STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford opens the Pac-12 Conference season at home against Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 30. The Cardinal welcomes the Sun Devils to town for a 6 p.m. PT tip-off at Maples Pavilion.
STANFORD IN CONFERENCE OPENERS
Stanford owns a 20-18 record in conference openers since the 1978-79 campaign (15-7 home, 5-11 away). The Cardinal has won its last two Pac-12 openers, defeating No. 21 Utah last season and Washington State to open the 2015 conference slate. This will be the fourth straight year Stanford has opened the Pac-12 season at home. Stanford last opened the conference schedule with Arizona State on Jan. 2, 2008, dropping a 90-60 decision to the No. 17 Sun Devils at home.
JEROD HAASE IN CONFERENCE OPENERS
Jerod Haase is 2-2 in conference openers as a head coach. He coached UAB to victories over Middle Tennessee to open the Conference-USA slate each of the last two seasons, after dropping conference-opening decisions to Middle Tennessee in 2014 and UCF in 2013.
TRACKING TRAVIS
A look at where junior forward Reid Travis ranks both in the Pac-12 and nationally as of Dec. 28 Tracking Travis
| Category | Average | Pac-12 | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring | 17.8 | 3rd | 107th |
| Rebounding | 9.8 | 4th | 34th |
| Field Goal Percentage | .569 | 8th | 40th |
| Offensive Rebounds | 3.6 | 1st | 26th |
| Double-Doubles | 6 | 3rd | 20th |
| Free Throws Made | 73 | 1st | 19th |
| Free Throws Attempted | 104 | 1st | 7th |
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
In its first 12 games, Stanford has played 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." The Cardinal played only one of these teams, Saint Mary's, on its home floor. Stanford's strength of schedule as of Dec. 28 ranks 18th nationally.
THE 25,000-MILE SEASON-OPENING JOURNEY
The Cardinal is currently spending 14 days at home, its longest stretch of the season, after completing a whirlwind 25,000-mile journey across the globe during its first 11 games. The 2016-17 campaign opened in Shanghai, China on Nov. 11. Following its trip to China, Stanford played games in Orlando, Florida, Lawrence, Kansas and Dallas Texas. The four trips, which included six games, totaled 25,598 miles and more than 56 hours on an airplane.
Travel mileage in first 11 games
| Date | Opponent/Tournament | Location | Miles | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 11 | Harvard | Shanghai, China | 12,592 | 28 |
| Nov. 24-27 | Advocare Invitational | Orlando, Fla. | 5,854 | 12 |
| Dec. 3 | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. | 3,686 | 8 |
| Dec. 19 | SMU | Dallas, Texas | 3,466 | 8 |
| Totals | - | - | 25,598 | 56 |
TRAVIS AMONG RARE COMPANY
Reid Travis is one of five individuals in 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 scoring and rebounding. (as of Dec. 28)
Travis Among Rare Company
| Individual | School | Conference | Scoring (Rank) | Rebounding (Rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yante Maten | Georgia | SEC | 19.8 (2nd) | 8.3 (2nd) |
| Reid Travis | Stanford | Pac-12 | 17.8 (3rd) | 9.8 (4th) |
| Rodney Bullock | Providence | BIG EAST | 19.4 (3rd) | 6.8 (5th) |
| Caleb Swanigan | Purdue | Big Ten | 18.3 (4th) | 12.5 (1st) |
| Jonathan Motley | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 16.0 (5th) | 8.7 (2nd) |
TRAVIS' IMPACT
After missing the final 22 games last season, Reid Travis has made a strong impact in his return this year. He has posted six of his seven career double-doubles in the first 12 games of this season.
Travis' Career Double-Doubles
| Date | Opponent | Minutes | Points | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 17, 2015 | UC Davis | 23 | 10 | 10 |
| Nov. 11, 2016 | Harvard | 31 | 24 | 17 |
| Nov. 17, 2016 | Weber State | 32 | 22 | 15 |
| Nov. 24, 2016 | Miami | 33 | 11 | 10 |
| Nov. 25, 2016 | Indiana State | 31 | 19 | 12 |
| Dec. 16, 2016 | Cal State East Bay | 22 | 24 | 13 |
| Dec. 22, 2016 | Idaho | 35 | 20 | 12 |
TRAVIS FROM THE LINE
Reid Travis ranks seventh in the nation in free throws attempted (104) and 17th in the country in free throws made (73) as of Dec. 27. At Kansas on Dec. 3, 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 From The Line
| Year | Games | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 8 | 24 | 50 | 48.0 |
| 2016-17 | 12 | 73 | 104 | 70.2 |
AGAINST ARIZONA STATE
Stanford leads the all-time series against Arizona State, 48-34. The Cardinal has captured 10 of the last 14 games against the Sun Devils. The schools split the two meetings last year, with each team winning at home. Stanford earned a 75-73 win in January, with ASU posting a 74-64 win in March. Stanford has won five straight at home against Arizona State, last dropping a decision to the Sun Devils at home on Feb. 25, 2010.
PICKENS ON TARGET FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Junior Dorian Pickens has posted at least one three-pointer in 10 games, with multiple three-pointers in six contests. He is shooting 47.1 percent from three-point range (fourth in Pac-12), with a team-best 24 three-pointers. He registered a career-high seven (7-of-10) against Idaho. Pickens connected on the game-winning trifecta against Indiana State with 2.0 seconds left.
CONVERTING FROM THE LINE
Dorian Pickens also ranks eighth in the Pac-12 with a free throw percentage of 82.5 (33-of-40). He converted 14 straight free throws, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 19.
VERHOEVEN AN IMPACT IN THE PAINT
Senior Grant Verhoeven is averaging 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game this season. Verhoeven, who was inserted into the starting lineup three games ago, has also drawn several charges throughout the year. In the win over Seton Hall, he drew five charges and caused six turnovers by the Pirates overall. While his minutes average is less than last season, he is averaging 2.1 more points and 1.4 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 65.6 percent (539-of-822) of the scoring this season. Travis (17.8 ppg), Pickens (13.1 ppg), Humphrey (7.4 ppg) and Cartwright (6.7 ppg) rank one, two, three and four, respectively, among Stanford's scoring leaders. Cartwright 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.
BIGS PROVIDE BOOST
Stanford's group of Reid Travis, Michael Humphrey and Grant Verhoeven have provided a strong presence in the paint through the season's first 12 games. The trio has combined to score 367 points (30.6 ppg) and collect 212 rebounds (17.7 rpg) this season. The Harvard game was the first time all three scored in double figures in the same game.
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 12 games of this season, Stanford's roster has combined for 729 appearances.
CARTWRIGHT, SANDERS RUNNING POINT
The duo of sophomore Robert Cartwright and senior Christian Sanders run the point for the Cardinal. Sanders, who started the first 11 games, ranks seventh in the Pac-12 with an average of 3.6 assists in 18.8 minutes per game. Cartwright, who missed all of last season with an arm injury, started Stanford's last contest. He is averaging 6.7 points and 2.8 assists in 23.5 minutes per contest.