Stanford Cardinal Hold Off Miami and Claim NIT Championship
The Stanford Cardinal entered Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, in pursuit of their second NIT championship since 2012.
In 2012, the Cardinal were inspired in a pre-game speech by a man known more his for hard hits on turf, rather than his outside jumper on the hardwood.
Ray Lewis, the former fierce linebacker and inspirational leader of the Baltimore Ravens, got the Cardinals blood boiling before taking the court against the University of Minnesota, in that 2012 championship match up.
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Three years later, Stanford was looking to employ a strategy very familiar to Lewis, against his very own alma mater. The Cardinal were looking to use their size, and a suffocating defense to stifle the smaller, speedier Miami Hurricanes.
Early on in the game, Stanford’s size and strength advantage were apparent. They knew the Hurricanes were thin in the paint after losing center Tonye Jekiri to a concussion in Miami’s semi-final victory over Temple.
The Cardinal established their low post presence early, feeding the ball to senior center Stefan Nastic for six early points.
The ‘Canes were depending on their speed, and athleticism to overcome Stanford’s height advantage. But the game got off to a rocky start for Miami. They were unable to penetrate the Cardinal defense early on, and were left taking contested jumpers as the shot clock expired.
Stanford knew it had to rely on the leadership of their school’s all time leading scorer, Chasson Randle. And the senior guard did not disappoint. Randle’s hot-hand got the Cardinal out to an early 8-2 lead.
The ultimate challenge for the Cardinal in this game though, was how to deal with the speed of Miami.
The ‘Canes used their speed to wreak havoc on the defensive end, and wear their opponents down. Their never say die attitude and tenacity, helped them rally for a comeback win versus Temple, which sent them to the NIT final.
After a sluggish start in the championship game, Miami found its rhythm and began utilizing its perimeter quickness against the Cardinal. However, Randle had found his scoring touch and kept Stanford just out of reach of the ‘Canes.
Stanford used timely outside shooting and excellent low post execution to take a 32-21 halftime lead.
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Miami’s speed and quickness advantage began to give the Cardinal difficulties in the second half, though.
Led by guard Sheldon McClellan‘s 17 second-half points, the ‘Canes began to dig their way out of their early hole.
McClellan routinely beat his man off the dribble, and Stanford defenders seemed unable to stay in front of the speedy guard. When he wasn’t penetrating the lane for his own scores, he was dishing off to teammates, for easy lay-ups and dunks.
The game remained close down the stretch, and neither team was able to pull away.
Miami was able to stay close and ultimately cut the Stanford lead to two points, with just under five minutes left. The contest hung in the balance in the last few minutes, with both teams looking for that knock out blow.
Randle and McClellan though put on a show, both refusing to let their respective teams lose, and trying to will them to victory. The two guards traded clutch shots down the stretch, but when Stanford’s Marcus Allen missed a game-winning jumper as time expired, the game headed to over-time.
In overtime, Miami’s Davon Reed scored down low to put the ‘Canes up by three with a little over a minute left in the extra session, and the game appeared to be very much in doubt for Stanford.
The Cardinal needed a big time play, by a big time player, and during the last four years that player has been Randle.
Not surprisingly at all, Randle stepped up when his team needed him the most. His driving layup brought the Cardinal within one point at 64-63.
The senior guard refused to have his last game with the Cardinal end in a loss. His clutch play, was the reason Stanford was in position to win the title game.
So when head coach Johnny Dawkins put the game in his hands, as time was running out on the season, no one was surprised.
With a little over three seconds left in overtime, Randle pumped faked and got his man off his feet — which led to him being fouled, sending him to the line with the Cardinal trailing by a single point.
The senior guard calmly stepped up to the line and knocked down what would prove to be the game winning free throws.
Miami’s last second desperation three point shot by McClellan fell short, and Stanford celebrated their third overall NIT championship, with a thrilling 66-64 victory, and hopes of a bigger and better 2015-16 season.
Ultimately the Cardinals senior leadership and experience led them to victory, and Johnny Dawkins will look to build on this late season momentum, to lead Stanford to a potential NCAA tournament bid next year.