Stanford Preseason V. Vanguard

Oh Boy, Stanford Women’s Basketball is almost here. Sunday they open their exhibition season against little ol’ Vanguard, the insurance college that could (just kidding, they are a real school, who are not in Divisions I, II, or III, but is NAIA. Vanguard plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. You know, the league before the NCAA was invented. Someone at Vanguard must be tight friends with Stanford head Coach Tara VanDerveer, because they play each other every year in exhibition. Game starts at 2PM.

Chiney Ogwumike Tripled-Teamed -Courtesy StanfordPhoto.com

This game will be a good intro to the Fab Five Freshmen. C and R expect to see them a lot in this game to get a taste of what college ball is like (gee, EVERYone is fast!). Stay tuned after the game for a chalk talk and introduction of the freshies.

We may have lost older sister Nneka Ogwumike two years ago, but we get a Samuelson sister. Karlie Samuelson is the younger sister of Bonnie. We have heard some noise about Forward Erica McCall, a multiple-time gold medal-winner with USA Basketball youth teams and Kailee Johnson, a 2013 McDonald’s All-American and Oregon Player of the Year. We also added guards Lili Thompson and Briana Roberson. Which is good as guard Toni Kokenis retired due to concussions. Aly Beebi also retired after her third ACL surgery. Not a great start to the season.

Tara Vanderveer should get her 900^th win. Ah, C and R remember number 800 in Jennifer Azzi’s house in SF like it was yesterday. TVD is six away from the 900 milestone.

So what will this year bring? See the Official site to get some insight. Some big expectations here, Final Four aspirations, Senior Chiney Ogwumike says she is eyeing the National Championship, but can Stanford do it? That’s what this season will be about! They lost a big Senior in Joslyn Tinkle (may tinkle bells forever ring), with her 10 point average, and although they have four returning starters, only Chiney (22 ppg) and guard Amber Orrrrange (10 ppg) average double figures. Last year the lament was no one stepped up to help Chiney with the scoring load. Will it be the same this year? Will a young freshman play Final Four caliber ball against UConn in ten days time?

And let’s take a peekie-weekie at the Coaches preseason poll. They have Stanford as third, ahead of Cal, who went to the Final Four when Stanford washed out at the Sweet Sixteen. Stanford will have to prove they deserve that high a ranking.

Speaking of Chiney, who was All-American, All-Pac-12, All-everything last year, can she keep up the pace? She says she is working hard to develop her outside game, just as her sister did in her senior year, with great results, so C and R are crossing their fingers. Chiney O has also been nominated for the Lowe’s Senior Class award, also won by her sisters, so crossing toes now. Don’t forget to vote when voting opens. C and R willremind you. Again and Again.

Hope to see you there on Sunday! Go Stanford.

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