2000-01 record: 31-3; 16-2 in Pac-10 (1st) Final Ranking: No. 5 ESPN/USA Today Postseason: Lost to Maryland 87-73 in West Regional final of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Jacobsen 18.1 ppg | Rebounds: Borchardt 4.2 rpg | Assists: Jacobsen 2.3 apg | FG %: Borchardt 53.4% | 3pt %: Jacobsen 47.2% | FT %: Jacobsen 81.3% 00-01 Stats: Stanford | Pac-10

		Monday, Nov. 5 The Cardinal would be actually higher if Curtis Borchardt's health wasn't still a question. He has had a nagging stress fracture the past two seasons and so far is playing without pain. The Cardinal needs balance and Borchardt is key to that equation. But they'll be tougher to defend on the perimeter with Casey Jacobsen improving his ability to create off the dribble and the arrival of Josh Childress. Childress is a big guard/small forward who will take some of the heat off of Jacobsen. Teams won't be able to double on him. Julius Barnes is ready to take over for Mike McDonald but Tony Giovacchini might still start at the point. The Cardinal has depth with Chris Hernandez, too. This team and program knows how to win and won't slide too far back, maybe second at the worst in the Pac-10, without the Collins twins. They still have the talent to make an Elite Eight run if they get the right breaks in the tournament.

Outlook
The Cardinal, dumped by Maryland one step from the Final Four last season, will trade some size for quickness this year.

Stanford has won under coach Mike Montgomery by controlling the defensive end and killing others on the boards, but the Collins twins (Jason and Jarron) are gone. If it wasn't entirely all Casey Jacobsen's team before, it is now.

The returning All-American junior wing embraces the spotlight like few nationally. It might blind him this season, when a scoring average of 18.1 points should increase and his role grows even more. His career three-point percentage (.454) is sixth-best in Pac-10 history.

"Casey is very good," Montgomery said, understating the obvious. "He is playing the best we have ever seen in every phase of his game. It's fun to watch. He is a much more complete player now.

"As a team, we have to be patient and that starts with me. You don't realize how good the players who you had were until you don't have them any more."

If Stanford has any chance at again driving deep into the NCAA Tournament, Jacobsen will be behind the wheel. But junior center Curtis Borchardt needs to at least call shotgun. Having suffered a broken foot each of the last two seasons, Borchardt is the team's only experienced post presence. He needs to toughen a soft middle. So far, he is healthy and practicing.

Stanford must also find replacements for point guard Michael McDonald and forward Ryan Mendez. Up front, the Cardinal might have one of the league's most exciting players in sophomore forward Justin Davis, but he too showed signs of breaking down physically last season. Football player Teyo Johnson will again arrive late, but is a welcome addition for more athleticism.

What we like: The shooter with bleach-blonde hair. Jacobsen is as confident a player as you will find. He also backs it all up. An exceptional scorer, he is much better off the dribble now than a few years ago and is tough enough to emerge from a crowd with key rebounds. He will welcome the increased scoring load now that Mendez and the twins have moved on.

What we don't like: Point guard. McDonald was an underrated leader who averaged 4.9 assists and shot 51 percent on 3s. Tony Giovacchini is steady, but the senior is more suited for a backup role in this conference. Julius Barnes showed flashes as a sophomore, but has been inconsistent and will likely start at shooting guard. Chris Hernandez is talented, but a true freshman. Consistency is the key here, which means Giovacchini starts until another's skill wins out.

The bottom line: If a dependable point guard develops; Jacobsen isn't handcuffed by gimmick defenses; and Borchardt stays healthy and makes an impact ... Stanford is Sweet 16 good enough, and perhaps even better. But if the Cardinal can't hold their own inside, it will be tough to advance past the first week of NCAAs.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Casey Jacobsen	Jr.	F	6-7/210	PTS: 18.1 | REB: 4.0 | AST: 2.3
Curtis Borchardt	Jr.	C	7-0/230	PTS: 6.4 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 0.7
Julius Barnes	Jr.	G	6-1/180	PTS: 4.3 | REB: 1.4 | AST: 1.0

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Jason Collins	C	7-0/260	PTS: 14.6 | REB: 7.8 | AST: 1.5
Jarron Collins	F	6-11/255	PTS: 12.8 | REB: 6.7 | AST: 1.4
Ryan Mendez	F/G	6-7/210	PTS: 11.4 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 2.2
Michael McDonald	G	6-1/180	PTS: 8.0 | REB: 2.8 | AST: 4.8

Stanford Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Josh Childress	F	6-7	Lakewood, Calif./Mayfair H.S.
Chris Hernandez	G	6-2	Fresno, Calif./Clovis West H.S.
Robert Little	C	6-10	Fairfax, Va./Pope Paul VI Catholic H.S.