Stanford Plays Bully Cardinal Get Tough To Send Purdue Home

Stanford, a school known for its brain power, got a chance to be the bully.

The No. 3-seeded Cardinal wore down Purdue with physical play Friday night, dominating on the boards and with superior depth in a 67-59 victory in the Midwest Regional semifinals. Purdue center Mark Miller twice had to have his chin stitched up during the game as he was bloodied by waves of Stanford wide bodies.

“That’s the most physical game I’ve ever played in,” Miller said. “This game’s going to hurt for awhile.”

Stanford had plenty of size, even with a 7-footer who was a non-factor. When 7-1 Tim Young drew his third foul and sat down with 6:41 left in the first half, it actually was the takeoff point for the Cardinal. Stanford finished the first half on a 17-2 run for an 11-point lead.

In the second half, coach Mike Montgomery got a chance to showcase his bench while breaking the school record for victories.

Stanford (29-4) will be a heavy favorite against No. 8 seed Rhode Island, which defeated No. 13 Valparaiso in Friday’s second semifinal, in the regional final on Sunday. The Cardinal hasn’t advanced this far since the 1941-42 team, which was 28-4, won the national championship.

Young, who averages 11 points and eight rebounds, finished with six points, four rebounds and four fouls in 20 minutes. He wasn’t missed.

“I made some stupid fouls,” Young said. “I thought our guys did a good job of picking me up.”

The loss meant another bitter end for Purdue (28-8), the top remaining seed in the Midwest after Kansas lost to Rhode Island in the second round. Purdue has also been a No. 1 seed twice in the last five years, but coach Gene Keady has yet to make it to the Final Four.

Keady said his players weren’t strong enough to stay with Stanford.

“The kids didn’t lift weights last summer and it showed,” Keady said.

Poor shooting also sank Purdue. The Boilermakers shot a season-worst 31 percent.

Mark Madsen led a dominating inside game for Stanford with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Jarron Collins stepped in for Young and tied his career-high with 12 points and added 11 rebounds.