THE AGGIES ARE COMING!! SHOW UP ON SATURDAY AT 2 PM AND LET THE CARDINAL HEAR YOU!!

Stanford will take on the U.C. Davis Aggies on Saturday December 28th at 2 PM. I assume the team flew home Sunday night and will spend Monday through Thursday with their families and fly back Thursday night - have a practice on Friday and a shoot around Saturday morning. Something like that should be enough to prepare for the Aggies at 2 PM.

You probably know that on Sunday, Stanford lost its first game of the season in Austin where their shooting went south. So, I figure the Aggies will bear the brunt of Stanford's return to the friendly confines of Maples Pavilion, where they will proceed to shoot the lights out. (At least that's my hope.)

I'm predicting six threes . . . in the first half! And four more in the second, as well as a return of the joy and smiles of the Cardinal shooters. I predict that Kiana will skip back to the team huddle for the first timeout.

Katie Toole is a 5'-10" senior guard who averages 16 points. I predict she'll have a long afternoon on Saturday. Cierra Hall is a forward who usually ends up in double figures - I think this weekend she won't. Their post player, Sage Stobbart, got about a dozen rebounds in their last game. On Saturday I'm predicting she'll be in single digits. Their two forwards, Nina Bessolo and Kayla Konrad, will do their darndest, but all in all, I think Saturday will be a happy return to the Farm for the Cardinal players after disappointment in Texas and a rejuvenating few days at home.

Stanford is in the process of getting themselves ready for the start of the PAC12 season and Saturday will provide a helpful tuneup in their preparation. This game, the two Washingtons and the two Cal games will serve to re-establish the Cardinal's momentum, preparing them for their January 16th trip to Eugene and Corvallis.

I'm remembering a famous quote from a Hall of Fame football coach for the Longhorns, Darrell Royal, who said, "You learn more from losing than from winning - but, I don't recommend it." That especially applies to our four freshmen. You may have noticed that they were basically missing in action last Sunday. Your first away game in college is really tough. You've got thousands of rabid fans cheering against you for the first time in your life. The other team is totally psyched and you feel out of sorts in their building, with their cheerleaders, their band, and crowd. It all felt alien - especially in the first half - timing was off, nothing was flowing, the shots weren't falling.

As I watched, I could see the learning curve taking place. The Knight Arena in Eugene will be packed on the 16th and Gill on the 19th. That game in Texas was a baptism of fire. In the next three weeks our young players will grow from that experience. I'm hoping they grow enough to be able to play well in Oregon - the biggest away games of the PAC12 season. And I'm hoping for Maya and DiJonai by then. Whatever happens - the possibilities make all of this so much fun! And it'll just keep getting better! I'm loving this team and this season!

Merry Christmas Cardinal Fans!

GO STANFORD!!WE CAN DO THIS!!