2006 Stanford Cardinal Basketball Preview

2006 Stanford Cardinal Basketball Predictions

How will the Stanford Cardinals (16- 14 overall and 11- 7 PAC-10) ever make up for the scoring of Dan Grunfeld, Matt Haryasz and Chris Hernandez, who averaged a total of just over 42 PPG? The simple answer is they won’t until they rebuild and their starters get more experience.

Sophomore Mitch Johnson (3.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 31.4 FG%, 77.4 FT%) may start at point, but he’ll have competition from Da’Veed Dildy and Landry Fields. Johnson is a fairly good ball handler but not a great shooter. Dildy knows the game but it’s unsure if he can play against quicker players. Fields, who can play either shooting or point, has a solid perimeter shot. Anthony Goods, (2.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 38.9 FG%, 75.0 FT%), a sophomore, had a sound shot last season and will play more.

The freshmen brothers Lopez—forward Brook and center Robin—will both play immediately, with Brook offering perimeter skills and Robin tough inside defense. Junior Taj Finger (4.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.9 APG, 48.7 FG%, 63.4 FT%) and sophomore Lawrence Hill (4.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, 38.6 FG%, 70.7 FT%) will provide scoring and defense respectively. Junior center Peter Powitt (3.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 63.8 FG%, 75.9 FT%) could be a major inside force if he’s recovered from a stress fracture that occurred during the summer.

Coach Trent Johnson (34- 28 in 2 years) knows that this team is lacking, noting that things would really need to go Stanford’s way for the team to finish in the top half of the PAC-10. Last season, the club missed the NCAA tourney for the first time in 12 years, going to the NIT instead. To complicate things more, this season Johnson is also using an entirely new coaching staff.

Yes, there is talent on the court, the bench and behind the bench. But just about everything is new and untested. If freshmen and sophomores can step up and turn it up, the NIT is a possibility. Anything beyond that would be a miracle, making these Cardinals holy men and not merely birds.

If you want more info on the 2006 Stanford Cardinal College basketball team check out the NCAA's official basketball team page of the program or check out some rival previews from Maddux Sports of schools like the USC Trojans and California Golden Bears.