SoCalHoops Wooden Classic Report

Stanford Beats Auburn, 67-58
Game Photos Too--(Nov. 28, 1999)

No. 9 ranked Stanford knocked off No. 2 ranked Auburn yesterday, and it was one heck of a game. Most of the published reports we've read of this game make it sound like it was a wipeout, like the talented freshmen at Stanford just dominated poor little 'ol Auburn. There was the AP story on the game which said, "Auburn coach Cliff Ellis knew Stanford's freshmen were talented before the Tigers played them. The youngsters proved just how good when they took over with the pressure on." And then there was Auburn coach Cliff Ellis saying after the game at the press conference, "I knew Stanford was physical. It's a talented group. They've got a good recruiting class. Their team is deep with veteran and young guys. I really like their team. We took three pointers away but in the inside game they won the battle."

Ellis was right, it was a battle, but it was no wipeout. This game went down to the wire, notwithstanding the fact that the scoreboard showed a 9 point deficit. Auburn still had a chance to win this game, a three-point contest, with 41 seconds remaining.

And Stanford assistant Blaine Taylor also knew better, knew that it wasn't a wipeout either. While he and Stanford head coach Mike Montgomery were very pleased to get the win, Blaine told us "We've got a few things to work on." Yes they do. Like working on a good inbounds play against a four-up, man-to-man fullcourt press, which is what Auburn used to frustrate the Cardinal during the entire first half. And it worked, forcing 13 first half turnovers, most of them off badly thrown or poorly-timed inbounds passes following Auburn baskets. In comparison, Stanford spent the first half of the game finiding not only its own offensive rhythym, but also seemingly relearning the art of defense. And the Tigers took advantage of those turnovers, getting about half their first half 28 points off of them, while only committing 6 themselves. Still, Stanford is good, really good, and true to their No. 9 ranking, they led at the half 29-28, notwithstanding that Auburn at one point led by 7 points with 11:26 remaining in the first half.

Ultimately though, freshman Curtis Borchardt, who looks like he's a lot younger than he really is, but plays a lot older than his years, hit a 3-pointer to breat a tie with 1:35 remaining and Stanford hung on. Borchardt and Jarron Collins, coming back after two medical redshirt seasons, combined for 13 of Stanford's final 15 points. Borchardt led with 5 points and Jarron Collins added 13 points as Stanford (5-0) beat a ranked opponent for the third time this month. "Sure, you're surprised to be 5-0 with the caliber of competition we've played," Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. "But as long as you defend and board, you can win games."

And for those who didn't see the game, you wouldn't have believed who was going to be Auburn's best player at the start of the game. There was this skinny white kid, who was listed in the program at 6'-2", but who looked more like he was about 5'-11" on a good day. Not much of a body, we all wondered, was he the ball boy or really on the team. Little did we know, that Scott Pohlman (6'-2" Jr. SG) out of Roswell, Georgia, would actually lead not just the Tigers, but all scorers in the game with 21 points, including 10 straight when Auburn regained control on a series of fouls that nearly cost Stanford the game. Pohlman was everywhere. Driving, dishing, pulling up for threes and floaters in the lane, and generally giving Casey Jacobsen a hard time too defensively, holding the leading scorer in Southern Section to just 8 points (0 for 3 from behind the arc). This kid was amazing, probably more amazing because he didn't look like he could even play just to see him. But truly, he was astonishing.

In one stretch in the second half, startring at 8:53 to play in the game, Moseley fouled, sending Pohlman to the line, shooting 2; he missed the first, made the second and Stanford promptly fouled Pohlman again, and that call drew yet another foul call, this time a T on the Stanford bench. Pohlman made all four of those, and then less than a minute lateer hit the next points of the game, a three pointer from the left baseline, to put Stanford up by only a point. With 6:52 remaining, the next points of the game again belonged to Pohlman, this time a 16 footer fom the right baseline. The run gave Auburn the lead at 52-49. After the game, Ellis said of the play of his slight but accurate shooter, the one who looks like a 14 year old: "Give a lot of credit to Scott Pohlman. He kept us in there, he and Doc Robinson ht some big shots to give us a lift. For him to do what he did today is admirable. That's what kind of kid he is."

The Cardinal opened the second half with a 20-12 run to take its largest lead, 49-40, with 9:33 remaining. Jason Collins, playing in just his 13th college game after two years of injuries, had six points in the spurt when Auburn's Chris Porter, Mamadou N'diaye and Mack McGadney all picked up their fourth fouls. Porter and N'Diaye came into the game averaging a combined 31 points, but together scored just 11 points. Daymeon Fishback, N'diaye and McGadney eventually fouled out.

But eventually, Stanford came back. After Auburn's Doc Robinson tied the game at 56 on a 3-pointer, the 6-foot-11 Borchardt answered with a trey from the top of the key to give Stanford the lead for good. "I missed one earlier in the second half and I told myself if I was open, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot again," Borchardt said. "I don't think when I shoot and that was the key." Stanford's final eight points came from the free-throw line as the Tigers (2-1) repeatedly missed 3-point attempts and had to foul in the final 1:19. The Cardinal was better on the boards, outrebounding Auburn 46-29, led by Jason Collins, Jarron's twin brother, with 10. The Tigers shot just 30 percent for the game.

Jason Collins looked good, if rusty. He missed a couple of wide-open layups, and committed some silly fouls, but considering this was one of his first games in years, he's just getting back into the flow of game experience. Brother Jarron, the true junior, looked more polished, stronger inside, and like a guy who has played two full years more than his brother. They'll catch up with one another, no doubt about it, and it's just nice to see them both out there again.

Casey Jacobsen played, well, ok. He's one of the most intense competitors we've seen, and he played more selflessly than we can remember seeing him, passing the ball more than he ever did in high school. This is not meant to be a knock on Casey, because in high school the entire offense was designed to get him the ball. Here, there's a lot more to the offense than just Casey, and he's learning to deal with it. We were surprised to see Julius Barnes getting some time, and he looked good, especially after Mike McDonald kept turning the ball over in the face of Auburn's defense in the first half, but Julius only got three minutes in the game. Maybe he'll get more time later in the year, who knows. Stanford even played Tony Giovacchini for about 7 minutes, but he didn't score, didn't shoot and only got one assist, and McDonald was far more productive and came back in after he settled down.

Joe Kirchofer, Kyle Logan and Alex Gelbard didn't play. Ryan Mendez played the most of anyone, 33 minutes, but he only came away with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 4 turnovers to show for it. Not a good day at the office.

Stanford needs Mark Madsen back and it's a good thing the Pac-10 season doesn't get started for another month.

Oh, one other thing: David Hamilton (6'-9" So. PF) from Compton, wasn't with Auburn on the trip. We didn't get the word directly from the coaches, but we heard that he's on some sort of academic probation for some grades last year, which will require him to miss the first 5 games of the season.

All in all, a great game. Here's the box:

STANFORD (5-0)

Jar.Collins 2-6 9-13 13, Mendez 2-7 2-2 7, Jas.Collins 6-11 0-2 12, McDonald 3-4 0-1 8, Moseley 1-6 2-2 4, Borchardt 5-9 4-6 15, Jacobsen 2-5 4-4 8, Barnes 0-0 0-0 0, Giovacchini 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-48 21-30 67.

AUBURN (2-1)

Porter 3-13 2-2 9, Fishback 2-7 3-4 8, N'diaye 1-5 0-0 2, Heard 0-3 1-2 1, Robinson 5-13 3-4 15, Pohlman 7-15 5-6 21, Sharp 1-3 0-0 2, McGadney 0-5 0-0. Totals 19-64 14-18 58. Halftime-Stanford 29, Auburn 28.

3-Point goals:
Stanford 4-15 (McDonald 2-3, Mendez 1-3, Borchardt 1-3, Moseley 0-3, Jacobsen 0-3),
Auburn 6-25 (Robinson 2-6, Pohlman 2-6, Porter 1-4, Fishback 1-6, Heard 0-1, Sharp 0-1, McGadney 0-1).
Fouled out-N'diaye, Fishback, McGadney.
Rebounds-Stanford 46 (Jas.Collins 10), Auburn 29 (N'diaye 8).
Assists-Stanford 10 (McDonald 4), Auburn 6 (Robinson 6).
Total fouls-Stanford 18, Auburn 24. Technical-Stanford Coach Montgomery.