Stanford Reaches 'Elite Eight' Of The 2001 NCAA Tournament

Stanford Reaches 'Elite Eight' Of The 2001 NCAA Tournament
Courtesy: Stanford Athletics  
Release: 03/23/2001

March 23, 2001

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Stanford Saga

The nationally-ranked Stanford basketball team has reached the NCAA "Elite Eight" for the second time in school history ... By virtue of a 78-65 victory over Cincinnati (3/22/01), the Cardinal will meet Maryland (24-10) in the championship game of the NCAA West Regional on Saturday (3/24/01) at 1:40 p.m. (pt) at the Anaheim Pond ... The winner advances to the NCAA Final Four (March 31, April 1) in Minneapolis, Minn. ... Stanford has reached the NCAA Final Four twice in school history, the 1942 NCAA championship season, and in 1998 when Stanford won the Midwest Regional in St. Louis ... All-American Casey Jacobsen scored a career-high 27 points to help lead the Cardinal to its victory over Cincinnati (3/22/01) ... Stanford shot a season-high .628 from the floor ... Jason Collins added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Mendez added 16 points and six rebounds, and Jarron Collins added 14 points and seven rebounds ... Stanford opened NCAA Tournament play with a convincing 89-60 victory over UNC Greensboro (3/15/01) at the West Regional at San Diego ... Jason Collins scored 25 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Cardinal attack ... Stanford shot .509 from the floor ... It was the seventh straight season that the Cardinal has won its opening round game of the NCAA Tournament ... Stanford recorded its widest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game against UNC Greensboro ... Then came a dramatic 90-83 victory over St. Joseph's (3/17/01) ... The Cardinal made all 10 of its free throws in the final 45.1 seconds, six by Jarron Collins and four by Mendez, the nation's leading free throw shooter ... Jason Collins scored 22 points and Jacobsen added 21 for Stanford ... Stanford set a school record for most points scored in an NCAA Tournament game with 90 points against St. Joseph's ... The Cardinal also set a school standard in NCAA Tournament games with (31) free throws made and attempted (37).

Cardinal Catalogue

A team blessed with near-perfect team chemistry, outstanding leadership from its senior class, quality depth, and excellent talent has added up to another great Stanford basketball team ... Although the Cardinal lost three key seniors to graduation, the Cardinal of 2000-01 has emerged as one of the contenders to reach the NCAA Final Four, and possibly win a national championship ... Since December 25, 2000, the Cardinal has been ranked no lower than second in the nation.

Stanford's participation in the 2001 NCAA Tournament is the school's seventh straight, and tenth overall ... Stanford earned its first trip to the NCAA's in 1942, and Stanford won the national championship that year with a 53-38 victory over Dartmouth on March 28, 1942 in Kansas City, Mo ... Howie Dallmar scored 15 points in the championship game to earn tournament MVP honors ... The game wasn't even broadcast back to the San Francisco Bay Area ... After expenses, Stanford's share of the NCAA pot was $93.75 ... It would then be 47 years before Stanford's next appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1989 ... Times have changed since then ... The Cardinal has been to the NCAA's a school record seven times (16-8), including a Final Four appearance during the 1997-98 season.

  • Only eleven Stanford basketball players in school history have ever played on four Stanford NCAA Tournament teams ... The list includes three members of this year's team, seniors Jarron Collins, Michael McDonald and Ryan Mendez.

    Coaches Corner

  • Mike Montgomery is in his 15th season at Stanford with a record of 319-145.
  • In 14 previous seasons at Stanford, Montgomery has directed the Cardinal to 13 post-season appearances (9 NCAA, 4 NIT).
  • Montgomery's overall record (14-plus seasons at Stanford, 8 seasons at Montana) is 473-222.

    Road Report

  • Stanford has enjoyed great success away from Maples Pavilion.
  • The Cardinal, since the 1997-98 season, has chalked up a 40-5 record (45 games, +583 points) on the road, and 26-5 on a neutral court.
  • The Cardinal is 8-0 on neutral courts this year ... In those games, the Cardinal has won by an average of 17.0 points per game (8 games, +136 points) ... Stanford is shooting .499 from the floor, and is averaging 83.1 points per game.
  • In eleven games on the road (eleven games, +172 points) this year, the Cardinal has won by an average of 15.6 points per game ... And also during that time, Stanford is shooting .532 on enemy territory, while scoring 82.1 ppg.
  • Stanford is the first team to go undefeated on the road in league play (9-0 in 2000-01) since Oregon State turned the feat during the 1980-81 season.

    Maples Madness

  • Since the 1994-95 season, Stanford is 86-11 (52-10 vs Pac-10 schools, 34-1 vs non-league opponents).
  • This year (14 home games), Stanford beat its opponents by an average of 22.4 points per game (14 games, +314 points).
  • The Maples Pavilion record is 27.3 points per game set last year in 14 home games.
  • Stanford has hosted 50 consecutive soldout crowds at Maples Pavilion.

    Super Seniors

  • A part of Stanford's success this year has been because of the play of three outstanding seniors, Jarron Collins,Michael McDonald and Ryan Mendez ... All three players will be remembered for their hard work, dedication, and for their efforts to maintain Stanford's status as one of the nation's best collegiate basketball programs.
  • All three players have played a total of 369 games in a Stanford uniform and have helped lead the Cardinal to four NCAA tournament appearances.
  • Jarron Collins has played in 128 games at Stanford (second-best in school history), and is one of nine players in school history to score at least 1,000 points (1,072) and grab 600 or more rebounds (704).
  • Jarron Collins is ranked in the Top-10 in four categories (games played, career field goal percentage, career rebounds, career blocks).
  • Michael McDonald is enjoying his finest season on The Farm, and will be remembered as one of the best point-guards in school history.
  • Michael McDonald is near the school record for assist-to-turnover ratio, and his three-point field goal percentage (.515) is third-best for a single season in school history.
  • Michael McDonald is currently fifth all-time in assists (386) and tenth in career three-point field goal percentage (.404).
  • Ryan Mendez, a co-captain, is also enjoying his best season at Stanford this year, and he will not only be remembered as one of Stanford's all-time best three-point shooters, but also one of the school's all-time best free throw shooters.
  • Ryan Mendez is #2 all-time in free throw percentage at .876, and is well ahead of the school record for single free throw percentage at .948 (#1 in the nation).
  • Ryan Mendez is third all-time in three-pointers made (174), fourth all-time in three-point attempts (417) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.417).
  • During their tenure at Stanford, Jarron Collins and Michael McDonald have helped Stanford chalk up a 114-18 record, three Pac-10 titles, four trips to the NCAA Tournament, and a trip to the 1998 Final Four.
  • Ryan Mendez has helped Stanford to a 114-20 record, three conference titles, four trips to the NCAA's, and a journey to the 1998 Final Four.

    Point Parade

  • Stanford's point differential remains strong in 2000-01.
  • Stanford is beating its opponents by an average of 18.7 points per game, #1 in the Pac-10 and #2 in the nation.
  • Stanford has won 15 games by 20 or more points.

    Super Starters

  • Thirty-three times these five players have started, and 31 times the Cardinal has won.
  • The Cardinal starting five of Casey Jacobsen, Jarron Collins, Ryan Mendez, Jason Collins and Michael McDonald has helped Stanford attain a #2 national ranking ... Combined, they are shooting .531 (723-of-1,361) from the floor, and .458 (195-of-426) from three-point territory.
  • Four starters are averaging in double-figures.

    Shooting Stats

  • After 33 games, Cardinal shooting is doing just fine.
  • The Cardinal has hit .514 from the floor (#1 in the nation), including 20 games in which Stanford hit 50 percent or better.
  • In the last eleven games, Stanford has hit 319-of-583 shots for .547.
  • Stanford has not shot this well from the floor for the season since the 1988-89 season when the Cardinal ended the year at .522.

    Trey Time

  • Shooting from three-point territory has remained a strength for the Cardinal thus far in 2000-01.
  • Last year, the Cardinal led the Pac-10 in three-point shooting percentage at .400, and in three-point field goals made at 7.90 per game ... Stanford produced the second (David Moseley, .449), third (Casey Jacobsen, .435) and fifth-best (Ryan Mendez, .420) three-point shooters in the Pac-10.
  • After 33 games this year, the Cardinal has hit 242-of-565 three-point attempts for .428, #1 in the Pac-10 and #3 in the nation.
  • And while Moseley has graduated, Jacobsen and Mendez are back in top form, hitting .471 (#2 in the Pac-10) and .390, respectively ... And Michael McDonald is hitting 53-of-103 from three-point range, good for .515, tops in the Pac-10.

    Defensive Data

  • Last year, the Cardinal set an NCAA record for field goal percentage defense at .352.
  • After 33 games this year, the defensive stat is .422, #2 in the Pac-10.
  • Only seven opponents this year have shot 50 percent or better from the floor.
  • From three-point territory, Stanford is allowing the opponent only a shooting percentage of .319, #4 in the Pac-10.

    Block Barometer

  • Stanford's imposing frontline players, which includes two seven-foot centers, and a 6-foot-11 forward, has already generated 105 blocks in 33 games.
  • Three of Stanford's players, Jason Collins, Curtis Borchardt and Jarron Collins rank in the Top-10 in career blocks in the school record book ... Jason Collins is third (89), Jarron Collins is fifth (66) and Borchardt is seventh (61).

    Honors Hoopla

  • Cardinal head coach Mike Montgomery is a finalist for the Naismith College Basketball Coach of the Year ... Montgomery was the 2000 Naismith Coach of the Year.
  • Cardinal head coach Mike Montgomery is also one of ten finalists for the College Insider.Com National Coach of the Year.
  • Cardinal head coach Mike Montgomery has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District-14 Coach of the Year.
  • Casey Jacobsen has been named first team All-America by Associated Press and The Sporting News ... Jacobsen is the first Stanford player to be a first team All-American by Associated Press.
  • Casey Jacobsen has been named second team All-America by ESPN.com.
  • Casey Jacobsen has been named second team All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
  • Casey Jacobsen has been named to the ten-member CollegeInsider.com All-America team.
  • Jason Collins has been named a third team All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
  • Jason Colllins has been named an honorable mention All-America by Associated Press.
  • Jarron Collins has been named an honorable mention All-America by Associated Press.
  • Jarron Collins, Jason Collins and Casey Jacobsen have been named to the All Pacific-10 Conference first team ... Jacobsen made the all-conference team for a second straight season ... Michael McDonald was named honorable mention All Pac-10.
  • Jarron Collins, Jason Collins and Casey Jacobsen have been named to the five-team National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All District-14 first team.
  • Jarron Collins and Casey Jacobsen are two of 20 finalists for the John Wooden Award.
  • Justin Davis and Teyo Johnson have been named honorable mention All Pac-10 freshmen.

    Point-Guard Points

  • Since the 1983-84 season, Stanford has employed eight starting point-guards, including four-year starter Brevin Knight (1993-97), and three-year starters Terry Taylor (1985-89) and Keith Ramee (1982-86).
  • Michael McDonald is in his second season as a Cardinal starter and he ranks among the Cardinal's best in terms of effectively running a team.
  • Below is how McDonald compares to Stanford's seven other starting point-guards since the 1983-84 season.

    Co-Captains Jason Collins and Ryan Mendez have been voted co-captains by their teammates.

    Fast Facts

  • Nine of the 13 Cardinal players have played at least 12 minutes per game.
  • The Cardinal has made 242 three-pointers this year ... In five of the past six seasons, the Cardinal has scored 222 three-pointers or more ... That is in stark contrast to the first year (1986-87) that the three-pointer was allowed in collegiate games ... That season, Stanford made 84 three-pointers.
  • The Cardinal has made 293 more free throws than its opponents.
  • Casey Jacobsen is one of four brothers in the Jacobsen household ... Casey's brother, Brock, played at the University of San Diego (1995-99), while another brother, Adam, who played at Pacific (1993-98), is now an assistant coach at UOP ... The youngest brother of the Jacobsen group is Derek, age 14 ... Casey (156 three-pointers), Adam (311 three-pointers) and Brock (92 three-pointers) have combined to score 559 three-pointers in their collegiate careers ... That is second-best in national collegiate basketball history ... The national record is 597 three-pointers by the McCarthy brothers (Brendan, who scored 300 three-pointers at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire from 1993-96, and Kevin McCarthy, who scored 297 three-pointers at New Hampshire College from 1989-92).
  • Glenn McDonald, father of Michael McDonald, was a first-round draft choice of the Boston Celtics in 1974, and is currently an assistant coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks ... Glenn played for Arizona head coach Lute Olson when Olson was head coach at Long Beach State during the 1973-74 season.
  • Jarron and Jason Collins are one of eleven sets of brothers playing Division I basketball.
  • Tony Giovacchini's uncle, Paul, played basketball at Stanford (1975-79) and his father, Marty, played at Washington State (1974-77) ... Paul was a starter during his senior season (1978-79) and dished out 90 assists.
  • Teyo Johnson was born in White Rock, British Columbia, and thus has dual citizenship.

    Number Notes 
    2 - The number of NCAA Final Four appearances by Stanford Basketball (1941-42, 1997-98). 
    2 - The number of 100-point games for the Cardinal this year. 
    3 - Everett Dean, who coached Stanford to the 1942 NCAA title, is the only coach to have a perfect record (3-0) in tournament play. 
    3 - The number of Stanford players (Jarron Collins, Jason Collins, Casey Jacobsen) named to the ten-member All Pacific-10 Conference first team. 
    7 - The number of consecutive 20-win seasons, including this year. 
    8 - The number of minutes apart the Collins twins were born. Jason is the older of the two. 
    8 - The number of victories for Cardinal seniors Jarron Collins and Michael McDonald without a loss over California in four seasons. 
    9 - The number of consecutive victories over California. 
    10 - The number of 20-win seasons for Cardinal head coach Mike Montgomery. 
    20 - A school record winning streak to start the 2000-01 season. 
    31 - The number of former Stanford basketball players in the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame. 
    44 - The number of games Jarron and Jason Collins have started together for the Cardinal ... Stanford is 42-2 during that span. 
    49 - The number of consecutive free throws made by Ryan Mendez this year to establish a new Pac-10 record ... The old school record was 41 set by Todd Lichti (1988-89 season). 
    50 - The number of consecutive sellout crowds at Maples Pavilion. 
    93.75 - The number of dollars that Stanford received from the NCAA for winning the national title in 1942. 
    100 - The graduation rate of Stanford basketball players under head coach Mike Montgomery. 
    216 - The number of career blocks by Jason Collins, Curtis Borchardt, and Jarron Collins. 
    1,014 - The number of points Ryan Mendez has scored in his Cardinal career, one of 31 players in Stanford history to score 1,000 or more points. 
    1,051 - The number of points Casey Jacobsen has scored in less than two seasons at Stanford. 
    1,072 - The number of points Jarron Collins has scored in his collegiate career at Stanford, one of 31 players in Stanford history to score 1,000 or more points. 
    1,173 - The number of victories in Stanford basketball history. 
    2,104 - The number of games played in the 86-year history of Stanford Basketball. 
    19,804 - The number of people who attended the Stanford-Duke game on Dec. 21, 2000, the largest crowd to ever witness a collegiate basketball game in the state of California. 
    950,934 - The number of people who have attended a Stanford basketball game in the last three seasons.