Pac-10 Tournament Game 4

PAC-10 TOURNAMENT -- GAME 4

STANFORD vs. WASHINGTON

WHEN/WHERE: 2:30 today, Staples Center

TV: FSN

Stanford (18-12, 6-11 Pac-10)

Cardinal starting lineup Pts. Reb. Ast.
G Mitch Johnson (Sr.) 6.9 2.5 4.4
G Anthony Goods (Sr.) 15.9 3.4 1.8
G/F Landry Fields (Jr.) 12.6 6.4 1.9
F Lawrence Hill (Sr.) 13.6 5.6 2.5
F/C Josh Owens (Fr.) 7.3 3.6 0.8

WASHINGTON (24-7, 14-4)

Huskies starting lineup Pts. Reb. Ast.
G Isaiah Thomas (Fr.) 15.4 2.9 2.6
G Justin Dentmon (Sr.) 15.3 2.8 2.5
F Quincy Pondexter (Jr.) 11.6 5.7 1.5
F Darnell Gant (Fr.) 3.2 3.5 0.5
C Jon Brockman (Sr.) 14.8 11.5 1.1


WHAT TO KNOW: The Huskies are still basking over their conference title, Washington's first ever unshared Pac-10 crown, and will try to use the tournament perhaps to gain a No. 2 seed in Portland in next week's first-round of the NCAA Tournament. A loss to Stanford probably drops the Huskies to a No. 4 seed, so Lorenzo Romar's club indeed has something to play for Friday afternoon. The Huskies took home several Pac-10 honors, including Thomas as Freshman of the Year and Dentmon as Most Improved. The question is do they have enough energy to win three games in three games or should they rest for the NCAAs? ... Stanford will provide a physical challenge and the two played two grueling games during the regular season. Coach Johnny Dawkins has done a solid job during his first year as a NCAA Division I head coach after seemingly forever as an assistant at Duke. Dawkins has found out that the Pac-10 isn't so easy or soft, as the Cardinal finished ninth in the conference following an 11-0 start. The Cardinal has enough talent to push Washington but players such as Goods and Hill need career nights.


WHO TO WATCH: Dentmon seems to be the team leader and the player who can score a key basket when the Huskies need it. Did we ever think that would be the case? Remember, Dentmon was benched during his junior season and was considered a mediocre player until this -- his senior -- season.


HEAD TO HEAD: This is the third meeting between the two clubs and Washington has won both previous games, an 84-83 win at Seattle on Jan. 8 and 75-68 victory on Feb. 8 in Palo Alto. Pondexter has averaged 17 points in the two games.

WASHBURN'S PICK: The Cardinal push Washington for about 30 minutes and then the Huskies wear them down en route to a potential matchup with Arizona -- 72-61.