STANFORD, Calif. – For the first time all season, Stanford will play a day game at Maples Pavilion when the Cardinal hosts No. 11/12 Oregon at 1 p.m. Saturday. Stanford’s last home game that started before 5 p.m. was March 1, 2015, ironically against Oregon (4 p.m.). Just two (Brooklyn, N.Y.) of the Cardinal’s first 19 games were played during the day (prior to 5 p.m.), while five of the final 10 regular-season games tip off during the day.
ROSCO ALLEN’S LAST FIVE GAMES
Senior Rosco Allen (15.0 ppg overall) is averaging 18.6 ppg in his last five contests. Allen has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in each of the last five games. Four of his five career 20-point games have come in the last nine contests, including a career-high tying 25 at Colorado.
ALLEN’S SECOND-HALF PRODUCTION
Of Rosco Allen’s 93 total points in his last five games, 75 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 California on Feb. 6.
SHEFFIELD IN PAC-12 PLAY
Freshman Marcus Sheffield is averaging 10.1 points in 25.6 minutes per game in 11 Pac-12 contests, after averaging 4.0 points in 11.2 minutes in the Cardinal’s 11 nonconference games. Sheffield was inserted into the starting lineup two games ago. He has started three contests overall this season.
MOST STEALS IN 19 YEARS
Stanford’s 6.8 steals-per-game average is its highest since the 1996-97 season (6.9 spg). With 150 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 6.8 spg average is fourth-best in the Pac-12.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Saturday’s matchup pits the two teams with the toughest schedules in the nation. Stanford has played the second toughest schedule in the nation, while Oregon has played the toughest schedule in the country, according to ESPN’s Daily RPI on Feb. 12.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Cardinal is 1-2 against top-25 teams this season and 12-22 against ranked foes in the Johnny Dawkins era. Stanford defeated No. 21 Utah (70-68) on Jan. 1 and dropped decisions to No. 8/9 Villanova (59-45) on Nov. 27 and No. 12/11 Arizona (71-57) on Jan. 21.
AGAINST OREGON
\Stanford leads the all-time series, 91-50. The Ducks have won two of the last three games in the series, including a 71-58 win over the Cardinal in Eugene on Jan. 10. Prior to the game earlier this season, the two previous games in 2015 and 2014 were decided by just five points (82-80 Stanford win in Eugene and a 73-70 Oregon win in Stanford).
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE DUCKS
Three Cardinal scored in double figures, but Stanford fell short of a second straight road victory in Oregon with a 71-58 defeat to the Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. Michael Humphrey finished with 18 points, Rosco Allen added 13 and Marcus Allen finished with 12.
LAST TIME OUT
Seniors Rosco Allen and Grant Verhoeven combined for 22 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Cardinal as Stanford dropped a 62-50 decision to Oregon State at Maples Pavilion on Thursday night. Rosco Allen guided the Cardinal with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Verhoeven added a career-high 10 points in 22 minutes of action against the Beavers.
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 four games. Sharma, who is averaging 6.5 minutes overall, has averaged nine in his last three games. Walker, who is averaging 9.4 minutes overall, has averaged 12.0 minutes in the last four. Sheffield, who is averaging 17.8 minutes per game overall, has averaged 28.5 minutes in his last four. He has started the Cardinal’s last two games.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Nearly five guys are averaging double figures in the scoring column for the Cardinal. Rosco Allen (15.0), Reid Travis (12.8), Marcus Allen (11.8) and Dorian Pickens (11.2) have averaged double figures throughout the season, while Michael Humphrey (9.5) dipped below his double-digit average after being limited with a thigh injury the last two contests. There has not been a Stanford team with five individuals averaging double figures, dating back to the 1948-49 season.
THE LINEUP
Stanford has presented a different starting lineup in each of its last two games after utilizing the same lineup the previous 12 contests. Freshman Marcus Sheffield has started the last two, while Grant Verhoeven earned the start at center at Cal and Michael Humphrey started in the middle against Oregon State. Senior Rosco Allen is the lone Cardinal to have started all 22 games this season. Marcus Allen has started the last 18 games and Pickens the last 13. Stanford has used eight different lineups in its 22 games.