Q&A: Haase and Davis expect short-handed Cardinal to fight
Stanford led both games of the exhausting road trip through the mountains last week but came up short in overtime at Utah and lost a 16-point lead to Colorado without two key players.
Oscar da Silva suffered a terrifying injury at Colorado when his head was slammed into the ground by the forearm of Evan Battey, who fell on top of da Silva after barreling through the Cardinal big, resulting in a block call on da Silva to add insult. It appeared da Silva was knocked briefly unconscious and he needed stitches to stop bleeding from the side of his head.
Stanford was already without Bryce Wills and the combination of the two being out with an incredible surge by the Buffaloes caused another precious opportunity slip away for Stanford.
Next up is another daunting two-game stretch: at home versus Arizona State Thursday night and then Arizona Saturday.
Head coach Jerod Haase described da Silva and Wills' health as a day-to-day evaluation process and wouldn't comment directly on whether da Silva and/or Wills will be available for either game. Wills was limited in practice Thursday and da Silva has not practiced since the Colorado game. (Although, practicing beforehand isn't necessarily needed for da Silva or Wills to play in the games.)
Cardinal Sports Report spoke with Haase and junior guard Daejon Davis after practice Wednesday.
Haase Q&A
On his decision to bring together both teams on the court at Colorado after da Silva's injury: "First of all, I think the story doesn't need me to be a part of it. It was an emotional, tough, uncomfortable situation that doesn't playbook on how you handle it. Coach (Tad) Boyle mentioned it would be good to get the teams together and McKinley Wright thought about saying a prayer. Then there's confusion, so I just wanted to get it organized.
"The other thing too is both teams were extremely emotional and I thought for the game to go on we had to be able to get some type of closure to the last couple minutes and be able to move on with the game. I was almost stern with both teams: 'Get your minds in a really good spot. Oscar is going to be OK. Let's move on with this."
How do you adjust to playing, particularly on the defensive end, without da Silva and Wills?
"It's hard. We saw it in the second half (at Colorado). We were not as effective without those two because those are two elite defenders in my mind. I don't think that means Colorado is going to shoot that percentage, our defense wasn't that bad in the second half.
"It does impact our team, but the other guys understand it's the next man up. It does definitely impact our defense."
Among those next men, Isaac White and Jaiden Delaire gave you big minutes and points at Colorado:
"Isaac is unbelievable. His work ethic, his attitude, his maturity, all those things have always been there. With the opportunity he's really taking advantage of it. He's as easy a person to cheer for as I've ever seen. He has been great and took advantage of an opportunity.
"You can say the same thing about Jaiden. Now, Jaiden has been slower to produce when he has got those opportunities throughout the year. That's one we threw them in and it was the deep end because there wasn't a Plan B. I thought he really excelled. His look in practice has been great the last couple days. We need him to get into that role that I know he's capable of doing."
How do you adjust to closing out games and holding onto these double-digit second half leads?
"The one that comes to mind is the USC, which I thought we got passive and we got our heels. I think we've talked about that and adjusted to that.
"The Colorado game I think is a very different story. Without Oscar and Bryce in there I thought we were attacking, playing our butts off. Defensively we had a few breakdowns but I didn't feel like we lost that game. I felt like Colorado won it.
"We'll learn from all those things but if you tell me we're going to have big second-half leads I'd take it and tell you we'll figure out a way to get it done."
Before this last trip you said this team is a bit beat up and they're going to have to play through that and win despite of it. With Daejon and Trell Terry, what have you seen in terms of them doing that?
"They've been great. They're doing a great job with their rehab and recovery. There is a level of mental toughness to be able to fight through everything.
"Freshman year is always harder just because you've never been through it before. As a coaching staff we're trying to monitor it and understand what they're feeling and then make the right accommodations."
How do you think the team has grown through Pac-12 play?
"That's going to be a great question moving forward because if we haven't then maybe the results continue the same way. In my heart I believe we've grown a tremendous amount. I don't know if I've ever seen a team go through some of the adversity we've gone through with close losses ... and the injuries and stay as connected, united and confident as this group has been.
"There is not one ounce of questioning our ability to get it done. They believe in each other. They believe in the staff and the plan. That gives us a chance. It doesn't guarantee anything for sure, but it does gives us a chance."
Davis Q&A
This team has faced a lot of adversity. Since Colorado, what have you seen from the guys in practice?
"Not much has changed. We know we're fighting right now and everyone else is, too. We look at the standings just like everybody else. We know where we are and what we have to do.
"We really helped ourselves in non-conference but it would be a disaster if we couldn't finish this strong. I think the biggest mindset is staying together, staying connected and having fun ....
If you don't have Oscar or Bryce what does that do to the defense?
"It gives other guys opportunities. When teams are scouting us they don't know that everyone on our team can play defense. Sam (Beskind) played in the last game and he made a couple great plays -- things that don't show up in the stat sheet, being in the right spots. Everyone knows how to play.
"Obviously Bryce's athleticism, Oscar's length, those are things we're going to miss. But Jaiden is just as long, if not longer than Oscar and we have other guys who can step up. Spence (Spencer Jones) can fill right in easily into Bryce's spot if he locks in. It's all about locking in. They see us do it every day, so when you have leaders like Bryce and Oscar on our team they know how to lead by example."
You bring up Jaiden. Coach said it's not a physical ability issue for him but about confidence. How do you help him with that and what have you seen off of that Colorado game?
"Just give him confidence. Jaiden is a hell of a player. He came in here at 17 or something like that. To be able to make a decision that early in life and actually have it happen that fast is crazy and is a lot to handle. I think the more he gets settled in to any situation, I think he's more comfortable overall and he's more willing to put in that work. He'll stay in the gym and come early and all those things are paying off.
"At this point he knows it's his time to step up. He has a chance right now to prove what he's got in his tank and have something to build off of so we know we can trust him when he gets in the game. He already he knows he can trust us."