by Matt Harrington

PALO ALTO–The Arizona State and Stanford Cardinal game on Sunday the one that they whomped on ASU with a 89-70 win it was almost a 20 point win that was a big bounce back game for the Cardinal after losing to Arizona Thursday after winning the nine game stretch at Maples. It was going to be a question of how do the leaders of Stanford step up? How do the veteran players the guys who have been on the farm for awhile how do they step up.

The game against ASU was a game that they really needed to respond and looking at the three starting seniors Stefan Nastic, Anthony Brown, and Chasson Randle and what they put out in that game on Sunday in front of the Sunday faithful of 4,009. Brown 21 points, Randle 21, and Nastic 20. It was the first time in 18 years that three members of the Cardinal put up 20 plus points in a game.

It was a big bounce back game, a big game for the leaders to step up and assert their dominance and that was a great way for the Cardinal to put their loss to Arizona and start going forward in Pac 12 play. Stanford’s win over Washington 84-74 on Wednesday it that tough part of the Pacific Northwest. It was a tough game for ASU who are near the bottom of the standings with a record of 11-11.

This is a good chance for Stanford (15-5) who face one of lower out of conference teams (the Cougars) with a record that’s below than some of the few Pac 12 teams that’s sitting under .500 in terms of an overall record. Stanford who beat Washington have critics thinking the Cardinal are one of the premier teams as Washington (14-6) had 15 wins at the time and that they were going to be a powerhouse going into Pac 12 play.

Stanford might be overlooking Washington State a little bit that’s going to be at their own peril, it’s tough to get wins in the Pacific Northwest against these Washington Schools at home if your not bringing in your best effort. The Cardinal really has to be focused and continue all the things that they did against Washington in that victory last Wednesday.

The Cardinal need to keep shooting the ball the way they’ve been shooting, the last two games they were shooting over 50 percent that’s just a crazy figure their converting on more than half the shots to take in the Pac 12 that’s a lethal team. Stanford I wouldn’t say has a cakewalk game over Washington State but it’s a game that they should win.

Matt Harrington covers Stanford basketball listen to Matt’s podcast on http://www.sportsradioservice.com