight Stanford women's basketball student-athletes received recognition from the conference for their combined work in the classroom and on the court when the Pac-12 announced its women's basketball All-Academic teams this morning.

Brittany and Bird landed on the Pac-12 All-Academic second team while Shannon, Kaylee, Briana, Alexa, Karlie and Alanna each earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention squad.

Read more here.

Waiting for the bracket

Nothing much to do except wait until next Monday (March 13) when the NCAA announces the bracket. Watch the Selection Show on ESPN at 4:00 PT.

Until then, you can keep track of who's won their conference tourney and an automatic bid to the NCAA tourney here: Champ Week: Who will clinch an NCAA tournament spot?.

As for the remaining 32 at-large bids, there's no telling for sure except for the dozen or so obviously top teams.

As of now (Wednesday morning):

• Stanford's RPI (Ratings Power Index), as reported by the NCAA, places us at #6. The RPI is a major factor, but not the only one, in the NCAA selection process.
• The media (AP Top 25 Poll) ranks Stanford at #6.
• The coaches (USA TODAY Coaches Poll) rank Stanford at #6.

Charlie Creme's current well-educated guess places Stanford as a #2 seed in the Bridgeport (UConn) region, playing the first and second rounds in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Although a top-16 seed, Stanford can't host the first and second rounds because the Pac-12 Women's Gymnastics Championship will be at Maples on March 18.)

There have been several upsets in conference tournaments so far and consequent re-arrangements of the bracket. Here are Creme's most recent articles and his current bracket:

• Baylor upset causes ripple effect throughout bracket (Mar 7)
• Ohio State reclaims final host seed (Mar 8)
• Bracketology

Samuelson Sibling Rivalry

The New York Times published a nice story last week about a potential Final Four matchup: UConn-Stanford? It Would Have Nothing on This Sibling Rivalry

Tired Legs, Moxie, and Defense

By Warren Grimes

The Pac-12 championship game was ... uhm .... memorable.

It started out as a contest that Stanford fans would want to forget. As quickly as possible.

Let’s look at some of the bad news.

Stanford scored only 12 points in the first quarter. Stanford scored even fewer points (11 each) in the next two quarters.

The 12-point first quarter was an accurate reflection of team’s game production (48 points). Oregon State scored 22 points in the first quarter, on pace to score 88 for the game.

Stanford’s 48-point production would have been enough to win only 6 games for the season. Only opponents like Northeastern, Wichita State, UC Davis and Yale scored fewer than 48 points against Stanford.

For the game, Stanford shot only 33% (and 27% from the three point line). Go-to player Erica McCall missed multiple lay ups and shot 20% for the game.

Oh, I almost forgot. Stanford won!

Showing single-minded determination, Stanford players clamped down on Sydney Wiese and other scorers to limit OSU to 21 points in the last three quarters of the game. That’s 7 points a quarter. Oregon State’s 22 points in the first quarter were more than they managed in the entire rest of the game.

This was record-setting defensive resolve. Sydney Wiese scored 13 points, but was 4-13 overall and 2-9 from three point land. Defensive moxie, however, seldom makes the record books.

But it wins games.

And as good as Stanford’s defense was, tired legs had something to do with the offensive output. Both teams had miserable shooting percentages in this game (OSU shot 32% to Stanford’s 33%).

One of the myths of Pac-12 tournament play is that young players can play back-to-back-to-back games without getting physically tired. They may lose focus, it is said, but they have the bounce-back stamina to perform on consecutive nights.

I don’t buy it. Some may recall Chiney Ogwumike’s 3-point performance in a tournament end game against UCLA. In that Pac-12 tournament final, the All American great missed put backs and lay ups that should have been automatic for her. McCall’s missed bunnies should be seen in this context.

The player that led Stanford in scoring, Alanna Smith, scored 18 vital points. She also registered 4 blocks and a steal in 30 minutes on the court. Unlike McCall, Smith had played only 13 minutes the night before against Oregon.

Another player that played relatively little in the semi-final, Marta Sniezek, also came up big. She had only 2 points, but contributed 2 assists and 2 steals (no turnovers) while sharing the defensive burden of guarding Sydney Wiese.

All of this suggests that depth matters. It matters most in the Pac-12 tournament played on consecutive days. The NCAA tournament is slightly less grueling with roughly 48 hours off between games that come in pairs separated by a week. Rotation players such as Smith and Sniezek, however, could still be critical in making a deep tournament run. Tournament games are intense – and players who give their all in the first of paired games may need some help in the second.

Go Stanford!

Pac-12 Tournament: We are the champions!

(Click photos to enlarge.)

The championship game was decided by defense more than offense. After the fact, it is clear from the very low totals that it was a defensive game, but it was also apparent for fans of both schools holding on to the edges of their seats in Key Arena as the game played out minute by minute.

Stanford began, as they had against Oregon, slow and tentative, and the Beavers took advantage. Karlie hit an early three; then there was an awful five minutes in which every Cardinal possession ended with a turnover or a missed shot rebounded by OSU. The score was 3-16 at the first media timeout. Stanford had dug itself into a really deep hole against an excellent opponent.

Stanford got a little offense and closed the first quarter behind only (only!) ten, 12-22. In the second quarter, Alanna began to make herself known with three rapid goals. The Cardinal would have closed the half down only three, except that Sidney Wiese got loose and banked a three-point goal off the glass on the buzzer: Stanford down six, 23-29.

Stanford's defense decided the game in the third quarter. That was not apparent to nervous fans at the time but it is clear in the game-flow diagram.

In the middle eight minutes of that third quarter, OSU was held scoreless while Stanford climbed out of the hole, from down nine to a tie at 34-34. OSU got a goal at the end of the quarter to stay ahead, but two minutes into the final quarter Stanford took its first lead since the opening seconds, and shortly after took the lead for good.

In the final minutes, the Stanford defensive effort was intense and intelligent. Sidney Wiese was simply smothered. She never moved sideways without Marta in her face, and when she turned toward the basket, she was doubled by Bird as well.

In the fourth quarter, the OSU star missed five three-point attempts. Had any of these gone in it would have changed the game; but as it was, her only points in the quarter were two free throws and one layup.

With Stanford up five, OSU began their final possession with 28 seconds on the clock. Any kind of goal would have kept Beaver hopes alive, but they were unable to get clear for any kind of shot. Wiese made a frantic attempt to pass; the ball came loose and was scooped up by Karlie; and everyone stepped back and acknowledged the inevitable as Karlie dribbled the ball while jumping with joy for the final seconds.

Alanna led all scorers with 18 points, plus four blocks and a steal. She was named to the PAC-12 All-Tournament team (along with Sidney Wiese, Christine Anigwe, Sabrina Ionescu and Jordin Canada).

Karlie scored 14 points, plus three assists and a steal. She made two important free throws in the final minute to hold a two-possession lead. On defense, she hounded OSU's freshman star, Mikayla Pivec, and allowed her only four field goal attempts.

Bird scored eight points, plus eight rebounds and three blocks. She was named the Tournament MVP.

Brittany scored six points, plus six rebounds and a block.

Marta had one drive for a layup. She played 24 minutes, most of them spent in Sidney Wiese's face, and got two steals.

Bri had no points, but she played 20 minutes also in close pursuit of Wiese, and got three steals.

Here are game reports and commentary:

• Twelfth Trophy, the Associated Press game recap (posted by Stanford Athletics)
• Stanford wins its 12th Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament title, the Pac-12 game recap video
• Beavers Fall to Stanford in Pac-12 Tourney Final, the Oregon State Athletics game recap
• Stanford overcomes early deficit to beat Oregon State for Pac-12 women’s tournament title by Percy Allen (Seattle Times)
• Beavers fall short of repeat title by Steve Gress (Gazette-Times)
• Stanford's Smith key to successful rally in title game from Palo Alto Online
• WBB Stanford wins Pac 12 tourney 48-43 behind astounding defense and Alanna's 18 from the CARDboard

The game statistics,

Video: Stanford celebrates winning tournament crown

A video interview of Tara,

A video interview of Bird,

A gallery of photos by Anibal Ortiz (Mid-Valley Media),

A gallery of photos by Eric Evans Photography,

And the video press conference with Tara, Bird, Karlie and Alanna

Pac-12 Tournament: Pre-final

Wrapping up yesterday and looking ahead to tonight:

No. 10 Women's basketball marches clinches 12th tournament final appearance, by Lorenzo Rosas (Stanford Daily)

Tournament championship preview: Stanford vs. Oregon State, by Jen Cosgriff (Pac-12)

Beavers, Cardinal meet for a third time with tourney title on line, by Steve Gress (Gazette-Times)

Pac-12 Tournament: Semifinals

From the Media

• Semifinal preview: UCLA vs. Oregon State, by Jen Cosgriff (Pac-12)
• Semifinal preview: Oregon vs. Stanford, by Jen Cosgriff (Pac-12)
• Who were Friday's winners and losers?, by Charlie Creme (espnW)
• Bracketology, by Charlie Creme (espnW)
• Oregon knocks Washington women out of Pac-12 tournament, by Percy Allen (Seattle Times)

#1 Oregon State 63, #4 UCLA 53

UCLA came out with a very intense, trapping defensive style that clearly bothered the Beavers. The referees seemed content to let a lot of hand contact go on, which allowed Jordin Canada and other Bruins to tangle OSU's shooters in a net of hands and arms. At the half, UCLA had a slim lead at 27-30.

During the third quarter UCLA hit a long scoring drought and OSU was able to climb steadily ahead. A timely three by Mikayla Pivec gave OSU its first two-possession lead, 44-38, at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth, both teams suffered a scoring drought, but it seemed that tournament fatigue began to get to the Bruins, and the Beavers were able to open the final ten-point margin in the last three minutes.

Here are game reports:

• Late shots carry No. 6 Oregon State past No. 15 UCLA 63-53, the Associated Press game recap
• Beavers Punch Ticket to Pac-12 Tournament Final, the Oregon State Athletics game recap

The game statistics,

And the game highlights video.

#2 Stanford 71, #6 Oregon 56

In the record books a fifteen-point margin of victory looks like an easy win, but this win was anything but.

The Oregon Ducks, having narrowly ousted the Huskies less than 24 hours before, should have come into the arena tired both physically and mentally, but apparently they didn't get that memo. They came out strong while Stanford came out slow and tentative, with the result that after one quarter, the Ducks had a nine-point lead, 16-25.

Stanford began to get into an offensive flow in the second quarter. Tara called time near the end of the quarter with Stanford still trailing by six, 26-32. In the next two minutes, Alanna and Brittany hit threes, then Brittany hit two free throws to tie the score at 34-34. Oregon's Ionescu missed a jumper and Karlie rebounded, passed to Brittany, who passed down the floor to Alanna for a layup on the buzzer, sending Stanford into the locker room ahead, 36-34.

In the third quarter, the Ducks made one more effort and tied the score at 42-42; but then Bri hit a jumper, and shortly a three, and Kaylee hit a layup and the Cardinal seemed to have some breathing room at last.

But the Ducks were still not done. In the fourth quarter they came within four points before Stanford could pull away on buckets by Bird, Brittany, Bird again, Brittany again.

On the Oregon side, the two heroes of the UW win, Ruthy Hebard and Lexi Bando, were held down by Stanford defense. Hebard was held to only four points by Kaylee and Bird. Bando eventually fouled out with only three points, after being hounded by Karlie all the game. Sabrina Ionescu was the special focus of Bri and Marta. She made 14 points, which was exactly her season average.

The Stanford total was spread very evenly, with four players in double digits and two others with more than five.

Kaylee deserves special mention because her 11 points were her season high, and with 12 rebounds were her first double-double of the season. She also had two assists, two steals, and two blocks. One Kaylee highlight from near the end of the game: Hebard pulled down an offensive rebound but Kaylee simply ripped the ball away from her and fired it down the court to a streaking Bird for an easy layup.

Bird had 17 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double, plus four blocks.

Brittany had 15 points (notably including 6-6 for free throws), three assists and two blocks.

Bri, besides bird-dogging Ionescu, had 12 points (and was 2-2 for three-point shots), plus three assists and a steal.

Karlie, besides harassing Bando, had eight points.

Alanna had five points, including a very timely three-pointer to help get the lead at the half, and an assist and a steal, in just 13 minutes of play.

Here are game reports:

• Erica McCall leads No. 10 Stanford past Oregon 71-56, the Associated Press game recap
• Semi-tough: Stanford ends UO Run, the Oregon Athletics game recap
• Oregon Ducks fall to Stanford Cardinal in semifinals of Pac-12 women’s tournament by Ryan Thorburn (Register-Guard)
• Stanford women advance to face Oregon St. in Pac-12 final by Jim Hoehn (San Francisco Chronicle)
• WBB: Stanford 71 Oregon 56 from the CARDboard

The game statistics,

The game highlights video,

An interview of Tara,

An interview of Bird,

An interview of Kaylee,

And the video press conference with Tara, Bird and Kaylee.

Finis

The championship game tomorrow is Oregon State vs Stanford at 6:00.

The game will be televised by ESPN2.