How Stanford women reached the top

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Stanford assistant coach Amy Tucker summed it up.

“The good news,” she told coach Tara VanDerveer, “is that we beat UConn. The bad news it that we’re ranked No. 1.”

Stanford — still No. 6 in this week’s AP poll — jumped to the top spot in the USA Today coaches’ poll. Pretty heady stuff for a young team supposedly figuring out how to win without an Ogwumike for the first time in seven seasons. A top ranking comes with big expectations.

But VanDerveer can see the bright side. Stanford’s overtime victory over champion UConn was great for West Coast basketball. The nationally televised game drew Twitter momentum and the game ended with Stanford students rushing the court.

It proved, once again, that VanDerveer is at the top of her game.

In her 29th season at Stanford, a place where she can’t out-recruit the competition, VanDerveer has reinvented herself. She spent the summer switching from the triangle offense.

Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer directs her team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut on Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. Stanford won 88-86 in overtime. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) less Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer directs her team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut on Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. Stanford won 88-86 in overtime. ... more Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close How Stanford women reached the top 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The decision to move to a guard-oriented offense came because the Cardinal were losing Chiney Ogwumike, the WNBA’s top draft pick. Ogwumike starred but had been beaten up, and VanDerveer knew that her young players couldn’t handle how rough post play has become.

Like a good Stanford student, VanDerveer threw herself into research. She studied Warriors game film to see what they did with their guards. Her staff had a retreat with the Stanford men’s staff, which included Mark Madsen, a Lakers assistant. Madsen connected her with Mike D’Antoni, known for his pick-and-roll, guard-oriented offense. D’Antoni spent a day watching Stanford and X-ing and O-ing with VanDerveer. She met with Joe Prunty, Jason Kidd’s offensive coordinator, and Jenny Boucek, an assistant with WNBA champion Seattle.

“I’m a copier by nature,” VanDerveer said. “I like watching different teams to find things that look like they’ll fit.”

Over the summer, she worked with her team two hours a week, installing the new offense. She knew she would be tested in the second game of the season. But her team won, with an offense still being learned.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

After the game, she received over 300 texts and 200 e-mails.

“Not a single person thought we would win,” said VanDerveer, still proving them wrong after all these years.

Ann Killion is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: akillion@sfchronicle.com