By Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
Nov. 22, 1998

Because of the dominant impact of the East Coast sports media, teams west of the Rockies often receive little notice.

But the Stanford Cardinal can't be ignored. They will be the next NCAA basketball champion.

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Frankly, they have become a popular pick to emerge as the finest of the Final Four. Meanwhile, we meander our way through the college basketball silly season until conference play after the first of the year contemplating how the Pac-10 has returned to grace, and the unlikelihood of Stanford now being at the head of the pack.

"It's happened real fast," Washington coach Bob Bender said. "The Pac-10 is back to the way it used to be and now, the best players in general are staying on the West Coast, again."

IT HAD BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE UCLA had won the NCAA title when the Bruins won it in 1995. No other Pac-10 team had won the title in between. It was a far cry from the days when John Wooden was their coach, winning 10 of 12 titles from 1964-75. But when Jim Harrick led the Bruins to the national title in 1995, it was a sign of changing times. Arizona won it in 1997, and now Stanford is ready to win its first Pac-10 title and NCAA championship since 1942.

Sure, many of the so-called experts are sticking with Duke, Connecticut, or even Maryland.

This is the year of the Cardinal and coach Mike Montgomery, who were but a one-point overtime loss to eventual champion Kentucky in the NCAA semifinals last year from making it to the championship game.

Mike Montgomery has the Cardinal poised for a run at the national championship. (Allsport)

All five starters are back from that team that scared most of its opponents into submission during last season's best-ever 30-5 record. Last season, they finished second to Arizona in the Pac-10, but there's no way that will happen again.

In the 12 seasons prior to Montgomery coming to Stanford, the hoops squad averaged 11.5 victories a season. In the 12 years since his arrival, it has averaged 19.6. Both Montgomery and his players are ready to take the next step.

Start with point guard Arthur Lee. There are many people who believe Lee to be the best player in the country. At 6 foot, he is exceptionally quick, a wide-eyed floor general who peaked during the five-game run in the tournament, averaging 20.6 points, 5.6 assists and setting a tournament record by making all 35 of his free-throw attempts. His tournament performance wasn't a fluke considering he was an 89 percent free-throw shooter during the regular season and sank better than 44 percent of his 3-point attempts.

LEE IS A GREAT PLACE TO START, but what sets the Cardinal apart is their frontcourt. Led by the sweet touch of 7-1 center Tim Young and maniacal power forward Mark Madsen, better known as "Mad Dog." They are as intimidating a duo as you'll find in college basketball, and they're only getting better.

That leaves Pete Sauer, who has power forward experience, but was moved outside to make room for Madsen. He responded the change by adding 3-point range to his repertoire. Add the gentle long-range touch of Kris Weems, and this is a team without a weakness.

Even in the depth department, they've got hot-shooting Ryan Mendez and athletic David Moseley to add speed off the bench. And Jarrod Collins adds even more bulk up front should the big boys find themselves in foul trouble from time to time.

Essentially, Montgomery's team is special if only because it has the ability to both be overpowering in the halfcourt game or capable of outrunning an opponent in a fast-paced contest. No doubt, they prefer the former, but they are proficient either way.

There are those who contend Duke has more overall firepower and Connecticut again has the horses to compete for the title. It would be ludicrous to overlook Kentucky. Michigan State is a tough group and there's a lot of noise coming out of Philadelphia these days as John Chaney's Temple Owls are better than ever.

But no other team has the talent, size and experience Stanford will bring to the table in March. Arthur Lee's pedigree notwithstanding, no player better personifies the Madness of March than a team led by "Mad Dog" Madsen.

He has indeed, on this campus better known for academics, brought new meaning to animal farm.