COLLEGE BASKETBALL 1990-91 : Stanford Has Good Shot to Repeat as Champion : Women’s outlook: The Cardinal, without Azzi and Steding, will again focus on three-pointer.

How badly did Tara VanDerveer of Stanford want to turn the struggling Cardinal around when she took over as coach five years ago?

“Honestly, if the Devil had come into my room then and said, ‘In five years you’re going to win the national championship,’ I would have given my soul for that,” VanDerveer acknowledged recently.

VanDerveer instead settled for hard work and the evolution of a team that progressed steadily under the leadership of guard Jennifer Azzi.

And despite the graduation of Azzi and Katy Steding--both named to the all-tournament team in last season’s final four at Knoxville, Tenn.--defending national champion Stanford--5-23 four years ago, 32-1 last season--has enough depth and versatility to be considered among the top teams going into the 1990-91 season. The Cardinal was picked No. 2, behind Virginia, in the Associated Press preseason poll.

Point guard Sonja Henning, whom VanDerveer last season called “the league’s best kept secret,” figures to step out of Azzi’s shadow and should have no trouble taking control of the Stanford offense.

The 5-foot-8 senior shot 50% and averaged 12 points and more than seven assists during the final four. She scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds during Stanford’s 88-81 title victory over Auburn.

“We had Jennifer Azzi last year, this year we have Sonja Henning, who I think is the best point guard in the country,” VanDerveer said.

The Cardinal’s inside game should remain effective as well, despite Trisha Stevens playing at less than full strength because of off-season knee surgery. The 6-3 Stevens averaged 17.6 points and six rebounds a game.

Julie Zeilstra, a 6-3 junior forward-center who scored in double figures 24 times last season, averaged 14 points and six rebounds. Val Whiting, also 6-3, was inconsistent as a freshman, but still averaged more than 12 points and seven rebounds while playing the post. Whiting blocked 57 shots.

“Sometimes she did get overwhelmed by the whole sense of things,” Henning said of Whiting. “But she’s shooting three-pointers now, she’s a hard worker and knows what it takes.”

Junior forward-guard Martha Richards will probably start in place of Azzi, and freshman Chris MacMurdo, a 6-0 forward, will probably spell Stevens.

Stanford’s inside game is considered important, but VanDerveer has emphasized the outside game--namely the three-point basket. That was evident last season when the Cardinal shot 420 times from three-point range--more than double their Pac-10 opponents’ figure--making 177.

During the title game against Auburn, Stanford shot 42.3% from three-point range.

“They were shooting three-point shots as accurately as they were layups,” Auburn Coach Joe Ciampi said after the final.

“I might be a little fanatical about it,” VanDerveer said. “It’s an incredible advantage. I can’t believe that every time down the floor people don’t shoot threes.”

Ciampi arrived at Auburn after the Tigers had consecutive 9-18 seasons. He has taken the team to the championship game three years in a row but has been unsuccessful each time.

Having what many call the best pressure defense in the country, Auburn is again given a good chance to make it to the final four, this time in New Orleans. The Tigers, 28-7 last season, are ranked third in the AP poll.

Guard Carolyn Jones, at 5-8, is considered one of the best in the country. Jones averaged more than 20 points and almost six rebounds a game and is considered a contender for national player of the year.

The 6-6 Linda Godby is gone but otherwise the front line is intact, with 6-4 junior forward-center Kendall Mago and 6-1 junior forward C.C. Hayden reportedly ready to play.

Senior Chantel Tremitiere, who averaged more than five assists a game, will start at point guard but 5-9 freshman Kim Mayes, who averaged 42 points at Kentucky’s Barbourville High, should get considerable time as well.

Virginia finished 29-6 last season, sparked mostly by guard Dawn Staley, a 5-5 junior who scored 25 points to lead the Cavaliers to a 79-75 overtime victory over then-defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Tennessee in a regional final.

Also back with the Cavaliers are the Burge sisters, Heather and Heidi, 6-foot-4 identical twins from Palos Verdes High. As freshmen, Heather played more, averaging 12.2 points and 6.7 rebounds.

Tekshia Ward, a 6-1 guard, and junior Tammi Reiss, who averaged 15.3 points last season, appear sound and the Cavaliers will also have the services of Tonya Cardoza, a 5-10 senior forward who averaged 18.2 points and 6.2 rebounds a game in 1988-89. Cardoza missed last season because of academic problems.

Georgia (25-5) has Lady Hardmon, a 5-10 junior guard who has reportedly been dunking in practice. With an inside game led by two seniors, 6-4 TammyeJenkins and 6-2 Stacey Ford, and a couple of high school All-Americans standing 6 feet or taller, the Bulldogs are ranked fourth.

Tennessee and Louisiana Tech figure to be contenders again this season.

Tonya Edwards graduated from Tennessee, but 6-3 center Daedra Charles, who averaged 15.9 points and 8.7 rebounds, and 5-10 junior guard Dena Head, together with high school All-American Peggy Evans, 6-0, return for Pat Summitt’s Volunteers (27-6).

Louisiana Tech (32-1) will miss 6-4 center Venus Lacy and forward Barbara Bolden, who decided to skip her senior year to concentrate on track. So Coach Leon Barmore may have to rely more on senior guards Sheila Etheridge, who averaged 15.2 points, and Shantel Hardison, who had 10-point and 6.8-rebound averages.