Can Stanford pull a major surprise against No. 6 Ducks?
In Jerod Haase’s first year as head coach, the Cardinal were tabbed for 10th in the preseason conference poll, but they are tied for seventh.
[...] they have yet to beat anybody who’s a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
Cal and Seton Hall are bubble teams, and Colorado State and Harvard are in the running for league titles and automatic bids.
There’s a chance, though, for the Cardinal to win a game that would make their season.
The mighty Ducks had to stage a huge rally to beat Cal on Wednesday night on a last-second three-pointer by Dillon Brooks.
Forward Reid Travis goes so far as to say the Cardinal shouldn’t be considered underdogs, based on their recent play.
“We’re trying to play fundamentally sound basketball, trying to keep people out of the paint and then being active from there,” Haase said.
According to Travis, the steals have come through greater trust and better technique.
“The guards are starting to trust the bigs that if they push their man a certain way, we’re going to be there for them, so they can be more aggressive and try to get the ball,” he said.
Stanford is still last in the league in field-goal shooting and three-point shooting, so it’s going to need to find its stroke early and often against Oregon.
The fans will be further amped up at halftime when Mike Montgomery, the most successful coach in the history of the men’s basketball program, will be honored for his recent induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.