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You're not crazy...optimistic, maybe, but not crazy. Stanford plays great defense and has a dominant inside game and that has been a winning formula in more tourney games than not. They are vulnerable to quick drive and slash guards -- especially if they can also pull up and hit from outside. Marquette has that to an extent and Texas is built on that, so it will really come down to who can impose their style and pace on the other.
Free throws have been a little troubling for this Stanford team, but they have been clutch down the stretch of late. A few rattling out at a tense time in a key sequence could start to spell trouble though. Also, if either Lopez gets in early foul trouble, our main strength is negated and all bets are off.
All of that said, yes, they absolutely could make a run to San Antonio. It was ten years ago when they made their last Final Four. In San Antonio. As a #3 seed. After finishing second in the conference and being swept by the conference champion. If those aren't good omens, then I don't know what will be.
If Stanford does make it to the Final Four, I can only hope they have UCLA waiting for them. There have been some great games between them already this year and I'd love another shot at them. Fourth time's a charm, right?
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