STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford tips off Pac-12 Conference play on the first day of the 2016 calendar year with a 6 p.m. PT game against No. 21/22 Utah at Maples Pavilion. The New Year’s Day contest is the sixth in a season-long seven-game homestand for the Cardinal. The Pac-12 season opener will air live on ESPNU, with Roxy Bernstein and Adrian Branch on the call. Stanford alum John Platz will have the call on KNBR 1050 AM.
NEW YEAR’S DAY HISTORY
Stanford’s only other game on New Year’s Day in the 101-year history of the program was one for the record books. On Jan. 1, 1938, Hank Luisetti scored a Stanford single-game record 50 points on a school single-game record 23 field goals to lead the Cardinal to a 92-27 victory over Duquesne in Cleveland, Ohio.
STANFORD IN CONFERENCE OPENERS
Stanford is 3-4 in conference openers under head coach Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal won its last Pac-12 opener, defeating Washington State, 71-56, at home on Jan. 2, 2015. Since the 1978-79 campaign, Stanford is 19-18 in conference openers (14-7 home, 5-11 away).
AGAINST UTAH
Friday marks the 29th all-time meeting between Stanford and Utah. The Cardinal and Utes have met seven times since Utah joined the Pac-12 for the 2011-12 season, with Stanford winning four of the six regular-season tilts. Stanford is 6-2 in the eight matchups played on campus. Utah captured both games last year, a 75-59 win in Salt Lake City Feb. 12, 2015 and an 80-56 triumph in the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas March 12, 2015. This will be the third straight meeting between the two teams with Utah ranked. The Utes were ranked No. 11/10 during last year’s regular-season meeting and No. 17 in both polls when the two teams squared off in the conference tournament.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Friday’s matchup marks the 33rd career game against a top-25 team for head coach Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal owns an 11-21 record against top-25 teams in the Dawkins era. Stanford dropped its first meeting against a top-25 team this season, falling to No. 8/9 Villanova (59-45). The Cardinal’s last victory over a top-25 foe came against No. 21/19 Washington, 68-60, in overtime at Maples Pavilion on Jan. 4, 2015.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Stanford’s balanced scoring attack includes four guys averaging more than 12 ppg. The Cardinal is one of just two teams in the Pac-12 (UCLA is the other) to have four guys average at least 12.8 ppg. Rosco Allen (13.9 ppg) ranks 16th in the Pac-12 in scoring, while Dorian Pickens (13.5 ppg) ranks 22nd, Marcus Allen (13.0 ppg) ranks 25th and Reid Travis (12.8 ppg) is tied for 27th.
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford has won six of its first eight home games of the 2015-16 season and has won nine of its last 11 at home overall. The Cardinal owns a 98-32 record at Maples Pavilion under head coach Johnny Dawkins. Stanford has won at least 10 home games for 22 straight seasons dating back to 1992-93.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Stanford’s first 12 opponents have totaled 95 victories already this season through Dec. 30. The four teams - SMU, Villanova, Saint Mary’s and Texas - the Cardinal has suffered setbacks to this season own a combined record of 41-7 this season through Dec. 30.
SOPHOMORE IMPACT
The sophomore class has played a major role in the Cardinal’s success this season. Despite playing without injured point guard Robert Cartwright, the unit that includes Reid Travis (12.8 ppg), Michael Humphrey (9.6 ppg) and Dorian Pickens (13.5 ppg) has accounted for 44.5 percent of Stanford’s points this season. The total is with Travis missing the last three games with a leg injury. Humphrey (7.2 rpg) and Travis (7.1 rpg) are averaging a combined 14.3 rebounds per game.
NEW LOOK LINEUP
Rosco Allen was the lone Cardinal from Stanford’s starting lineup in the 2015 postseason NIT Championship game against Miami, who has started all 11 games this season. The Cardinal has used six different starting lineups in its first 11 games. Most recently, Stanford utilized the lineup of Rosco Allen, Marcus Allen, Michael Humphrey, Christian Sanders and Dorian Pickens.
PRODUCING IN INCREASED ROLES
The Cardinal’s current lineup of Rosco Allen, Marcus Allen, Michael Humphrey, Dorian Pickens and Christian Sanders combined to average 23.7 points in 91.4 (18.3 per player) minutes per game last season. That same group is averaging a combined 55.6 points in 139.6 (27.9 per player) minutes this year.
| Producing In Increased Roles | ||||
| Player | Minutes (14-15) | Points (14-15) | Minutes (15-16) | Points (15-16) |
| Rosco Allen | 26.4 | 7.3 | 33.9 | 13.9 |
| Marcus Allen | 22.8 | 6.4 | 31.3 | 13.0 |
| Reid Travis | 23.1 | 6.2 | 32.8 | 12.8 |
| Michael Humphrey | 11.3 | 3.1 | 23.1 | 9.6 |
| Christian Sanders | 7.8 | 0.7 | 23.5 | 5.6 |
| Dorian Pickens | 8.6 | 2.0 | 27.8 | 13.5 |
| TOTALS | 100.0 | 25.7 | 172.4 | 68.4 |
ROSCO ALLEN FROM DEEP
Rosco Allen is averaging 13.9 ppg this season. Nearly half of his field goals (22-of-48) have come from three-point range. The senior ranks ninth in the Pac-12, shooting 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from beyond the arc. He has recorded multiple three-pointers in seven of Stanford’s 11 games with at least three in a contest five times. He has totaled 14 three-pointers in his last six games.
STRONG START FOR MARCUS ALLEN
Junior Marcus Allen, Stanford’s starting shooting guard, has scored in double figures in seven of the nine games he has played in this season. He ranks third on the Cardinal in scoring, averaging 13.0 ppg. The guard, who missed the first two games with a foot injury, is also averaging 2.8 assists.
DYK, @MarcusAllen_15 has totaled 11 steals in the last four games and ranks 2nd in the @Pac12 in steals (1.9 spg) pic.twitter.com/QgfQJFpYHj
— Stanford Men's Hoops (@stanfordbball) December 30, 2015
HUMPHREY FILLING UP THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore Michael Humphrey is averaging 9.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this season. He ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in blocks and 11th in rebounds. Humphrey has started nine of Stanford’s 11 games, including each of the last seven contests. The forward, who posted a career-high 21 points against Sacramento State, has two double-doubles with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Green Bay and 13 points and 12 rebounds vs. Charleston Southern. He has four career double-doubles in 41 career games.
PICKENS PROVIDES SCORING PUNCH
Sophomore Dorian Pickens is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 ppg. He is tied with Rosco Allen for the team lead with 22, three-pointers. Pickens has registered 15, three-pointers and totaled 78 points in his last four games, scoring a career-best 24 (on six, three-pointers) against Texas, 20 vs. Sacramento State, 18 against Carroll College, and 16 vs. DePaul. He connected on a career-high six three-pointers on 6-of-7 shooting en route to a career-best 24 points against Texas. The sophomore posted his first career double-double, with 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds against No. 8 Villanova. After averaging 2.1 points in 9.8 minutes last season, he ranks second on the team in scoring this season with 13.0 points in 28.2 minutes.
.@doublepenny11 has totaled 15, three-pointers and 78 points in his last four games #GoStanford
A photo posted by Stanford Men's Hoops (@stanfordbball) on Dec 28, 2015 at 1:47pm PST
SANDERS, THE FLOOR GENERAL
After totaling 81 points in 61 games over his first three seasons at Stanford, senior point guard Christian Sanders has combined to record 62 points in 11 contests this year. He scored a career-high 23 points in a career-long 31 minutes in the season-opening win over Green Bay. The senior is also averaging 2.9 assists per game with a career-best eight in the win over Charleston Southern on Nov. 15.
TRAVIS A FORCE IN THE PAINT
Sophomore Reid Travis is second on the team in rebounds (7.1 rpg) and ranks fourth in points (12.8 ppg). His team-leading 55.7 field goal percentage ranks 11th in the conference. He scored a career-best 18 points at Saint Mary’s and collected a season-high 12 rebounds against Villanova. Travis is out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his left leg.
FRESHMEN MAKING IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTIONS
The Cardinal’s three-member freshman class of Josh Sharma, Marcus Sheffield and Cameron Walker have each seen action this season. Sheffield is the lone newcomer to see time in all 11 contests, earning the start in the season opener against Green Bay. Walker, who missed the first four games of the year with a calf injury, has totaled 73 minutes in seven games. Sharma has registered 12 blocks in 64 minutes over nine games.