Stanford Has Eyes On March

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 12, 1999 / 6:40 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Sixth-ranked Stanford continues to live on the edge, much to the discomfort of coach Mike Montgomery.

For the sixth consecutive game, the Cardinal spotted an opponent a nine-point lead. This time, ninth-ranked UCLA was the beneficiary, but for the fourth time, Stanford clawed back to win, eking out a tension-packed 77-73 triumph Thursday night at Maples Pavilion.

"We are taking people's best shots," Montgomery said. "People are playing great against us. We gotta be ready to handle that."

Although some have interpreted Stanford's recent struggles as a sign of vulnerability, the schedule says otherwise. In the last five games, it has lost by two against No. 13 Arizona at Tucson; won at Arizona State; won at arch-rival Cal by two; lost to top-ranked Connecticut; and edged UCLA.

"As I've said, Stanford is the runaway freight train," said Bruins coach Steve Lavin. "For them to come through the last five games with a 3-2 record, that's good. It's not like they're losing to patsies."

The victory enabled the Cardinal to maintain a two-game lead over Arizona in the Pacific-10 Conference race with seven games remaining. After securing their 20th victory for the fifth consecutive season, most Stanford players were relieved, none more than junior forward Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen.

The power forward recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, but more important, hit four consecutive free throws down the stretch, including two with 41 seconds remaining.

Those were key for Madsen, who has been a liability to his team at the line lately, missing four in a row during crunch time against Connecticut last Saturday. One was an airball.

"Mark is a tough kid, God love him," Montgomery said. "He can shoot free throws, he just needs the confidence from having success. Obviously, everybody was holding their breath."

Every morning this week, Madsen arrived at about 9 a.m. and shot 100 free throws before class. Thursday morning, a television technician setting up for the game rebounded for him. This was in addition to extra shooting in practice, when teammates tried everything imaginable to distract him.

"They were just screaming at me, taking their shirts off, pounding their chests,'' he said. "I didn't hear anything."

He also took several hundred shots outside his apartment last weekend.

"It's real easy to make them when no one is around," he said.

Madsen admitted the Cardinal recently hit the wall. The added pressure, high expectations and tight games have taken an emotional toll on players. Don't forget, the last time this school won an outright conference title was 1941-42, when Stanford won the national championship.

Which might explain why Montgomery was so animated on the bench Thursday night, his gestures, gyrations and yelling rivaling ntural childbirth.

"I think coach Montgomery had a big-time sense of urgency,'' Madsen said. "He definitely wanted us to get this one."

Mark Madsen is pumped about the Cardinal season so far. (AP)

Montgomery agreed. At this point, every victory is precious, especially at home.

"It was an important game,'' he said. "I wanted to make sure they (the officials) understood that."

Asked if he felt good about his team's current position in the conference standings, he shook his head.

"No,'' said Montgomery, a notorious worry-wart. "I'll have comfort on March 7 (tournament selection day) ... if there's comfort to have. Arizona's playing great."

The Cardinal are still shooting for the top seed in the west, and might land it if they don't slip. At least that's how Lavin sees it.

"They're looking at a No. 1 seed, depending how they finish," he said.

Many Stanford supporters are already pointing to the rematch with Arizona on Feb. 27, but there's still a lot of other games to be played. Four of its last seven games are on the road, and the regular season concludes March 3 at Oregon State, a team which has already beaten UCLA and lost to Arizona by a point.

In other words, nobody, least of all Montgomery, is taking anything or anyone for granted.

"We definitely are the hunted," Madsen said. "This year, no one takes a night off against us. Right now we're in the driver's seat and we're taking on all-comers. But we have to be able to back it up."

With that, Lavin strolled by and extended a congratulatory hand. Madsen, who might be the most congenial player in college basketball, smiled widely.

"See ya, Steve," he beamed. "Good luck in the tournament. We'll be rooting for you."