Nobody is going to feel sorry for poor little Stanford this season. The Cardinal entered last season having lost three starters, two to the NBA, and point guard Chris Hernandez was gone before the conference season began with a recurring foot injury. All Stanford did was finish second in the Pac-10 and make its ninth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, where the Cardinal bowed out in the second round to Connecticut, 85-74.

Leading scorer Julius Barnes is gone, but coach Mike Montgomery has the rest of his lineup back intact for 2003-04. Prognosticators are bound to expect at least another runner-up finish for Stanford in the Pac-10 and perhaps a better showing in the NCAA Tournament.

Montgomery, though, scoffs at the thought that his team should be considered a sure bet to make huge strides. "Nothing is going to change much in the Pac-10," he says. "Arizona still has tremendous athletes. And other teams are going to be a lot better. We've got to be more physical this season. Connecticut physically took us out of the game in the NCAA Tournament."

Indeed, muscling up inside might be the key for a Cardinal squad that has some impressive perimeter shooters.

FRONTCOURT

One of Stanford's best and most physical players, junior Josh Childress, is not going to intimidate anyone with his mere presence. But despite his willowy appearance at 6 feet 8 and 200 pounds, Childress is one of his team's strongest players.

"He is getting better and stronger," Montgomery says. "And he is already stronger than he looks. He also is very clever rebounding-wise. Plus he is gaining maturity. I think he likes the idea of being a guy who needs to produce."

Childress proved last season that he can take over a game, and if he takes another step forward, he might be headed to the NBA early.

Joining Childress on the frontline is senior forward Justin Davis, who looks the part of a power forward at 6-9, 245 pounds. The challenge for Davis will be to perform at a high level on a daily basis.

"When Justin was good last season, he was very good," Montgomery says. "But he needs to be that good all the time. It might be just a case of gaining confidence in his abilities. Last year, when he got frustrated, he got himself into foul trouble."

Childress and Davis should give Montgomery a solid forward tandem, but Stanford probably won't make much of a step forward if junior center Rob Little doesn't progress. "Rob has got to stay hungry," Montgomery says.

Well, perhaps Montgomery should re-phrase that. Little has had trouble staying trim. "During the season last year he gained weight," Montgomery says. "When he gets himself in good shape, he is good. When he gets tired, he makes mistakes. He is a guy who when he takes a month off, his body changes drastically."

Stanford's bench play should improve. Matt Haryasz, a 6-10 sophomore, has a season under his belt, and Montgomery expects him to make some dramatic improvement. Senior Joe Kirchofer should add rebounding strength off the bench.

BACKCOURT

The biggest hole in Stanford's lineup figures to be at point guard. Fortunately, Hernandez is healthy again. "We are counting on him to provide leadership," Montgomery says. "And his teammates know that he will deliver the ball to them."

Joining Hernandez in the backcourt will be shooting guard Matt Lottich, a 3-point specialist (38.2 percent) who can carry the team when he gets hot. "Lottich is our best perimeter shooter, for sure," Montgomery says. "If our other people are doing their job, Matt will hit the big shots."

The wildcard at Stanford is incoming freshman recruit Tim Morris, a slashing type of guard who Montgomery expects will see significant time this season. Morris will give Stanford a needed boost in athleticism as well as some rebounding help.

The backcourt also will benefit if sophomore guard Jason Haas progresses.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Montgomery's team should again provide plenty of thrills, a nice record and a second- or third-place finish in the Pac-10. However, as he noted, the team will have to take some major strides if it expects to last longer in the NCAA Tournament this season.

Many coaches point to center and point guard play as main ingredients in a team's ability to move through the tournament. Neither Hernandez nor Little is a proven difference-maker. Even so, Montgomery's team has more depth than last year, and that should allow him to keep his big men out of foul trouble, at least early in games.

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