Cardinal vulnerable, but tough at home

By HOWIE STALWICK
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Washington State is coming off one of its most impressive performances of the season. Stanford is coming off one of its most lackluster performances of the season.

Maybe that bodes well for the 22nd-ranked Cougars on Saturday, maybe not. As good as the Cardinal has been most of the season, however, it does appear to be surprisingly vulnerable in some key areas for the eighth-ranked team in the country.

Only two Stanford players are scoring in double figures, and the Cardinal is shooting just 43 percent from the field in league games. Also, the Cardinal has 20 more turnovers than its opponents, and that could prove fatal against a Cougars team that is plus-89 in turnovers.

Ah, but it's no accident that Stanford is 23-4 overall and half a game behind first-place UCLA at 12-3 in league play. Keyed by 7-foot twins Brook and Robin Lopez, the Cardinal ranks among the national leaders in defense and rebounding.

Stanford is particularly tough at Maples Pavilion, where every home game has been a sellout this year. The Cardinal is 15-1 at home with seven consecutive wins, and Stanford has outscored visitors by an average of 18 points despite a three-point win over ninth-place Washington on Thursday.

Washington State (22-6, 10-6) has lost two in a row at Stanford, and 10 of the past 11. Overall, the Cardinal has won five of the past six meetings with WSU, including a 67-65 overtime decision last month.

The Cougars presumably clinched an NCAA Tournament berth with Thursday's 70-49 rout of California, but WSU players say there's no chance of a letdown on Senior Day at Stanford's final home game.

"We're not going into that game just wanting a split (on the road trip)," point guard Taylor Rochestie said.

"I don't think the pressure's off, to be honest with you," wing Kyle Weaver said. "It's a big one Saturday against one of the top-ranked teams nationally.

"They're playing good basketball right now. We can't settle."

The Cougars would have to win their two remaining league games and have Stanford finish 0-3 for the teams to tie for second place. The Cardinal has won its past three games, and 10 of 11.

Shooting guard Anthony Goods, who has struggled with his shot much of the season, has found his range the past two games and increased his scoring average to 11.2.

"I just told him to relax," Stanford coach Trent Johnson said. "This time of year, there should only be one person who's miserable, and that's me."

TIP-INS: WSU is 2-3 against top 25 teams, with two consecutive losses. Stanford is 3-1 against top 25 teams, with three consecutive wins. ... WSU has lost four in a row to top 10 teams since topping No. 7 Arizona in January 2007. The Cougars are 0-2 in road games against top 10 teams since beating No. 10 Washington on Jan. 7, 2006.