STANFORD, Calif. – Following a 12-day break for final exams, Stanford is set to return to action Friday at 6 p.m. PT against Cal State East Bay at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal enters Friday 6-3 overall, coming off an 89-74 setback to No. 4/5 Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. on Dec. 3. Friday marks Stanford's first home game in 16 days.
TRAVIS AMONG RARE COMPANY
Reid Travis is one of just six individuals among the top six conferences (Pac-12, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, SEC and BIG EAST) to rank in the top five of his league in both scoring and rebounding. Travis ranks third in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.7 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (9.4 rpg).
TRAVIS FROM THE LINE
Reid Travis ranks ninth in the nation in free throws attempted (84) and 21st in the country in free throws made (59) as of Dec. 15. Last time out at Kansas, he set Stanford single-game records for free throws made (19) and attempted (22), while also breaking the same free throw marks by a Kansas opponent. While Travis is getting to the charity stripe much more, his free throw percentage has also improved from last year.
TRAVIS' OVERALL IMPACT
After missing the final 22 games last season, Reid Travis has made a strong impact in his return this year. He posted four of his five career double-doubles in the first six games of this season. His team-leading 17.7 ppg ranks third in the Pac-12, and his team-best 9.4 rpg ranks fifth in the conference. He ranks 44th nationally in rebounding.
THE CARDINAL'S 25,000-MILE SEASON-OPENING JOURNEY
Stanford's Dec. 19 game at SMU will complete a 25,000-mile journey from campus and back for Stanford during its first 11 games. The 2016-17 campaign opened in Shanghai, China, more than 6,000 miles from campus. Stanford traveled nearly 3,000 miles to Orlando, Florida, during Thanksgiving week. The trips to Lawrence, Kansas, and Dallas, Texas, are nearly 2,000 miles from Stanford's campus. The four trips will total 56 hours in an airplane for the Cardinal.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
In its first 11 games, Stanford (48 in RPI) will play five teams that are projected to be in the 2017 NCAA Tournament field, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi. All five of those teams - Kansas (5), Saint Mary's (22), Miami (31), Seton Hall (35) and SMU (47) - also rank among ESPN analyst Jay Bilas list of "Top 68 Teams In The Land." Stanford will play only one of these teams, Saint Mary's, on its home floor. Stanford's strength of schedule as of Dec. 14 ranks 30th nationally.
ANOTHER STRONG START
After opening this season 6-3, Stanford has posted at least six wins in its first nine games in six of its last seven seasons. The Cardinal opened the 2011-12 season 8-1 and 2013-14 campaign 7-2. The only time it did not record at least six wins in its first nine games was a 5-4 start last year.
AGAINST CAL STATE EAST BAY
Friday marks the first meeting between Stanford and Cal State East Bay. The contest will serve as an exhibition game for the Pioneers, who will play Thursday evening at Cal Poly Pomona, before traveling to Stanford.
PICKENS ON TARGET FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Junior Dorian Pickens has posted at least one three-pointer in seven of Stanford's nine games, with multiple three-pointers in five contests. After going 0-of-2 from three-point range in the first game of the season vs. Harvard, Pickens posted multiple trifectas in five straight games. He is shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range (14th in Pac-12), with a team-best 15 three-pointers on the year. He registered a season-high four (4-of-6) vs. Colorado State. Pickens connected on three trifectas in the win over Indiana State, including the game-winner with 2.0 seconds left.
PICKENS NAMED TO ADVOCARE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
After averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in three games in the Advocare Invitational, Dorian Pickens was named to the five-member all-tournament team at the conclusion of the event.
BIGS PROVIDE BOOST
Stanford's group of Reid Travis, Michael Humphrey and Grant Verhoeven have provided a strong presence in the paint for the Cardinal through the season's first nine games. The trio has combined to score 283 points (31.4 ppg) and collect 160 rebounds (17.8 rpg) this season. The Harvard game was the first time all three recorded double digits in the scoring column in the same game.
VERHOEVEN AN IMPACT IN THE PAINT
Senior Grant Verhoeven is averaging 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game this season. Along with his stats, Verhoeven has become a force in the paint for each of Stanford's opponents, drawing several charges throughout the year. In the Cardinal's win over Seton Hall, he drew five charges and caused six turnovers by the Pirates overall. While his minutes average is relatively the same, he is averaging 2.9 more points and 1.8 more rebounds this season.
THE JUNIOR CLASS
Stanford's four-member junior class - Reid Travis, Dorian Pickens, Michael Humphrey and Robert Cartwright - has accounted for 65 percent (395-of-608) of the scoring this season. Travis (17.7 ppg), Pickens (13.0 ppg) and Humphrey (7.6 ppg) rank one, two and three, respectively, among Stanford's scoring leaders. Cartwright, who ranks fifth in scoring at 5.7 ppg, is listed as a sophomore after receiving a medical redshirt for the 2015-16 season. The group was part of Stanford's 2014 signing class.
VETERAN GROUP
Boasting one of the most experienced rosters in the Pac-12, four starters - Reid Travis, Michael Humphrey, Marcus Allen, and Christian Sanders - and 10 of the top 11 scorers from last season are back. Including the first nine games of this season, Stanford's roster has combined for 692 appearances.
CARTWRIGHT, SANDERS RUNNING POINT
The duo of sophomore Robert Cartwright and senior Christian Sanders run the point for the Cardinal. Sanders, who has started all nine games, is averaging 3.8 assists in 20.0 minutes per game. Cartwright, who is back on the court after missing all of last season with an arm injury, is averaging 2.7 assists in 23.8 minutes per contest.
