Thus, the fixation on Stanford's intellectual burden now seems almost like an exercise for their fans - bragging in advance while setting up a fallback position in case Cincinnati wins. Of course, not all Stanford fans feel this way. Some know that there is scholarship and then there is basketball, and each shall be judged on its individual merits. But for the rest of us, who could fall into the trap of feeling sorry for people bettering their minds, this may stand as a healthy reminder until tip-off. The better team will win tomorrow night, and the better players will shine, regardless of academic standing.
Basketball is a purely egalitarian pursuit, and there is no grading on the curve here.
What is more, it is exactly the way Montgomery and his players want it. They were students Monday and yesterday and will be again today. They will be athletes Thursday. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what the Stanford fans want them to be.