STANFORD, Calif. - For the first time in 19 days, Stanford will play at home when the Cardinal returns to Maples Pavilion on Thursday to face Oregon State at 8 p.m. PT. Stanford enters Thursday’s contest 10th in the Pac-12 standings, but the Cardinal (11-10, 4-6 Pac-12) is just two games back of fifth-place Colorado in the win column.
ROSCO ALLEN AVERAGING OVER 20 POINTS IN LAST FOUR GAMES
Senior Rosco Allen (15.1 ppg overall) is averaging 20.3 ppg in his last four contests. Allen has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in each of the last four games. Four of his five career 20-point games have come in the last eight contests, including a career-high tying 25 at Colorado.
ALLEN’S SECOND-HALF PRODUCTION
Of Rosco Allen’s 81 total points in his last four games, 70 have come in the second half, including 20 points in the second period at Colorado on Jan. 27 and all 16 in the final period at Cal on Feb. 6.
SHEFFIELD GETS NOD AT THE POINT
Freshman Marcus Sheffield is averaging 10.3 points in 25.0 minutes per game in 10 Pac-12 contests, after averaging 4.0 points in 11.2 minutes in the Cardinal’s 11 nonconference games. Sheffield earned his second career start (first in conference play) last time out at California.
MOST STEALS IN 19 YEARS
Stanford’s 6.9 steals-per-game average is its highest since the 1996-97 season (also 6.9 spg). With 145 steals already this season, the Cardinal is on pace to record at least 200 steals for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The 6.9 spg average is fourth-best in the Pac-12.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Stanford has played the second toughest schedule in the nation, according to ESPN’s Daily RPI on Feb. 9. The 10 teams - SMU, Villanova, Saint Mary’s, Texas, Colorado (2), Oregon, Arizona, Utah and California - Stanford suffered setbacks to are a combined 163-47 through Feb. 8.
AGAINST OREGON STATE
Stanford has won six of its last seven games against Oregon State, including a 78-72 victory over the Beavers in Corvallis, Ore. on Jan. 10. The Cardinal has won its last five home games against OSU. Oregon State’s last win at Maples Pavilion was on Jan. 24, 2009.
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE BEAVERS
Rosco Allen and Marcus Allen combined for nearly half of Stanford’s scoring as Stanford defeated Oregon State, 78-72, in Corvallis to give Johhnny Dawkins his 150th victory. Rosco Allen led the Cardinal with 21 points and Marcus Allen added 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.
.@malcolmallen03 >> @roscoallen 👀 #GoStanford
A video posted by Stanford Men's Hoops (@stanfordbball) on Jan 7, 2016 at 11:10am PST
CARDINAL LEADERS AGAINST OREGON STATE
Michael Humphrey has averaged 11.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in 22.0 minutes over two games against Oregon State. Marcus Allen has averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 25.3 mpg in three contests.
LAST TIME OUT
Stanford had its four-game winning streak over California snapped as California defeated the Cardinal, 76-61, Feb. 6 at Haas Pavilion. Rosco Allen scored 16 and Dorian Pickens added 10 points.
FRESHMAN TRIO SEEING MORE TIME ON THE COURT
Stanford’s three freshmen - Josh Sharma, Marcus Sheffield and Cameron Walker - have each seen their minutes increase in the last three games. Sharma, who is averaging 6.5 minutes overall, has averaged nine in the last three games. Walker, who is averaging 9.4 minutes overall, has averaged 14.0 minutes in the last three games. Sheffield, who is averaging 17.8 minutes per game overall, has averaged 27.3 minutes in his last three games. He earned his second start of the season last time out at California, playing 27 minutes in the contest.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Nearly five guys are averaging double figures in the scoring column for the Cardinal. Rosco Allen (15.1), Reid Travis (12.8), Marcus Allen (12.1) and Dorian Pickens (11.4) have averaged double figures throughout the season, while Michael Humphrey (9.7) dipped below his double-digit average after leaving the Cardinal’s last game with a thigh injury two minutes into the contest. There has not been a Stanford team with five individuals averaging double figures in scoring, dating back to the 1948-49 season.
THE LINEUP
For the first time in 12 games, Stanford presented a new lineup when the Cardinal took the floor last time out against California. Freshman Marcus Sheffield made his second career start and senior Grant Verhoeven recorded his sixth career start. The pair were joined by senior Rosco Allen, junior Marcus Allen and sophomore Dorian Pickens. Rosco Allen is the lone Cardinal to have started all 21 games this season. Stanford has used seven different lineups in its 21 games. Marcus Allen has started the last 17 games and Pickens the last 12.
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford has won nine of its first 13 home games of the 2015-16 season and has won 12 of its last 16 at home overall. The Cardinal owns a 101-34 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.
PRODUCING IN INCREASED ROLES
Stanford starters Rosco Allen, Marcus Allen, Michael Humphrey and Dorian Pickens combined to average 23.7 points in 69.1 (17.3 per player) minutes per game last season. That same group is averaging a combined 48.3 points in 119.8 (30.0 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 | 34.3 | 15.1 |
| Marcus Allen | 22.8 | 6.4 | 33.1 | 12.1 |
| Reid Travis | 23.1 | 6.2 | 32.8 | 12.8 |
| Dorian Pickens | 8.6 | 2.0 | 29.5 | 11.4 |
| Michael Humphrey | 1.3 | 3.1 | 22.9 | 9.7 |
| TOTALS | 92.2 | 25.0 | 152.6 | 61.1 |
ROSCO ALLEN FROM DEEP
Rosco Allen ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in three-point field goals made (2.0). He has recorded at least one three-point field goal in each of the last 16 games and has posted multiple three-pointers in six of the last eight games. The senior ranks 11th in scoring (16.5 ppg) during Pac-12 games.
HUMPHREY STEPPING UP WITH TRAVIS OUT
Sophomore Michael Humphrey, who is averaging 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds overall, is averaging 10.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg in his last 13 contests. The forward has played the last 13 games without fellow starting forward Reid Travis, who is out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his leg. He ranks eighth in the Pac-12 in blocks (1.4 bpg) and 14th in rebounds (6.2 rpg). Humphrey has two double-doubles with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Green Bay and 13 points and 12 rebounds vs. Charleston Southern.
MARCUS ALLEN EXCELLING ON BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT
Junior Marcus Allen has scored in double figures in 14 of the 19 games he has played in this season. He ranks second in scoring among the Cardinal’s regular starters, averaging 12.1 ppg. The guard recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win over California on Jan. 14. He is also ranks second in the Pac-12 in steals (1.8).
PICKENS PROVIDES SCORING PUNCH
Sophomore Dorian Pickens is fourth on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and is second on the team with 32 three-pointers. Pickens had a career-best 24 points (on six three-pointers) against Texas. He posted his first career double-double, with 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds against No. 8 Villanova. Pickens also ranks 11th in the Pac-12 in free throw percentage (.759). The sophomore, who is averaging 29.5 minutes this season, averaged 2.1 points in 9.8 minutes last season.
VERHOEVEN A FORCE IN THE PAINT AND FROM DOWNTOWN
Senior center Grant Verhoeven has scored 30 of his 44 points on the season in the last five games. The senior posted a career-best nine points in 17 minutes of action against Arizona State on Jan. 23. Verhoeven earned his second start of the season (also started against Texas) last time out at California, playing a season-long 19 minutes. After not attempting a three-pointer in his first 74 career games, Verhoeven is 2-for-2 from beyond the arc in his last four contests.
Center Grant Verhoeven...
— Stanford Men's Hoops (@stanfordbball) February 9, 2016
First 74 Games: 0 three-point attempts
Last 4 Games: 2-for-2 from downtownhttps://t.co/0O49UmJJb4
MALCOLM ALLEN'S LAST TWO GAMES
Junior Malcolm Allen, who is averaging 11.4 minutes per game, is averaging 16.5 minutes in his last two games. He has 11 points and five steals in those last two contests at Utah and at California.
KIM BELTON TO BE INDUCTED INTO PAC-12 HALL OF HONOR
A standout performer from 1977-80, Kim Belton will be one of 12 former student-athletes to be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor March 12 in Las Vegas. A three-time all-conference honoree, he ranks among the top-seven in both scoring and rebounding in Stanford history. His scoring total of 1,615 ranks seventh all-time while his scoring average of 15.0 ppg is good for 16th. Belton’s 628 field goals rank fourth-best in school history. A prolific shot-blocker as well, Belton’s 86 career blocks are 11th-best in program history. He has enjoyed a successful career as a producer for ESPN/ABC overseeing studio shows and event broadcasts for the network.