Bouncing Forward

how do you cope with losing one of the best players to ever don a Stanford uniform? How do you recover from falling a basket shy of the women’s Final Four? Take five seasoned seniors from a Pac-10 championship squad, throw in four talented freshmen, add an eager transfer from Duke, and turn the mixture loose on one of the country’s toughest schedules. Come March, you just might have the recipe for another remarkable tournament run.

“When you lose a very dominant player like [three-time Kodak all-American] Nicole Powell, it’s a great opportunity for other people to step up,” says head coach Tara VanDerveer. “I think our players are very excited to step out of the shadow. We have a great combination of returners and young freshmen. I think it’s an excellent mix—a lot of enthusiasm but also a lot of experience.”

Fifth-year seniors Susan Borchardt and T’Nae Thiel return for the Cardinal. Joined by seniors Kelley Suminski, Sebnem Kimyacioglu and Azella Perryman, they form one of the deepest teams in the country. During last year’s 27-7 campaign, the quintet made 115 starts and combined for 38 points and 15 rebounds per game.

The unflappable Suminski, whose clutch three-pointer upset Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16, was named to the preseason list for the Wooden Award, which recognizes the nation’s top player. Borchardt—who earned her bachelor’s in psychology last June and considered leaving to join her husband, Utah Jazz center Curtis Borchardt, ’03—opted to stay for her final season of eligibility. “I was pleasantly surprised when [Borchardt] decided to come back,” says VanDerveer. “She is the cherry on top of the sundae. We knew we had the makings of something special, but that really puts us over the top.”

Six-foot-three-inch Brooke Smith, a Duke transfer who was a high school Parade magazine and McDonald’s All-American, should have an impact. “We’re counting on Brooke to come in and play right away,” says VanDerveer. Kimyacioglu can’t wait to see her in action. “Last year, Brooke would be on the opposing team in practice, kicking our butts,” she says. “So we’re excited she’s going to be on our side this year. She’s really talented.”

Four new women also will compete for playing time. Candace Wiggins, a speedy guard from La Jolla, Calif., is the freshman most likely to contribute right away. Wiggins played for the U.S. junior national team this summer, averaging 14.8 points and more than three steals per game. Cissy Pierce, a quick and versatile guard from Littleton, Colo., has what VanDerveer calls “one of the most beautiful, pure jump-shots” she’s seen. Another guard/forward out of Colorado, Jessica Elway—daughter of former football star John Elway, ’83—impresses VanDerveer with her toughness and competitive edge. “I don’t know where she got that from,” VanDerveer says, laughing. Rounding out the freshmen is Christy Titchenal, a forward out of Sonoma, Calif.

The women play two exhibitions and two “home games” at Santa Clara, then return to a refurbished Maples Pavilion on December 10 against Pepperdine. With a grueling non-conference schedule that includes Utah, Texas Tech, Boston College and preseason favorite Tennessee, the Cardinal should be battle-tested heading into the Pac-10 season.

On the men’s team, the cycle of loss and renewal is becoming routine. “Every year the seniors are graduating and guys are leaving for the NBA, and we get this empty feeling like, ‘Oh gosh, we’re in trouble,’” associate head coach Eric Reveno says. “And then every fall, we come back and players have improved; players are ready for the opportunity to fill in. This year should be no different.”

Even after losing Pac-10 Player of the Year Josh Childress to the NBA, and Matt Lottich, Justin Davis and Joe Kirchofer to graduation, Reveno insists the cupboard is far from bare. “We have the talent to have a successful team,” says Reveno, ’88, MBA ’95. “To win 30 games? To go 17-1 in the league? That’s not our goal. This is a different team and a different challenge.”

Fortunately, new head coach Trent Johnson—head coach at the University of Nevada from 1999 to 2004 and a Stanford assistant coach from 1996-99—inherits one of the nation’s best point guards in junior Chris Hernandez. Last season, the 6-foot-2-inch floor leader averaged 10 points, more than four assists and led the Pac-10 in three-point shooting (46 percent) and free throws (91.4 percent). This year, he’s a preseason candidate for the Wooden Award.

Stanford also will look for leadership and steady production from seniors Nick Robinson at small forward and Rob Little at center, while junior Matt Haryasz seems primed for a breakout season at power forward. Junior Dan Grunfeld, sophomore Fred Washington and redshirt freshman Tim Morris all will compete for minutes at shooting guard.

Two capable freshmen should be able to contribute right away. Peter Prowitt, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound center from Arlington, Va., “has got [Mark] Madsen-esque qualities about him,” Reveno says. “He plays really hard and enjoys doing the dirty work.” Taj Finger, a slender, 6-foot-8 forward out of Mt. Kisco, N.Y., is “as comfortable facing the basket as he is with his back to it,” says Reveno, but needs to add bulk to his 195-pound frame.

The Stanford men’s primary task will be defending the Pac-10 championship, their fourth title in the last six years. Last season’s 30-2 record and almost perfect run to the top of the polls was special, but Reveno thinks the conference is tougher this time around. Arizona and Washington, in particular, may possess the depth and quickness to knock the Cardinal off their perch.

The men play only one game in Santa Clara’s arena before returning to their renovated home. “We’re ecstatic about the new Maples,” says Reveno. Also generating excitement is the Maui Invitational in late-November, which will give the team some early tournament experience, and a CBS-televised December 11 showdown against Michigan State in Auburn Hills, Mich.

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-Joshua Fried, ’01