We need to win these next two games.

It does not really matter, in the bigger scope of things, because even if we lose both of them we are tourney bound...however, it is big for the entire team. Just how we came out of the last sweeping by the Washington schools, we need to respond again.

For whatever the reason, those Washington schools know how to shut us down. We shot 41.5% against them... and we are one of the top FG% teams in the country. They know how to D us up. Whatever, we can get past it and watch the tape.

Stanford is 16-11 (5-11) and is not a good road team.  They score in bunches (73 ppg) and allow a ton of points (68 ppg), I think this game will be a win for a few reasons.

• Last time we played, we blew them out in Palo Alto, 90-60. Pendergraph dominated their small frontcourt with 31 points and 11 rebounds, and we shot 59%. Look for us to do those things again. Shoot from the outside, and look for Pendergraph a ton down low. Their biggest guy is essentially a SF, 6'8, and plays small.
• Harden is coming off two crummy performances. He was 9-30 in Washington. Don't expect him to be content with that. I think he will set the tone early.
• Our D is going to be fired up. we are back at home, Sendek is pissed. We have the tourney coming up. We just need to make a statement.

Pendergraph seems fired up,

"I think it's just as urgent," said Pendergraph, the only senior on the team. "We're not trying to ... just to get in there and be happy. We want to get a run in, and the better we play now, the higher seed we get."

"I haven't felt like this since high school," said Pendergraph, the Sun Devils' second-leading scorer with 13.9 points per game.

Neither have I.

Either way, this should not be much of a game. Anthony Goods is their best player, their senior PG. He has been solid, 16 ppg and 40% from 3, but I can't see our defense letting Stanford have their way with us. They are 1-5 in their last 6 and we need to set the tone.

Some stats after the jump.

Team Stats

Stanford

ASU