STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford hosts USC on Thursday (Feb. 25) and UCLA on Saturday (Feb. 27) in its final regular-season homestand. Games 15 and 16 of the Pac-12 slate will be the first time the Cardinal will face USC and UCLA. A result of Pac-12 scheduling this season, Stanford will not play at USC for the first time since the 1956-57 campaign. The Cardinal will also be missing a trip to Westwood for the first time since the 1955-56 season. Stanford last faced USC on Feb. 8 of last season, a 70-62 victory at Maples Pavilion.
ROSCO ALLEN’S LAST EIGHT GAMES
• Averaging 19.0 points (15.6 ppg overall) and 7.0 rebounds
• Averaging 11.5 points in the second half alone
• Has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in seven games
• Has recorded four of his seven career 20-point games
• Matched his career-high with 25 points at Colorado and against Oregon
• Recorded 17 three-point field goals
Rosco Allen is averaging 19.0 points per game in his last eight contests #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/TPlDvChuuX
— Stanford Men's Hoops (@stanfordbball) February 22, 2016
PICKENS MOST IMPROVED IN PAC-12
Sophomore Dorian Pickens owns the largest increase in scoring average among returning Pac-12 players (+9.4 ppg).
| Largest Increase In Scoring Among Returning Pac-12 Players | ||||
| Player | School | Points (14-15) | Points (15-16) | Increase |
| Dorian Pickens | Stanford | 2.0 | 11.4 | 9.4 |
| Jakob Poeltl | Utah | 9.1 | 18.1 | 9.0 |
| Rosco Allen | Stanford | 7.3 | 15.6 | 8.3 |
| Kyle Kuzma | Utah | 3.3 | 11.6 | 8.3 |
| Tra Holder | Arizona State | 7.0 | 15.1 | 8.1 |
MOST STEALS IN 19 YEARS
Stanford’s 6.9 steals-per-game average is its highest since the 1996-97 season (6.9 spg). With 173 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 fourth-toughest schedule in the nation, according to ESPN’s Daily RPI on Feb. 23. The Cardinal has played four top-25 teams, with wins over No. 21/22 Utah and No. 11/12 Oregon. Stanford has four RPI top-35 wins already with victories over Oregon (3), Utah (10), California (19) and Oregon State (35) in the RPI rankings on Feb. 23.
AGAINST USC
Stanford holds a 124-123 edge in the all-time series. The Cardinal has won the last four games in the series. USC has not won at Maples Pavilion since Feb. 14, 2013. Stanford’s current roster is a combined 19-4 against USC in their careers. Seniors Rosco Allen, Grant Verhoeven and Christian Sanders are the lone members of the Cardinal to have played in a loss against the Trojans. Stanford is 8-6 against USC in the Johnny Dawkins era.
HUMPHREY’S PERFORMANCE AGAINST WASHINGTON STATE AMONG COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S BEST
Sophomore Michael Humphrey scored a career-high 26 points - the most by a Stanford player this season - at Washington State (Feb. 18). He also collected 10 rebounds, a career-best four steals, and three blocks in a career-long 37 minutes. The performance came after he had been limited to 34 total minutes over the previous three games with a thigh injury. Humphrey is one of only seven players in the last five seasons to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocks in a game.
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford has won at least 10 home games for 23 straight seasons, dating back to 1992-93. The Cardinal has won 13 of its last 17 home games and owns a 102-35 record at Maples Pavilion under Johnny Dawkins.
THE LINEUP
Stanford has presented a different starting lineup in four of its last five games after utilizing the same lineup the previous 12 contests. Senior Rosco Allen is the lone Cardinal to have started all 25 games this season. Senior Grant Verhoeven has started three of the last four contests. Marcus Allen came off the bench for the first time in 18 games and Dorian Pickens came off the bench for the first time in 13 contests against Oregon. In all, Stanford has used nine different lineups in its 25 games.