Rodgers shreds Cardinals backups in 33-7 rout

The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers knew well before kickoff that they would be playing each other again on the same field in a few days.

The Cardinals can only hope this wasn't a preview of that first-round playoff matchup.

Aaron Rodgers, playing mostly against the Arizona reserves, shredded the Cardinals in a 33-7 Packers rout on Sunday.

Rodgers played three quarters, completing 21 of 26 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown.

Charles Woodson returned an interception 45 yards for another score as the Packers (11-5) won for the seventh time in eight games.

It was the most one-sided home loss for Arizona in coach Ken Whisenhunt's three seasons with the Cardinals.

Arizona (10-6) sat quarterback Kurt Warner after one quarter. Backup Matt Leinart completed 13 of 21 passes for 96 yards and was intercepted twice.

Most of Arizona's first-team defense played only one possession.

Whisenhunt took a cautious approach in terms of a game plan, not showing much of what he would use next week, while Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy chose to play the Packers' usual high-powered game.

Woodson left the game with a shoulder injury late in the first half. Arizona cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (bruised left knee) and wide receiver Anquan Boldin (right ankle) also were injured in the game.

On the possession before he left, Woodson picked off Leinart's errant pass and raced down the left sideline, diving in for the touchdown to make it 26-0 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the half.

It was his third interception return for a TD this season, a franchise record.

He also broke the Packers' record with his eighth career defensive touchdown since joining the team in 2006 _ seven interceptions and one fumble return. He had shared the mark with Herb Adderly (1961-69) and Darren Sharper (1997-2004).

Woodson set a career best with his ninth pick of the season. He has 45 in his career.

Arizona barely avoided its first shutout loss since the second week of the 2003 season.

Ralph Brown intercepted Matt Flynn's pass and returned it 80 yards to Cardinals 8. Brian St. Pierre threw his first NFL touchdown pass on the next play, an 3-yarder to Larry Fitzgerald, with 2:59 to play.

Arizona's hopes for a No. 2 seed ended with Minnesota's victory over the New York Giants earlier in the day. That assured a Cardinals-Packers first-round playoff matchup. The only question was seeding. Arizona is No. 4, Green Bay No. 5.

Rodgers directed touchdown drives on Green Bay's first two possessions.

Rodgers-Cromartie, selected to the Pro Bowl in his second NFL season, was carted off the field with a left knee injury less than two minutes into the game. It turned out to be a bruise, but Rodgers-Cromartie did not play again.

His replacement, Michael Adams, figured prominently in Green Bay's first two TDs.

A 28-yard pass interference penalty against Adams moved the ball to the Cardinals 1, where Ryan Grant scored. The next time the Packers had the ball, Adams was the defender on a 51-yard pass to Jordy Nelson, again to the 1. Rodgers sneaked over from there to make it 14-0 with 2:41 still left to play in the first quarter.

After Steve Breaston unadvisedly fielded a punt at the Cardinals 2, guard Reggie Wells was called for holding in the end zone for a safety. The play negated another interception thrown by Leinart, who had just entered the game.

The Packers went 94 yards in 14 plays for their third touchdown, Rodgers throwing five yards to Finley for the score.

Coaches take opposite tactics in Pack's 33-7 rout

Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt took a cautious approach, Green Bay's Mike McCarthy kept the Packers at full bore most of the day.

The result was a 33-7 Green Bay rout of the NFC champion Cardinals in their regular season finale on Sunday.

Next Sunday, the teams will meet again on the same field in the first round of the playoffs. The outcome will determine which coach took the right approach.

"We wanted to come out here to win the game, keep our razor sharp and gain some momentum going into the playoffs," McCarthy said. "It didn't matter who we were playing. I understand Arizona had a different agenda. ... We like the way we played the last eight weeks and it was very important for us to maximize this opportunity."

McCarthy knew he was taking a risk that one of his key players might get hurt.

Aaron Rodgers played three quarters, mostly against Arizona reserves, completing 21 of 26 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown.

Charles Woodson, who later left with a shoulder injury McCarthy said wasn't serious, returned an interception 45 yards for another score as the Packers (11-5) won for the seventh time in eight games.

It was the most one-sided home loss for Arizona in Whisenhunt's three seasons with the Cardinals, and many of the Packers didn't think it was meaningless.

"They've got a lot to think about," Green Bay defensive end Johnny Jolly said.

Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, however, said the game "kind of really didn't mean anything."

"I guess if they want to celebrate it they can go ahead," Dockett said. "But us personally, we know we've got some work to do and our main focus is next weekend."

Arizona (10-6) sat quarterback Kurt Warner after one quarter. Backup Matt Leinart completed 13 of 21 passes for 96 yards and was intercepted twice.

Most of Arizona's first-team defense played only one possession.

The Cardinals lost standout cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a bruised left kneecap on the third play of the game.

Whisenhunt said he had two game plans ready. The one he would use was determined by the outcome of the Minnesota-New York Giants game. When the Vikings won, ending any chance for Arizona to get a No. 2 seed, Whisenhunt opted for the bland option.

"I can't speak to what they were doing," Whisenhunt said of the Packers. "I know we had a plan going in about what we were going to do if the situation was the way it ended up being. It was very difficult to stick to that plan. All I can say is hopefully it will pay off for us next week."

Whisenhunt thought his team let down before the game even started after seeing the Vikings win in a rout.

Rodgers noted the Cardinals never blitzed after the starters left, giving little evidence in this game what they might use in the next.

"We'll look at the film obviously and critique it," Rodgers said, "but the body of work we'll focus on is really the last four or five games they played before this one."

Woodson left the game with a jammed shoulder late in the first half. McCarthy said he expects his star defender to be ready for the playoff opener.

"Just when he was walking off the field he told me right then 'I'll be fine,'" McCarthy said. "So I wasn't concerned after that."

In addition to Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin (right ankle) and defensive tackle Calais Campbell (thumb) also were injured.

Rodgers-Cromartie, selected to the Pro Bowl in this his second NFL season, was carted off after his knee came down on the cleat of Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley less than two minutes into the game.

The loss of the player teammates call "DRC" would be devastating against Rodgers.

"It's feeling a whole lot better than when it first happened," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "It's just real sore."

Still, he insisted he would play next weekend.

On the possession before he left, Woodson picked off Leinart's errant pass and raced down the left sideline, diving in for the touchdown to make it 26-0 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the half.

It was his third interception return for a TD this season, a franchise record.

He also broke the Packers' record with his eighth career defensive touchdown since joining the team in 2006 _ seven interceptions and one fumble return. He had shared the mark with Herb Adderly (1961-69) and Darren Sharper (1997-2004).

Woodson set a career best with his ninth pick of the season. He has 45 in his career.

Arizona barely avoided its first shutout loss since the second week of the 2003 season.

Ralph Brown intercepted Matt Flynn's pass and returned it 80 yards to Packers 8. After a penalty, Brian St. Pierre threw his first NFL touchdown pass on the next play, a 3-yarder to Larry Fitzgerald, with 2:59 to play.

Notes: Rodgers fell 26 yards shy of the Packers' single-season record for yards passing. ... Boldin passed 1,000 yards receiving for a franchise record fifth time. ... The Cardinals' Ben Graham had three punts inside the 20, tying the record of 42 for a season set by San Francisco's Andy Lee in 2007. ... Fitzgerald, who played the entire game, set a career high with his 13th TD catch of the season. ... Green Bay beat Arizona in the preseason 44-37, leading 38-10 at halftime.

Playoff preview or meaningless?

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt took a cautious approach, Green Bay's Mike McCarthy kept the Packers at full bore most of the day.

The result was a 33-7 Green Bay rout of the NFC champion Cardinals in their regular season finale on Sunday.

In a few days, the teams will meet again on the same field in the first round of the playoffs. The outcome will determine which coach took the right approach.

"We wanted to come out here to win the game, keep our razor sharp and gain some momentum going into the playoffs," McCarthy said. "It didn't matter who we were playing. I understand Arizona had a different agenda. ... We like the way we played the last eight weeks and it was very important for us to maximize this opportunity."

McCarthy knew he was taking a risk that one of his key players might get hurt. Aaron Rodgers played three quarters, mostly against Arizona reserves, completing 21 of 26 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown.

Charles Woodson, who later left with a shoulder injury McCarthy said wasn't serious, returned an interception 45 yards for another score as the Packers (11-5) won for the seventh time in eight games.

It was the most one-sided home loss for Arizona in Whisenhunt's three seasons with the Cardinals, and many of the Packers didn't think it was meaningless.

"They've got a lot to think about," Green Bay defensive end Johnny Jolly said.

Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, however, said the game "kind of really didn't mean anything."

"I guess if they want to celebrate it they can go ahead," Dockett said. "But us personally, we know we've got some work to do and our main focus is next weekend."

Arizona (10-6) sat quarterback Kurt Warner after one quarter. Backup Matt Leinart completed 13 of 21 passes for 96 yards and was intercepted twice.

Most of Arizona's first-team defense played only one possession.

The Cardinals lost standout cornerback Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie to a bruised left kneecap on the third play of the game.

Whisenhunt had two game plans ready. The one he would use was determined by the outcome of the Minnesota-New York Giants game. When the Vikings won, ending any chance for Arizona to get a No. 2 seed, Whisenhunt opted for the bland option.

"I can't speak to what they were doing," Whisenhunt said of the Packers. "I know we had a plan going in about what we were going to do if the situation was the way it ended up being. It was very difficult to stick to that plan. All I can say is hopefully it will pay off for us next week."

Whisenhunt thought his team let down before the game even started after seeing the Vikings win in a rout.

Rodgers noted the Cardinals never blitzed after the starters left, giving little evidence in this game what they might use in the next.

"We'll look at the film obviously and critique it," Rodgers said, "but the body of work we'll focus on is really the last four or five games they played before this one."

Woodson left the game with a jammed shoulder late in the first half. McCarthy said he expects his star defender to be ready for the playoff opener.

"Just when he was walking off the field he told me right then'I'll be fine,'" McCarthy said. "So I wasn't concerned after that."

In addition to Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin (right ankle) and defensive tackle Calais Campbell (thumb) also were injured.

Rodgers-Cromartie, selected to the Pro Bowl in this his second NFL season, was carted off after his knee came down on the cleat of Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley less than two minutes into the game.

The loss of the player teammates call "DRC" would be devastating against Rodgers.

"It's feeling a whole lot better than when it first happened," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "It's just real sore."

Still, he insisted he would play next weekend.

On the possession before he left, Woodson picked off Leinart's errant pass and raced down the left sideline, diving in for the touchdown to make it 26-0 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the half.

It was his third interception return for a TD this season, a franchise record.

He also broke the Packers'record with his eighth career defensive touchdown since joining the team in 2006 - seven interceptions and one fumble return. He had shared the mark with Herb Adderly (1961- 69) and Darren Sharper (1997-2004).

Woodson set a career best with his ninth pick of the season. He has 45 in his career.

Arizona barely avoided its first shutout loss since the second week of the 2003 season.

Ralph Brown intercepted Matt Flynn's pass and returned it 80 yards to Packers 8. After a penalty, Brian St. Pierre threw his first NFL touchdown pass on the next play, a 3-yarder to Larry Fitzgerald, with 2:59 to play.

Notes: Rodgers fell 26 yards shy of the Packers'single-season record for yards passing. ... Boldin passed 1,000 yards receiving for a franchise record fifth time. ... The Cardinals'Ben Graham had three punts inside the 20, tying the record of 42 for a season set by San Francisco's Andy Lee in 2007. ... Fitzgerald, who played the entire game, set a career high with his 13th TD catch of the season. ... Green Bay beat Arizona in the preseason 44-37, leading 38-10 at halftime.

Wild days, parties are history for Cat pitcher

ARIZONA BASEBALL

When the Arizona Wildcats reconvened following winter break, coach Andy Lopez introduced the team to a new, old player.

"Clyde Bandilla," Lopez said with a laugh. "He's a different person. He's lost 20 pounds. He's got a 3.5 GPA, and he's been fantastic for us."

Bryce Bandilla has been a member of the UA program since August 2008.

He might as well be a different person - call him Clyde - this year.

The Wildcats sophomore pitcher is in shape, focused on baseball and academically sound for the first time in his college career. Arizona began practicing Monday with Bandilla, 20, as the favorite to inherit the closer's role previously occupied by three high draft picks: Ryan Perry, Daniel Schlereth and Jason Stoffel.

"They're all great pitchers," Bandilla said. "It's a privilege to be a closer here."

The Wildcats will need Bandilla, and others like him, to step up if they hope to compete for a Pac-10 championship this spring. Arizona's 2010 roster includes just two seniors - pitcher Grayson Adams and utilityman Rafael Valenzuela - and seven draft-eligible juniors. The rest, including a 17-person freshman class, will try to spark a team that went 30-25 and missed the postseason a year ago.

That Bandilla made the team is notable in itself.

The pitcher, like many UA freshmen, was often irresponsible in his first year away from home.

The Wildcats pitcher didn't go to class often, finishing with a 1.5 GPA. He stayed out too late and partied too much. He was kicked out of his dormitory for drinking. He ate poorly, gained weight and didn't do much to stay in shape.

It was a toxic mix that rendered Bandilla, a promising left- hander, irrelevant on the field. In 26 appearances, he posted a 3-3 record and 6.20 ERA. Twice, he was pulled from starts after failing to get a single out.

"I was a mess," he said. "I was 20 pounds overweight. I didn't go to class, and I didn't work out either. I drank a lot, I partied a lot, and I didn't care much about baseball."

Arizona's coaches noticed. Lopez summoned Bandilla to his office in the days following the UA's regular-season finale to discuss his future. The coach was in the process of purging six players from the roster for maturity issues, and Bandilla was seemingly next.

"I had some deep reservations, quite candidly, about inviting him back. Last year was not acceptable in any way, shape or form, on the field or off the field," Lopez said. "I told Bryce that what he did during the season was unacceptable.

"Before I could finish that sentence, he said: 'I know I've screwed up. I know I haven't done what I was supposed to do. If you let me back, I'll get it figured out.'"

Slowly, Bandilla put his life in order.

The pre-sociology major salvaged his GPA with a solid performance in summer school. Bandilla put himself on a diet as the fall semester began and re-dedicated himself both in the weight room and the diamond. Bandilla shed 20 pounds off his 6-foot-4-inch frame, gaining an extra few miles per hour on his fastball in the process. His fastball has been clocked at 92 miles per hour, major-league- caliber stuff for a left-hander; his second pitch, a curveball, has a newfound break.

Academically, Bandilla has become a shining example to his teammates. He received one A and three B's in the fall semester, good for a 3.25 GPA.

Bandilla must now prove he can pitch effectively at the college level. While it might have intimidated Bryce, "Clyde" seems up for the challenge.

"I totally believe that if you're a bad person off the field - if you drink, party, don't go to class - it carries over. It correlates," Bandilla said. "When you do the things you're supposed to do, the same thing happens. Now, it's carrying over here, too."

KEY DATES

* Saturday: Red/Blue game, 11 a.m., at Kindall/ Sancet Stadium, (admission is free)

* Feb. 19: Season opener, Utah Valley at UA, 6 p.m.

* March 26: Pac-10 opener, Oregon at UA, 6 p.m.

Ryan Theriot's Salary Arb Comp.

We'll get into this in more detail the closer we get to the end of the week, but for those wondering who is one of the primary comps for Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot, the answer -- at least out of this year's class -- is the Diamondback's Stephen Drew.

Drew and Theriot are both within the same service class (3 years), and while Erick Aybar of the Angels also is a comp, Drew is the only player to reach a one-year settlement agreement where the salary can be used (Brendan Harris reached a multi-year agreement with the Twins, thus making him an unreliable comp for salary arbitration purposes).

The other key thing about Drew and Theriot is this: Drew settled on a $3.4 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Jan. 19th. How much is Theriot asking in salary arbitration? $3.4 million. What are the Cubs offering? $2.6 million

Here are the two players' stats from which to chew on:

Ryan Theriot (Career Chicago Cubs)

Year G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ 2005 9 14 13 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 .154 .214 .231 .445 15 2006 53 159 134 34 44 11 3 3 16 13 2 17 18 .328 .412 .522 .934 135 2007 148 597 537 80 143 30 2 3 45 28 4 49 50 .266 .326 .346 .672 71 2008 149 661 580 85 178 19 4 1 38 22 13 73 58 .307 .387 .359 .745 92 2009 154 677 602 81 171 20 5 7 54 21 10 51 93 .284 .343 .369 .712 83 5 Seasons 513 2108 1866 283 538 81 14 14 153 84 29 191 221 .288 .356 .369 .726 86 162 Gm Avg. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/bat_glossary.shtml#162_avg) 162 666 589 89 170 26 4 4 48 27 9 60 70 .288 .356 .369 .726 86 Provided by Baseball-Reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/sharing.shtml): View Original Table (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/theriry01.shtml#batting_standard)

Generated 2/16/2010.

Stephen Drew (Career Arizona Diamondbacks)

Year G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ 2006 59 226 209 27 66 13 7 5 23 2 0 14 50 .316 .357 .517 .874 117 2007 150 619 543 60 129 28 4 12 60 9 0 60 100 .238 .313 .370 .683 71 2008 152 663 611 91 178 44 11 21 67 3 3 41 109 .291 .333 .502 .836 109 2009 135 595 533 71 139 29 12 12 65 5 1 49 87 .261 .320 .428 .748 89 4 Seasons 496 2103 1896 249 512 114 34 50 215 19 4 164 346 .270 .326 .445 .771 93 162 Gm Avg. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/bat_glossary.shtml#162_avg) 162 687 619 81 167 37 11 16 70 6 1 54 113 .270 .326 .445 .771 93 Provided by Baseball-Reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/sharing.shtml): View Original Table (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drewst01.shtml?redir#batting_standard)

Generated 2/16/2010.

For more on salary arbitration, see the following:

YAHOO! SPORTS ARTICLES ON SALARY ARBITRATION:

Inside a Tim Lincecum arbitration hearing (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ArVWmtCKQgTYLJxz7uw85UARvLYF?slug=ys-maurybrownlincecumarb021010&prov=yhoo&type=lgns) - 2/10/10

Salary arbitration: Battle of the midpoint (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqF3fSxVuGp1cB9h5WbNqv0RvLYF?slug=ys-arbitrationmidpoint012510&prov=yhoo&type=lgns) -- 1/26/10

Evolution of salary arbitration: an ironic tale (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AhMPL55GZ4kfdZaA8dLDi5ERvLYF?slug=ys-maurybrownarbitration011910&prov=yhoo&type=lgns) -- 1/19/10

RESOURCES FOR SALARY ARBITRATION

MLB Salary Database (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=ApKLCWcMxhjc52AVtqlfpHVDWtAF/SIG=12s21sk14/**http%3A/www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php%3Foption=com_wrapper%26view=wrapper%26Itemid=179)

Salary Arbitration Filings (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Apq99gO_4Cy0Wmwbp0hE4TxDWtAF/SIG=134g37ut6/**http%3A/www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php%3Foption=com_content%26view=article%26id=492%26Itemid=65)

Salary Arbitration Figures (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=At14E1JglwUOSQ2tYR4E_GhDWtAF/SIG=134re16s6/**http%3A/www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php%3Foption=com_content%26view=article%26id=599%26Itemid=72)

Arbitration Scorecard (http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=719&Itemid=116)

MLB Salary Arbitration Hearing Outcome by Club (1974-Present) (http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4083%3Amlb-salary-arbitration-hearing-outcome-by-club-1974-present&catid=72%3Asalary-arbitration&Itemid=183)

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. (http://businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=15) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1%3Amaury-brown&catid=12%3Acontacts&Itemid=133).

Follow The Biz of Baseball on Twitter (http://twitter.com/BizofBaseball)

Scott Brown campaigns for McCain in Arizona

Facing the toughest re-election battle of his career, Arizona Sen. John McCain enlisted a rising star of the Republican Party in a bid Friday to lock down support among conservative primary voters.

Just two years after he emerged victorious in the Republican presidential primary contest, McCain now faces a stiff primary challenge for the party's Senate nomination from radio talk show host and former congressman JD Hayworth who claims McCain is not conservative enough.

Some Arizona conservatives have long been skeptical of the four-term senator who lost the 2008 presidential race to Barack Obama. Since the last election, McCain has tacked to the right in his Senate votes, but his detractors bring up his past work with Democrats in support of issues including campaign-finance and immigration reform.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who became an overnight Republican star with his upset victory in a January special election to fill the seat held for decades by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, made his first campaign trip as a senator when he visited Arizona to support McCain.

The appearance also marked a key test of Brown's popularity among Republican activists and his ability to raise contributions for candidates after he recently broke with the party's Senate leadership to side with Democrats and a handful of moderate Republicans in supporting a jobs bill.

Brown joined McCain at Grand Canyon University, a small Christian school in Phoenix.

"We need good people, honest people, people who are greatly respected, people who are not out for themselves," Brown told a crowd of about 1,000 people.

"And he's right here," he said of McCain.

Pacing the stage, McCain stressed familiar themes, saying he opposes President Barack Obama's health care bill and abortion, worries about the national debt, and is committed to creating jobs and keeping people in their homes.

He spent most of his time _ and got his loudest applause _ on health care.

"We Republicans, like the majority of Americans, are saying to the president: 'Stop and start over,'" McCain said.

Brown won his Senate seat with the help of national Republicans, grassroots conservative "tea party" activists and an array of special interest groups. Some of those supporters turned against Brown after his Feb. 22 vote on the jobs bill, calling him a traitor and lambasting him online.

As a nationally popular Republican representing a left-leaning state, Brown walks a fine line between pleasing his party's base and positioning himself for re-election in 2012.

Brown's visit is intended to help McCain galvanize support on the right. Even as some former supporters turn on Brown, he remains popular in the Republican Party after his victory embarrassed Democrats.

Brown's victory gave Republicans the crucial 41st vote they need to block Democratic legislation in the Senate. On his first opportunity to do so, however, he was one of five Republicans to allow the jobs bill to advance. It later passed the Senate on a formal vote with support from 13 Republicans.

The Massachusetts senator is in Arizona for campaign stops with McCain in Phoenix on Friday and Tucson on Saturday, as well as a fundraiser in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale.

McCain was one of Brown's earliest supporters when his chances in Massachusetts looked like a longshot and he struggled to find footing in the race.

Jayne Appel plays through the pain to Stanford women's gain

SACRAMENTO -- Stanford senior Jayne Appel really is hurting. She might not want to talk about it. But the pain from a right ankle sprain and left knee surgery reminds the All-America center of what she has endured this season.

"I'm not going to lie and say I'm in zero pain," she said Sunday, the day before Stanford plays Xavier in the Sacramento Regional final. "I feel like out of sight, out of mind. It's easier to not think about."

Appel prefers to focus on a tall task at Arco Arena tonight where the top-seeded Cardinal (34-1) plays one of the most imposing front lines it has seen this season. The fifth-ranked Musketeers present a different problem for Stanford than its previous three NCAA tournament opponents.

Namely, size. Xavier is led by 6-foot-5 Amber Harris and 6-6 Ta'Shia Phillips and has 6-3 Brittany Moore in reserve. Harris averages 16 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Phillips has 14.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

"They take up a lot of space. They block shots. They change shots," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said.

After waltzing through the tournament with an average victory margin of 32.6 points, the second-ranked Cardinal must subdue the Atlantic 10 Conference champions from Cincinnati to reach the Final Four.

Stanford will need the 6-4 Appel at her best to counter Xavier's mountain-like players -- even when she doesn't have the strength to dominate the post like last season. Appel missed some easy layups against Georgia in the Sweet Sixteen but scored 17 points in 24 minutes before VanDerveer took her out to rest for the Musketeers (30-3).

Appel won't blame her struggles on injuries, although she has seen her share of maladies this season. She had surgery in June to repair a meniscus ligament in her left knee. Appel suffered from the stomach flu in November and needed four IV bags of fluid to get through a game against Utah. She contracted a minor foot infection that hobbled her early in the season and suffered an ankle sprain March 2.

"I have to push off with my left knee and my right ankle," said Appel, who developed her toughness playing against brothers on the family court in Pleasant Hill. "I definitely do notice the difference. I don't want to be a player who blames missing shots on an injury. But it does have a factor whether or not I chose to acknowledge it."

The injuries haven't slowed Stanford's leader from running the floor, passing or rebounding. Appel's full-court presence has caught the attention of Xavier coach Kevin McGuff.

"The thing that really impressed me, her level of fitness," he said. "They really run the floor well. We got to make sure our posts run."

Appel, a standout water polo and basketball player at Carondelet High, has remained a tour de force in executing VanDerveer's triangle offense even as her scoring average (13.8) has dropped this season.

Appel has distinguished herself as perhaps the country's best post passer. It started, she said, from watching Larry Bird.

"You're almost creating a connection between two players," Appel said of the backdoor passes that have led to easy layups.

The best pass in her Stanford career?

"Arizona State at home, Candice going back door," Appel said without hesitation. "It sliced through. I don't know how it got there, but it got there."

The crowd-pleasing play to All-America guard Candice Wiggins, in 2008, launched Appel on a remarkable run that she hopes ends with a third consecutive trip to the Final Four next weekend in San Antonio.

"It opened up a new world of Stanford basketball," she said of involving all five positions.

Appel, who graduated last week with a degree in psychology, has three more chances to leave an indelible mark on Stanford, which hasn't won an NCAA title since 1992. Some wonder whether it's asking too much to win three without Appel completely healthy. She hasn't practiced full-court since spraining her ankle in a layup drill, and is relegated to riding a stationary bike and shooting free throws.

Appel dismisses questions about her durability, saying, "I've played in more games than any Stanford player. Ever."

VanDerveer added: "I think Jayne just blocks out pain. If I ask her how she is doing, she just says, 'Great.' "

She has always been that way.

"I don't care what it takes to play, I'm always going to push through it," Appel said, ready to prove it once again tonight.