Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="jonson, post: 3885376, member: 6034"] I'd second this. In fact, unlike a poster above, I'd argue that Stanford is stronger defensively than offensively--with the former as good as anyone in the nation brings to the table. And I also think they would be a very tough match-up for UCONN if the two teams meet down the road. To me, their weaknesses are being turnover prone at times and scoring droughts (although both are much improved over past seasons). As for the Pac12 generally, for the past 6 years or so it has mostly been a conference with a number of very good (and very different) teams but no "great" ones. So--final fours, elite eights, but no champion. I believe last year's Oregon team would likely have changed that, if they had had the opportunity, and I think Stanford has as good a chance to win as anyone this year, so that narrative may change. I also don't think any of the post-Stewie UCONN teams, including this one, would have made it through a regular Pac 12 season without losing a game or two (or more) and being challenged in some others. The future? Well, it seems obvious to me that over the 6 seasons prior to this one the success of the Oregon schools, UCLA and, now, Arizona (to some extent at least) has awakened the tiger in Palo Alto. Whether the conference overall will be able to keep up is certainly an open question. [/QUOTE]