Stanford shoots down Cougars, 65-54

by Grady Clapp on Feb 5, 2009 10:54 PM PST

Sometimes the game of basketball is more simple than we think. Put the ball in the basket, and you win.

And the Stanford Cardinal did just that against WSU, shooting a blistering 54.8% from the field and draining 9 of 13 three-point attempts.

The Cougars' (12-10, 4-6 Pac-10) defense was befuddled by a trio of Cardinal players in double figures. Big man WIll Paul was 5 for 5 (3 for 3 from three) and scored 13 points, matching the total of teammate Anthony Goods. But the real star for Stanford (14-6, 4-6) was Lawrence Hill. The senior forward notched 20 points on 8 of 9 shooting.

Washington State was led by Klay Thompson with 18 points, and Aron Baynes who chipped in 16 and 9 rebounds. But Baynes was rattled by a physical Stanford defense, committing a game-high six turnovers.

After letting WSU jump out to an early eight point lead, Stanford made its next three buckets and never stopped missing. Stanford took a one-point lead into halftime, and pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Cougars by ten after intermission.

The eFG of 65.5% was easily the worst WSU has allowed during the conference season.

Player of the Game: Thopmson. 18 points (7/14, 2/3 3pt), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 0 turnovers.

Play of the Game: Aron Baynes' dunk off an offensive rebound with 17:52 remaining brought the Cougars within two, but it was the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.

It was over when... 91% free-throw shooter Taylor Rochestie missed the front end of a 1 and 1 with 6:38 remaining and the Cougs down nine.

Stat of the night: The 9 of 13 three-pointers made by Stanford. You simply aren't going to beat anyone if you defend the perimeter that poorly.

The Cougars were pretty even with Stanford in three of the four factors (see chart above). It was the shooting that was the difference in the end.

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Comments

Hey Grady

I’m sure Stanford would love to finish with that 11-7 record you credited them. Just saying…

by Craig Powers on Feb 5, 2009 10:58 PM PST reply actions

Actually

Stanford won 8 games tonight, while simultaneously losing 1. All in conference, mind you.

by Grady Clapp on Feb 5, 2009 11:01 PM PST up reply actions

Damn Scientists

by Craig Powers on Feb 5, 2009 11:02 PM PST up reply actions

oh sure you fix it

Now I look like a “Seth Davis”

by Craig Powers on Feb 5, 2009 11:01 PM PST up reply actions

No you were right

You get credit for picking it out.

Funny thing is I have no idea where the heck I got 11-7 in my head. Truth be told I don’t remember typing it.

by Grady Clapp on Feb 5, 2009 11:03 PM PST up reply actions

Well that was our conference record last year

And it was a little dissapointing. Those were the days.

by Craig Powers on Feb 5, 2009 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

Lawrence Hill is frustrating

Because most games that corkscrew shot of his clangs off the rim with regularity. But he is capable of getting open, so he has these nights where he NEVER MISSES.

by Craig Powers on Feb 5, 2009 11:00 PM PST reply actions

This has nothing to do with anything

But Kobe just said the Lakers have “grown in their execution…and our poise.” Go to school kids. Unless of course you are going to make millions to play basketball, then you talking about growing poise all you want.

by Craig Powers on Feb 5, 2009 11:08 PM PST reply actions

shooting

our good defense eventually loses its influence on the game when we miss so many shots. I know that a strong defensive stand will keep opponents down, but it seems to me that teams find ways to get on a roll and pull away from us. I think our defense can stand up against anyone, but if we have no offensive momentum, especially if we are behind, then the enthusiasm and confidence needed to score wears away. Sometimes I wish we would be more flexible with the ball, getting off shots earlier.(and making them)Our D is 75% of the game, maybe if it was about 60% or so, we could be tougher.

by ScottL on Feb 6, 2009 7:11 AM PST reply actions

I guess that just comes down to toughness, something Bennett talked about

Because our offense was doing just fine in the first half, but we still were allowing way too much on defense. We finished the first half shooting 46.2 percent, and actually were at or about 50 percent for most of the first 20 minutes. Stanford still shot 50 percent, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Maybe we were lulled into thinking we could win a shootout. I don’t know. But I guess I’ve just reached a point where I can’t understand the inconsistencies this far into the season.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Feb 6, 2009 9:44 AM PST up reply actions