March 16, 2012

Destination: Denver playlist on Youtube

Stanford Round One Quotes

Hampton Round One Quotes

NORFOLK, Va.- No. 1-seed Stanford completed its second day in Norfolk, Va., the first stop of "Destination: Denver," the Cardinal's quest for a third national title and fifth straight Final Four.

Friday, the Cardinal visited the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the first time. Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball Tara VanDerver, junior forward Joslyn Tinkle and sophomore forward Chiney Ogwumike met with the assembled media for Friday's press conference, and the team chatted with the media during its 30-minute open locker room window.

Three of the Cardinal freshmen, Erica Payne, Bonnie Samuelson and Taylor Greenfield, shared their thoughts about the trip to Norfolk and their first NCAA Tournament experience.

Other teammates prepared for practice, adjusting their shoes, tightening laces, stretching with assistant sports performance coach Susan Borchardt or watching film with the coaching staff.

Other players lounged in the Old Dominion locker room, kicking back in the plush leather couches and chairs watching the men's tournament on flatscreen TVs.

Once the media window closed, the team headed out to the floor for a 90-minute practice session. While the players ran through sets and hoisted up shots, VanDerveer chatted with Saturday's ESPN commentators, play-by-play man Mark Jones and analyst Mary Murphy.

As the clock wound down on practice, the players hustled off the floor, packed up and headed to a new location to complete their practice time.

Stanford will open NCAA Tournament action Saturday at 10:30 a.m. PT against 16th-seeded Hampton. the game will be preceded by the day's opening contest between No. 8 West Virginia and No. 9 Texas at 8:10 a.m. PT. Both games will be televised on ESPN2 and online at www.espn3.com.