Flurry needed to reach the tourney
Time is running out for Stanford’s Michael Humphrey and Dorian Pickens in their quest to get to the Big Dance for the first time in their college careers.
With three games left in the regular season and then the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas, they realize they probably can’t afford to lose another game.
They play their final regular-season home game at Maples Pavilion when the Cardinal (15-13, 9-6 Pac-12) play Washington State (11-16, 3-12) on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Following Thursday’s 94-78 win over Washington, Stanford is alone in fifth place. It needs to finish fourth or higher to avoid having to play in the first round in the conference tournament. It probably will need to win the tournament to get to the NCAA Tournament.
If the Cardinal continue to play like they did Thursday, they can’t be counted out. When they go on the road next week, though, they’ll visit Arizona, where they haven’t won since 2004 — a span of 12 games. Then they would probably have to beat Arizona State, which is 12-3 at home.
In January, the Cardinal lost to the Wildcats, then ranked No. 14, by two. This time Arizona probably will be without guard Allonzo Trier, who was suspended Thursday after testing positive for a banned substance.
For the time being, though, the Cardinal are focused on Washington State and on giving Humphrey and Pickens a triumphant home sendoff.
“I think the whole week is kind of surreal,” Humphrey said. “When you think about it, four years are coming to a head so quickly. Of course, it was a journey. We’re happy to be here and thrilled with what we’ve done.”
On Saturday, he said, “I’m sure it will be a little emotional, especially after the game, realizing it will be the last time we’re playing on that court.”
Pickens agreed. “My four years here has been a whirlwind,” he said. “It’s gone by so fast. I remember when we were freshmen and Chasson Randle and Stefan Nastic were seniors.”
Forward Reid Travis and guard Robert Cartwright were also part of that incoming class, but both missed seasons because of injuries and have another year of eligibility left.
When they all were freshmen, Pickens said, their final home games seemed “so far in the future. Now that it’s here, it will be an emotional time.”
Pickens and Humphrey are both Phoenix natives, are close friends and roommates on road trips. Both have been three-year starters.
Humphrey, a 6-9 forward, averages 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds, seventh best in the Pac-12. His 663 career rebounds are second in the conference among active players, behind only Travis’ 671.
Pickens, a 6-5 guard, missed 11 games this season with a left foot injury. He is second on the team in scoring (15.5 points per game) and is hitting 42 percent of his three-point attempts. After making five against Washington, he is 10th on Stanford’s career list with 177 threes. He has hit 45 in the last 14 games.