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Around SBN: Printable 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket

The Top 10 Games of Nneka Ogwumike's Stanford Career

With Sunday's trip to Cal marking the final regular season game of Nneka Ogwumike's Stanford career, it's a good time to look back at some of the defining performances from her time on the Farm. Trust me, it was hard to pick just 10. Let's hope it'll be even harder come April. Please share your own favorite Nneka memories -- and any games you think I missed -- in the comments.

In chronological order:

1. First Double Double - Jan. 4, 2009

With Jillian Harmon, Jayne Appel, and Kayla Pederson all in foul trouble, Ogwumike had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in a 70-61 win at Arizona. The reigning GatoradeNational High School Player of the Year played 27 minutes, shot 6-for-12 from the field, and added 2 blocks.

2. The Breakout Game - March 23, 2025

"I think it's really exciting seeing Nneka have a breakout game like this," head coach Tara VanDerveer said after Ogwumike had 27 points and 13 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament second round win over San Diego State. "It was good in a way. She played so poised and she was so effective especially because Jayne was not that effective. Nneka really stood out and had a fabulous game." Appel had 12 points and 11 rebounds in only 16 minutes. Ogwumike shot 8-for-10 from the field and made 11-for-13 from the free throw line. "We really had no answer for Nneka," said San Diego State head coach and former Stanford strength and conditioning coach Beth Burns. "...It's remarkable to think she's just a freshman." Nneka, who had 13 points and 12 rebounds in Stanford's loss to UConn in the Final Four, was only getting started.

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Would David Shaw Leave Stanford for an NFL Job?

In his latest mailbag, Kevin Gemmell was asked to look into his crystal football and predict various aspects of the future of the Stanford program. Here's part of his response (emphasis mine):

"Well, three years down the line I'd expect the Cardinal will be looking for another outstanding offensive line class because the bulk of this year's group will be heading to the draft. I'd be shocked if Pep Hamilton and Derek Mason haven't gotten head coaching gigs somewhere in three to five years. I'd imagine Shaw is still the head coach in five years. The lure to return to the NFL might tempt him five years from now -- especially if he's offered an offensive coordinator or head-coaching job. But unless he has back-to-back 0-12 seasons and a heap of NCAA violations, I don't see him ever getting fired. He's an alumnus, he loves the school and the program and if he's still head coach in 2022, I wouldn't be all that surprised."

Kevin jokes that he could use Carnac the Magnificent's help for such a question, but that line about the NFL might raise a few eyebrows. After all, Shaw has repeatedly referred to Stanford as his dream job and had this to say on the day he was introduced as Jim Harbaugh's replacement:

"Since the day I started coaching, this is the job I always knew I wanted," he said, then added later. "I wanted this to be my last head coaching interview ever."

Poll
Where will David Shaw be in 10 years?

  89 votes | Results

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Stanford vs. Cal: MBB Q&A; with California Golden Blogs

Thanks to NorCalNick of California Golden Blogs for answering a few questions about Sunday's regular season finale at Maples Pavilion.

1. What player has improved the most for Cal throughout the season? How important will he be to sweeping Stanford?

It has to be either Justin Cobbs or Robert Thurman. Thurman is probably the single player who has improved the most over the course of the season, but his impact is still somewhat limited because he'll only play 15 minutes or so. With Cobbs, it was just a matter of getting back up to speed with D1 ball after sitting out his transfer year. But he also had to grow into his role in the offense. At this point he's pretty much the undisputed point guard and ball handler, and his ability to facilitate has gradually grown over the course of the season to the point where he's leading the Pac-12 in assist/turnover ratio during conference play.

2. If you had to predict now, what seed do you think Cal winds up with in the NCAA Tournament? Do you think they're safely in even if they lose back-to-back games at Maples and Staples?

I think Cal would be very well advised to win at least one more game before selection Sunday. Losing to Stanford on the road wouldn't be a crushing resume loss, but losing to WSU or OSU on a neutral court might be, especially if it capped a 3 game losing streak. As for our likely seed? Probably a 9. I'm 100% sure we'll be in the dreaded 8-9 game, probably with Kentucky looming in the next round. Even with Monty we have to keep the old-school Cal pessimism alive and well somehow!

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Card Clicks: Mark Appel, No. 1 Stanford Open Series in Fresno

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The No. 1 Stanford baseball team opens a three-game series at Fresno State tonight. | The Stanford Daily

The Bulldogs are excited to face Stanford ace Mark Appel in the opener. | Fresno Bee

Nneka Ogwumike and No. 2 Stanford close the regular season on Sunday at Cal. | The Stanford Daily

The Stanford men hope to spoil Cal's Pac-12 title hopes at Maples. | The Stanford Daily

Kevin Danna hits the hardwood with Stanford freshman guard Chasson Randle for a game of HORSE. | GoStanford

The battle for Stanford's two vacant offensive line spots will be fierce. | Stanford Football Blog

David Shaw completes his staff by naming Lehigh defensive coordinator David Kotulski his inside linebackers coach. | GoStanford

The Stanford men's swimming team leads Cal at the Pac-12 Championships. | CollegeSwimming.com

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Card Clicks: Nneka Ogwumike Helps Stanford Cap Perect Season at Home

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The No. 2 Stanford women's basketball team defeated Seattle University, 76-52, to complete a perfect regular season at home. | The Stanford Daily

Nneka Ogwumike had 19 points and 11 rebounds in her final game at Maples Pavilion. | Mercury News

The Stanford men might not have anyone on the All-Pac-12 Team. | SF Chronicle

Bruce Feldman, who takes an interesting look at the keys to Stanford's recruiting success, says the metamorphosis of Stanford football is "one of the most remarkable stories in the sport's history." | CBS Sports

David Shaw says he'll be shocked if Coby Fleener doesn't go in the first round. | The Stanford Daily

Stanford isn't the only Pac-12 heavyweight replacing its starting QB this season. | Stanford Football Blog

The No. 1 Stanford baseball team puts its perfect record to the test at Fresno state this weekend. The Cardinal was 15-15 away from Sunken Diamond last season. | The Stanford Daily

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Avinash shares his thoughts on Ben Howland in the wake of George Dohrmann's expose in SI on the UCLA basketball program.

12 days ago Tree_tiny Scott Allen 4 comments

Card Clicks: No. 1 Baseball Improves to 8-0

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Stephen Piscotty has 3 RBIs and five Stanford pitchers combine to shut down UC Davis in the No. 1 Cardinal's 5-1 win at Sunken Diamond. | The Stanford Daily

The No.2 Stanford women's basketball team hosts Seattle University in its final home game tonight. | The Stanford Daily

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott says only conference champions should be included in a college football playoff. | Pacific Takes

Teagan Gerhart was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week. | GoStanford

Former Cal QB Joe Ayoob set a world record for the longest paper airplane toss. | Deadspin

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Stanford's Free Throw Shooting Through the Years

Stanford's FT% By Season (Since 1950)

The Stanford men's basketball team's free throw shooting over the last three seasons leaves something to be desired, and that's putting it mildly. Barring an absurd 50-for-50 streak between now and the end of the season, the Cardinal will shoot less than 68% for a third consecutive year. Stanford hasn't, um, accomplished that since 1978.

Here's some good/interesting news for anyone who has found Stanford's free throw follies as maddening as I have. First, it could be worse. Two teams in the Pac-12 are shooting at a lower clip from the free throw line than Stanford, including USC, which is at a woeful 61%. The other team is first-place Washington, which shoots only 62% from the FT line, but averages more FT attempts per game than all but three teams in the league.

What does it all mean? I don't know. Just beat Cal (which happens to be the best free throw shooting team in the Pac-12).

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