Stanford - Cornell Preview

South- Round One
Stanford Cardinal (3) Vs. Cornell Big Red (14)
Thursday, March 20 @ 5:00 pm
Betting Line From Bookmaker: Stanford -15

The #11 Stanford Cardinal (13- 5 PAC-10, 26- 7 overall) team looks strong and ready to roll in the tournament. They finished a solid second in the PAC-10, behind UCLA, who they lost to in the conference finals 64- 67.

In the frontcourt, Brook Lopez (18.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG) leads the team in points and rebounds. He’s a solid defender, averaging 2.2 BPG. Junior guard Anthony Goods (10.4 PPG, .353 3PT%) can hit from inside and out, while point guard Mitch Johnson (6.8 PPG, 4.4RPG, 4.8 APG) is an accurate shooter and good playmaker. Robin Lopez (10.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG), Brook’s twin brother, is an avid defender, averaging 2.3 BPG.

The Cardinal players like to slow down opponents at half court, making them work their way towards the basket. The inside is controlled by the dominant Lopez brothers.

The Cornell Big Red (14- 0 Ivy, 22- 5 overall) took the Ivy League crown by going undefeated. However, against non-conference teams they were 8- 5. Loses include those to Ohio, Syracuse and Duke, although the Big Red gave the Blue Devils a run for their money.

For Cornell, it’s all about the backcourt. The club’s three top scorers are all guards-- Ryan Wittman (15.4 PPG, .466 3PT%) , Louis Dale (13.8 PPG, 5.0 APG) and Adam Gore (10.1 PPG, .416 3PT%). Wittman and Gore are tough from downtown, while Dale, along with having a fine shot, is a good setup artist. Inside, seven-foot even center Jeff Foote (8.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG) is the team’s best defender.

Cornell has won 16 straight and beat MAAC champs-- Siena. If the guards can breakdown the tenacious Stanford defense and hit shots from the perimeter, they’ll make a game of it. Cornell is much stronger from the three-point stripe and the free throw line. The Big Red can’t give Stanford too many chances at grabbing rebounds. How Cornell will control Stanford’s inside game is anyone’s guess.

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