Stanford in Bruins’ Corner for Round Against Duke

Take heart, UCLA. You have some new fans on the West Coast, fans who understand what it takes to beat Duke.

“I’m rooting for UCLA,” said Stanford forward Jarron Collins, whose team is preparing to face Cincinnati in a West Regional semifinal.

Stanford guard Mike McDonald had encouraging words for the Bruins too.

“UCLA is real athletic, so I think they have a great chance to beat Duke,” he said. “I think Matt Barnes can do a good job on [Shane] Battier.”

This should mean something to the Bruins. After all, Stanford was the first to beat Duke this season and is one of four teams to do so in 35 games.

“I still wonder sometimes how we did it,” said McDonald, who fouled out in 24 minutes against the Blue Devils, ranked No. 1 at the time. “You’d better hope they get in foul trouble.”

Stanford isn’t the only team in the West Regional that has beaten Duke. Maryland, which plays Georgetown tonight, defeated the Blue Devils last month.

Maryland assistant Billy Hahn said the Bruins must turn Duke into a two-point-shooting team and guard against shots from behind the arc. As for UCLA’s press?

“[The Blue Devils are] going to blow right through it,” he said. “They’re always in an attack mode. The more patient you are with your offense, the better off you probably are. They get you playing faster than you want to play.”

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Two TV reporters were a bit confused Wednesday in speaking to the Bruins. One began interviewing redshirt freshman Josiah Johnson, then abruptly cut short the session upon learning Johnson was not Dan Gadzuric. Another reporter knew who Gadzuric was, but was unclear on his story.

“Did everyone talk about ‘SC when you were growing up?” the reporter asked.

Not likely. Gadzuric grew up in Holland.