Championship History
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Basketball Tradition Basketball Tradition Championship History title for a third straight season, and was ranked in the Top 3 the entire year. Six years ago, the Cardinal captured Pac-10 honors (along with Arizona), and for the first time in school his- tory was ranked #1 in the nation. Seven seasons ago, the Cardinal captured the Pac-10 title, attained a #2 national ranking during the sea- son, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Eight years ago, a magical season descended upon the Cardinal program. The team reached the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, and in the semi-final game, sent An Art Lee steal and a Mark Madsen Stanford – With a school record 11 straight NCAA dunk, and Stanford’s improbable comeback tournament appearances (1994-95 to 2004-05), includ- against Rhode Island in the 1998 NCAA Tournament sets up its run to the Final Four. ing trips to the Final Four, the Elite Eight and the Sweet Sixteen in the past nine years, Stanford Basketball is A fan cheers at Stanford’s 80-77 last-second victory over Arizona in among the nation’s elite programs. 2004 en route to a school-record 26-straight victories. In 2003-04, the Cardinal recorded its eleventh straight winning season (30-2 overall, 17-1 in the Pac-10) and eventual national champion Kentucky to overtime. The earned a school record tenth straight berth in the NCAA 1997-98 team was indeed special. Not only talented, but Tournament. Stanford set a school record with 17 con- also a team blessed with great chemistry. “At Stanford, it’s still done the right ference wins, won the Pac-10 Tournament title, and was All-American Mark Madsen, now a member of the way. Talented student-athletes who ranked #1 for four weeks. are well-spoken, polite, respectful Minnesota Timberwolves, enjoyed his Final Four appear- Four seasons ago, the Cardinal of 2001-02 produced of opponents, and who manage to ance. “It’s what we all went through together, the guys on graduate on time. And – oh yes, two NBA first round selections, Curtis Borchardt and the team,” said Madsen. “That’s what I treasure.” athletes who win.” Casey Jacobsen. In 2003-04, Josh Childress was the first In the past 20 seasons, the Cardinal has chalked Dave Newhouse, Alameda News Group round pick of the Atlanta Hawks. up an impressive mark of 235-52 (.819) at Maples Five years ago, the Cardinal won a school record 31 Pavilion. Where the Cardinal once played in front of games, advanced to the Elite Eight, won the Pacific-10 small crowds, it now routinely performs to a large 58 2006-2007 Stanford Basketball Basketball Tradition Ryan Mendez cuts down the net after Stanford clinched its third straight Pac-10 conference title – the Cardinal won Pac-10 titles in 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Stanford also won the Pac-10 regular season and tournament titles in 2003-04. During the 1988-89 season, the Cardinal captured the hearts of many people in the Bay Area with a memorable “... and here’s Stanford, brilliantly season. Stanford chalked up a 26-7 record, a 15-3 mark coached, with a bunch of guys you in the Pacific-10, a perfect 13-0 mark at Maples Pavilion, can actually get to know after four years, always a good bet for the NCAA a #12 national ranking, and set or tied 26 Stanford, tournament, and everyone graduates. Maples Pavilion, team, individual and Pac-10 records. The very essence of the collegiate During the last 17 seasons, the Cardinal has chalked up experience.” 396 victories, an average of 23.2 wins per year. Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle Stanford Basketball has enjoyed many memorable moments in its history. Since 1913, Cardinal Basketball has provided many thrilling moments for Cardinal fans around the country. And many great players have worn Cardinal and White. The list includes Hank Luisetti, the College Player of the Year in 1937, Howie Dallmar, Todd Lichti, Stanford’s all-time leading scorer (2,336 points), was a four-time All Pac-10 selection. contingent of Cardinal faithful. Every seat at Maples Pavilion has been soldout for years, and it is anticipated that all home games (non-league and league) will again be sold out in 2006-07. Maples Pavilion under- went a $30-million renovation just two years ago that enhanced the college athletics experience for both the student-athletes and fans. Stanford has participated in post-season play 18 of the past 20 seasons. In 1996-97, history was recorded as Stanford played in the “Sweet Sixteen”, a first in the Hank Luisetti, above, holds the oldest school record at Stanford. Luisetti scored 50 points school’s history. And of course in 1997-98, the team, vs Duquesne on Jan. 1, 1938. seeded third in the Midwest Region, swept through four opponents to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1942. Stanford has been a participant in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). In 1991, the Cardinal cap- tured the NIT title. Casey Jacobsen, left, scored 49 points against Arizona State on January 31, 2002. 2006-2007 Stanford Basketball 59 Basketball Tradition Important Dates in Stanford the NCAA Tournament Player of the Year in leading leading rebounder (1,119). Keefe played ten seasons in Basketball History Stanford to the national championship in 1942, James the NBA. Pollard, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, and “The future of Stanford basketball is strong,” said February 14, 1918 many other All-Americans including Harlow Rothert, Keefe, a three-time All Pac-10 selection. Stanford scored its first victory over and Don Burness. You can also add Todd Lichti to that Brevin Knight certainly ranks as one of the great play- California in basketball, 22-18. illustrious list of Cardinal greats. Lichti finished his ers in Stanford history. Knight ended his career as the Cardinal career (1985-89) with 22 school and Pac-10 team’s fourth all-time leading scorer, and the all-time January 24, 1922 The Old Pavilion, predecessor of records, and is Stanford’s all-time leading scorer. Lichti, leader in assists and steals. Knight finished his career in Maples Pavilion, was dedicated like many other Cardinal basketball players, was also an 1996-97 as a first team All-America and was a first round for basketball with a game against outstanding student. He graduated in four years with a draft choice of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Knight currently College of Pacific. Stanford won degree in Quantitative Economics. plays for the Charlotte Bobcats. 30-21. At the time, it was the larg- “The education at Stanford played a major role in my est facility exclusively for basket- life,” said Knight, who graduated in four years with a ball in the United States. degree in Sociology. “The professors are great, and there December 30, 1936 is a lot of information that is presented. Stanford allows Hank Luisetti introduced the you to absorb as much information as you want.” one-hand shot to the East Coast Ryan Mendez ranks as one of Stanford’s all-time great as Stanford defeated Long Island shooters. The memories of four years in a Cardinal uni- University, 45-31, before a crowd form will last a long time. of 17,263 in New York’s Madison “The expectations have gone up exponentially. We Square Garden. used to get recruits that were not that highly thought of, January 1, 1938 and now we get the best All-Americans in the country. Hank Luisetti scored a school The sky is the limit for this program.” record 50 points against Duquesne Stanford plays one of the toughest schedules in the University in Cleveland, Ohio. United States. The opponents have included Duke, Luisetti chalked up 23 field goals Connecticut, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas, in the game, a school record. Purdue, Maryland, Temple, Seton Hall, Iowa, Oklahoma, Both records remain the oldest in Vanderbilt, Florida, Houston, Virginia, Michigan State, Stanford basketball history. March 28, 1942 Stanford defeats Dartmouth, 53-38, to win the NCAA championship. Howie Dallmar scored 15 points to win Most Valuable Player honors, while Jack Dana scored 14 points. December 25, 1962 Stanford is ranked fourth in the nation, the school’s highest rank- Adam Keefe, who was named to five All-America teams during his ing at the time. senior session, is one of only four players in NCAA history to have a March 2, 1964 combination of 60 percent field goal accuracy, 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He is the only non seven-footer to accomplish that feat. The Tom Dose sets a Stanford Pavilion other three are Lew Alcindor, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing. (now Burnham Pavilion) record with 42 points against Washington State. January 3, 1969 Brigham Young defeats Stanford, “The academics and the athletics are outstanding,” 95-89, in the first game ever played said Lichti, who was a first round draft pick of the NBA’s at Maples Pavilion. Denver Nuggets in 1989. “It’s a great place to be. You learn from everyone around you.” Another Stanford basketball standout was Howard Wright, who ended his Cardinal career as the school’s #7 all-time scorer and #5 all-time rebounder. Wright remembers the support the student body and the com- munity gave to the basketball program. “Four of the best years of my life were spent at Stanford,” said Wright. “I met a lot of great people, including the students, the coaches and faculty. I couldn’t have made a better choice.” Another in a long list of Stanford greats is Adam Keefe, a member of five All-America teams during his senior season.