FACTS & STATS: Site: Honda Center (17,600) -- Anaheim, California. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Marquette 33-26, Stanford 20-14. Series Record: Marquette leads, 4-0.

GAME NOTES: Trying to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001, the Stanford Cardinal confront the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second round of the 70th annual event today at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Stanford, seeded third in the South Region, rebounded from losing to UCLA during the Pac-10 Tournament five days earlier by blowing out Cornell in the first round on Thursday by a score of 77-53. The win boosted the team's all-time record in the tourney to 20-14. As for the Golden Eagles, they moved to 33-26 in the tournament all-time when they dismissed the Kentucky Wildcats two days ago with a 74-66 decision. This game marks the fifth meeting all-time between the two programs, but the first since a narrow 66-65 victory for the Golden Eagles back in 1981. In fact, Marquette has won every one of the previous encounters with Stanford, and all but the last by double digits. The winner of this meeting will take on the survivor of the Miami/Texas bout next week.

Except for Ousmane Barro who tallied a mere four points in 25 minutes of action, every starter for the Golden Eagles landed in double figures against Kentucky, beginning with Jerel McNeal who dropped in 20 points. Lazar Hayward followed with 16 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while Dominic James had some issues from the field with just three successful field goal attempts, en route to his 15 points. The same went for Wesley Matthews who ended up with 13 points, but made only 2-of-10 from the floor. Over the course of the three NCAA Tournament games in which he has participated in his career, James carries a scoring average of 17.7 ppg, even though he has made only 41 percent of his shots from the floor. After 34 games this season, James is listed third on the scoring chart for Marquette with his 13.0 ppg, but his 144 assists is by far the top mark. McNeal accounts for 14.5 ppg and is second with his 122 dishes, while Hayward (13.1 ppg) can not only knock down the deep ball at 45.5 percent, he is also the best rebounder for the group with six and a half boards per game.

Setting the tone in the first half with defense, the Cardinal limited Cornell to a mere five field goals over 20 minutes and held a commanding 38-17 edge at the break. In the second half it was the offense for Stanford that grabbed the spotlight, the team converting a sizzling 62.5 percent from the field in the frame. Kenny Brown gave the squad a huge lift off the bench with 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting beyond the arc, while Robin Lopez and Taj Finger tacked on 14 and 10 points, respectively. With the dogs having been called off, the reserves had a chance to shine for the Cardinal, particularly Lawrence Hill with nine points and a team-best 10 boards. Brook Lopez, who made the All-Pac 10 First Team despite missing the first semester, leads the team in scoring and rebounding with averages of 18.6 points and 8.3 boards per game this season. Anthony Goods and brother Robin Lopez chip in 10.4 and 10.1 ppg, respectively. Taking into account the season-opening win over Harvard (111-56) the Cardinal has now outscored Ivy League teams this season by a combined 188-109.

The fact that Stanford was able to rest starters so early in the game on Thursday is certainly a benefit for the squad going into this meeting. Having a big presence on the inside will also give the Cardinal an advantage as it moves onto the field of 16.

Predicted Outcome

Stanford 66, Marquette 60