STANFORD, Calif. - Winners of four of its last five games, Stanford travels to the Grand Canyon state to face Arizona State and No. 18/16 Arizona in the final week of the regular season. The Cardinal opens the desert road swing in Tempe against Arizona State Thursday at 8 p.m. PT at Wells Fargo Arena.
THE CARDINAL PAIR FROM PHOENIX
Sophomores Michael Humphrey and Dorian Pickens grew up in Phoenix, Ariz. and faced each other several times in high school. Now, the pair will be making their second trip back home as teammates when Stanford faces Arizona State Thursday night. Humphrey and Pickens have each played in every game this season. They have combined to start 41 of 54 appearances. During Stanford’s current stretch of four wins in its last five games, the duo has combined to average 28.8 ppg of Stanford’s 72.8 ppg.
| Cardinal Pair from Phoenix | ||||
| Name | Scoring (Overall) | Minutes (Overall) | Scoring (Last 5) | Minutes (Last 5) |
| Dorian Pickens | 12.1 | 28.7 | 16.0 | 27.0 |
| Michael Humphrey | 10.1 | 23.9 | 12.8 | 29.0 |
ROSCO ALLEN'S LAST 10 GAMES
• Averaging 18.8 points (15.7 ppg overall) and 6.6 rebounds
• Averaging 13.4 points in the second half alone
• Led or tied for the team lead in scoring in seven games
• Four of his seven career 20-point games, including career-high 25 vs. Colorado and Oregon
• Recorded 21 three-point field goals
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Stanford’s schedule, the fifth-toughest in the nation in ESPN’s Daily RPI on March 2, includes 14 games against the RPI top-30 teams - the most of any team in the nation on March 2. Stanford has five RPI top-45 wins already with victories over Oregon (4), Utah (8), California (16), Oregon State (30) and USC (45) in the RPI rankings on March 2. The Cardinal has played four top-25 teams in the both the Coaches and Associated Press Poll national polls, with wins over No. 21/22 Utah and No. 11/12 Oregon.
PICKENS MOST IMPROVED IN PAC-12
Sophomore Dorian Pickens owns the largest increase in scoring average among returning Pac-12 players.
| Largest Increase In Scoring Among Returning Pac-12 Players | ||||
| Player | School | Points (14-15) | Points (15-16) | Increase |
| Dorian Pickens | Stanford | 2.0 | 12.1 | 10.1 |
| Jakob Poeltl | Utah | 9.1 | 17.6 | 8.5 |
| Rosco Allen | Stanford | 7.3 | 15.7 | 8.4 |
.@SteveLavin64 on @DoublePennyPick: "When he is on 🔥, let him go to work and torch the nets." pic.twitter.com/VAqKmDGEWF
— Stanford Men's Hoops (@stanfordbball) February 29, 2016
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 186 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.
AGAINST ARIZONA STATE
Stanford leads the all-time series against Arizona State, 48-33. The Cardinal has captured 10 of the last 13 games against the Sun Devils. However, Stanford has lost to ASU in its last two meetings with the Sun Devils in Tempe. Rosco Allen and Christian Sanders are the only current members of the Cardinal roster to have played in a Stanford win in Tempe (62-59 on Feb. 9, 2013).
HUMPHREY'S PERFORMANCE AT WASHINGTON STATE ONE OF 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. 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.
THE LINEUP
Stanford has presented a different starting lineup in four of its last seven games after utilizing the same lineup the previous 12 contests. Senior Rosco Allen is the lone Cardinal to have started all 27 games this season. Senior Grant Verhoeven has started five of the last six contests. Stanford has used nine different lineups in its 27 games.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Five members of the Cardinal are averaging double figures in the scoring column. Its the first time a Stanford team has had five individuals average double figures, dating back to the 1948-49 season. Rosco Allen (15.7), Dorian Pickens (12.1), Marcus Allen (11.1), Michael Humphrey (10.1) and Reid Travis (12.8) have averaged double figures so far. Travis played in the first eight games before missing the remainder of the season.
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford has won at least 10 home games for 23 straight seasons, dating back to 1992-93. The Cardinal completed the 2015-16 regular-season home slate 12-5 and owns a 104-35 record at Maples Pavilion under Johnny Dawkins.
MORE MINUTES... MORE POINTS
The group of 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 49.0 points in 118.6 (29.7 per player) minutes this year.
SHEFFIELD IN PAC-12 PLAY
Freshman Marcus Sheffield is averaging 8.1 points in 21.5 minutes per game in 15 Pac-12 contests, after averaging 4.0 points in 11.2 minutes in the Cardinal’s 11 nonconference games.
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 22 games and has posted multiple three-pointers in 10 of the last 14 games. The senior ranks fifth in scoring in the Pac-12 (17.0 ppg) during conference games and 10th (15.7 ppg) overall.
VERHOEVEN FROM DOWNTOWN
After not attempting a three-pointer in his first 74 career games, senior center Grant Verhoeven is 4-for-6 from beyond the arc in his last 10 contests. He has scored 67 of his 81 points on the season in the last 11 games. The senior, averaging 3.4 ppg overall, is averaging 6.2 ppg in his last six games. He had a career-best 13 in a career-long 32 minutes against No. 11 Oregon.
HUMPHREY STEPPING UP WITH TRAVIS OUT
Stanford opened the season with a starting frontcourt of sophomores Reid Travis and Michael Humphrey. Travis sustained a leg injury and was forced to the sidelines after just eight games. Here is a look at Humphrey’s play in the last 18 games since Travis was forced to the sidelines.
MARCUS ALLEN EXCELLING ON BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT
Junior Marcus Allen ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 ppg. He also ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in steals (1.4). The guard recorded his first double-double of the year with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win over California on Jan. 14.
The two best friends that anyone could have, @MalcolmAllen03 & @MarcusAllen_15.#GoStanfordhttps://t.co/x6BMxFHjkc
— Stanford Athletics (@GoStanford) March 1, 2016
PICKENS PROVIDES SCORING PUNCH
Sophomore Dorian Pickens ranks second on the Cardinal in three-pointers with 47. The guard also ranks second on the roster in scoring at 12.1 ppg. Pickens had 24 points (on six three-pointers) against Texas. He scored a career-high 25 points, including 22 in the first half, against USC.