No. 10 seed Stanford (15-15, 8-10 Pac-12) vs. No. 7 seed UCLA (16-15, 9-9 Pac-12)
Wednesday • 6:00 p.m. • T-Mobile Arena • Las Vegas, Nev.
Television: Pac-12 Networks | Radio: Stanford Cardinal Sports Network
Game Notes: Stanford | Live Stats: Pac-12
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PAC-12 TOURNAMENT
Stanford is the No. 10 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament and will face No. 7 seed UCLA Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the opening round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Stanford and UCLA split the regular-season series. The Cardinal defeated the Bruins, 104-80, Feb. 16 at Maples Pavilion. Stanford completed the regular season 15-15 overall and 8-10 in the Pac-12. The Cardinal tied with Arizona and USC for eighth place in the standings. USC captured the No.8 seed, Arizona the No. 9 seed and Stanford the No. 10 seed based on a three-team tiebreaker.
STANFORD IN THE PAC-12 TOURNAMENT
• 17-20 all-time record in the conference tournament
• Defeated Washington (77-66) March 13, 2004 to capture its only conference tournament title
• In 22 conference tournaments, this is Stanford's first time playing as the No. 10 seed
• 1-3 against UCLA in four previous games against the Bruins in the conference tournament
• No. 2 seed Stanford defeated No. 3 seed UCLA (95-86) in the semifinals on March 11, 1989
• No. 2 seed Stanford lost to No. 1 seed UCLA (67-64) in the championship on March 15, 2008
• No. 6 seed Stanford lost to No. 2 seed UCLA (84-59) in the semifinals on March 14, 2014
• No. 5 seed Stanford lost to No. 4 seed UCLA (88-77) in the quarterfinals on March 8, 2018
ALL-PAC-12 PAIR
Sophomore KZ Okpala and senior Josh Sharma earned All-Pac-12 honors in a vote of the league's coaches. Okpala was a First Team selection, while Sharma was an honorable mention pick.
Okpala ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.1 ppg). The sophomore owns 15 20-point games, the second-most in the Pac-12. Okpala also ranks 16th in the conference in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and 11th in defensive rebounds (4.6 drpg). He is fifth in scoring in conference games (17.5 ppg).
Sharma nearly averaged a double-double in conference play at 11.2 ppg and 8.2 rpg. He leads the Pac-12 in field goal percentage overall (68.7%) and in conference action (73.3%). His field goal percentage this season is a Stanford single-season record and the best mark in the Pac-12 in 22 years. Sharma's career field goal percentage of 56.5% is seventh-best in program history. He also ranks fourth in offensive rebounds (4.6 orpg), seventh in blocks (1.3 bpg) and 10th in rebounding (6.9 rpg).
ONE OF THE PAC-12'S MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS
Senior Josh Sharma is one of the Pac-12's most improved players. In his first three seasons, the center averaged 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg. Last season, he averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.3 rpg. This year, Sharma is averaging 10.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg. He has 299 points this season, after combining for 268 points over his first three seasons. Sharma ranks in the top-10 in the Pac-12 in rebounds, offensive rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage. His 68.7 percent field goal percentage not only leads the conference, it is the highest mark in 22 seasons.
SHARMA SINGLE-SEASON FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE LEADER
Senior Josh Sharma's 68.7% field goal percentage is the highest in a season in program history. He is ahead of second-place John Revelli, who shot 67.1 percent during the 1982-83 season. Sharma would be second nationally in field goal percentage, however the NCAA only ranks individuals who average 5.0 or more field goals per game. Sharma currently averages 4.2 field goals per game. Sharma's 68.7% is currently fifth-best in a season in conference history. It's the best mark in 22 years, since UCLA's Jelani McCoy set the conference single-season record at 75.6%.
In Pac-12 play, Sharma is shooting 73.3% (85-of-116), highlighted by a 10-of-11 performance in the last meeting with UCLA, as well as a 7-of-7 performance at ASU and 4-of-4 performance vs. WSU.
SEVENTH ON THE CAREER LIST
Sharma owns a career field goal percentage of 56.6%, which currently ranks seventh in program history. It is the highest FG% by a Stanford player since Josh Owens shot 57.2% from 2007-12.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE IN HIS LAST NINE GAMES
Josh Sharma is averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds over his last nine contests. He has four double-doubles during that span.
JOSH JAMS
Of Josh Sharma's 125 field goals, 55 are dunks. He has 48 dunks in the last 25 games.
SHARMA'S LAST 14 COMPARED TO HIS FIRST 16
Over his last 14 games, Josh Sharma is averaging 12.4 ppg and 9.3 rpg, and is shooting 72.3 percent. He averaged 7.8 ppg and 4.9 rpg with a 64.2 field goal percentage in his first 16 contests.
KZ OKPALA AMONG PAC-12'S BEST
Sophomore KZ Okpala, one of 10 semifinalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.1 ppg) and 16th in rebounding (5.8 rpg). In conference play, the forward is fifth in scoring, averaging 17.5 ppg. Okpala scored a career-high 30 points at California.
BREAKING DOWN OKPALA'S PERFORMANCES
• Has increased scoring average by 7.1 ppg from last season
• 15 20-point games is second-most in Pac-12 and is 11 more than last year
• 30 points at Cal is one of 13 30-point games in conference play this year
• Stanford is 4-1 when Okpala scores 23 points or more
• Of the 25 performances of 29+ points in the Pac-12, only Okpala, Tres Tinkle, Sedrick Barefield and Robert Franks have done it at least 3 times
OKPALA'S IMPACT AS A SOPHOMORE
KZ Okpala leads Stanford in scoring (17.1 ppg) in 33.1 mpg in 28 games this season (missed Washington State and Arizona State games with an injury). In 23 games as a freshman, he averaged 10.0 ppg in 28.5 mpg.
AGAINST UCLA
UCLA leads the all-time series 146-95. Stanford snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bruins with a 104-80 victory at Maples Pavilion Feb. 16.
CARDINAL PLAYERS AGAINST UCLA
Thirteen active Stanford players have faced UCLA previously. Sophomore Daejon Davis is averaging 17.5 ppg and 7.5 apg in four games vs. the Bruins.
NOTABLES FROM THE 24-POINT WIN OVER UCLA ON FEB. 16
• 24-point win was largest over UCLA in 22 years (109-61 Jan. 9, 1997)
• First 100-point game since a 107-99 2OT win vs. UCLA on Jan. 4, 2018
• First 100-point game in regulation since 112-103 loss to BYU (1/11/13)
• First 100-point game in a win in regulation since a 111-66 victory over Texas Tech on Dec. 28, 2008
• 55 2nd-half points, most in a half in conf. play since Feb. 3, 2007
• 55 2nd-half points marked fourth 50+ points in 2nd half this season
• 23 assists, most in a game since March 8, 2017 (23 vs. ASU)
• 23 assists, most in a game (in reg.) since Nov. 18, 2011 (23 vs. UC Davis)
YOUNG SQUAD
Eleven of Stanford's 15 players are in their first or second year playing. Only senior Josh Sharma and juniors Marcus Sheffield, Trevor Stanback and Rodney Herenton have more than two years of playing experience. First and second-year players have accounted for 81% of Stanford's minutes (4,877 of 6,027), 79% of Stanford's scoring (1,730 of 2,183) and 77% of Stanford's rebounding (843 of 1,100) this season.
Freshmen and sophomores have combined for 127 out of a possible 150 starts. Stanford's starting lineup in seven games has been made up of all freshmen and sophomores. The Cardinal is one of only four teams in Division I that have started all freshmen and sophomores this season, joining East Carolina, Incarnate Word and Mount St. Mary's.
DAVIS DOES IT ALL
Sophomore Daejon Davis is fourth in the Pac-12 in assists (4.6 apg) and seventh in steals (1.6 spg). He is third in the conference with 5.3 apg during Pac-12 action. He has posted a season-best 19 points in three games, against Kansas, Eastern Washington and San Francisco. The point guard ranks in the top-20 in program history with 274 career assists.
The sophomore has recorded at least four points, four rebounds, and four assists OR four steals in a game six times this season. Against Colorado, he recorded 16 points, six assists and four rebounds. Davis has posted at least four points, four rebounds, four assists AND four steals in two games this season against UNC Wilmington and Middle Tennessee.
DA SILVA'S LAST 11 GAMES
Sophomore Oscar da Silva is averaging 10.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in the last 11 games. He is averaging 9.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg overall.
13 FOR NUMBER 13
Stanford is 5-1 on the season when Oscar da Silva scores at least 13 points. He matched his career-high with 23 points (17 in the first half) to go along with nine rebounds and a career-best seven assists at Oregon State. Stanford suffered its lone defeat when da Silva met the 13-point threshold at Arizona State. He had 15 points against the Sun Devils.
CORMAC CONNECTS
Freshman Cormac Ryan has 16 threes in his last six games. He has recorded at least four three-pointers in a game in seven contests (6 vs. USC, 5 vs. UCLA and Seattle, 4 vs. North Carolina, Florida, Washington State and Eastern Washington), and has multiple three-point field goals in 12 games. He scored a career-high 19 points, thanks to five three-pointers against UCLA.
Ryan owns 49 threes on the season, the third-most by a freshman in program history. His career-best six threes at USC (all in the second half) were the most threes in a game by a Stanford freshman since Chasson Randle (6) vs. Arizona State on March 7, 2012.
WILLS ONE OF NATION'S YOUNGEST PLAYERS
With a birthdate of October 13, 2000, Bryce Wills is the youngest player in the Pac-12 and one of the youngest in Division I. Wills is the seventh-youngest player in the nation. He has started the last 14 games, and 22 overall.
In Pac-12 play, Wills is averaging 7.6 ppg. In Stanford's last 13 games, he is averaging 8.5 ppg. Wills recorded a career-best 16 points at Cal. The freshman averaged 3.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 11 nonconference games.
SHEFFIELD PROVIDES SPARK
Redshirt junior Marcus Sheffield, who injured his leg in practice a couple days before the 2017-18 regular-season opener and missed the season, is averaging 5.1 ppg in 15.3 mpg off the bench in 26 games this year. He scored a season-best 16 points, shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range in the win over USC at home. Sheffield knocked down three of those threes in the final 7:27.
Sheffield has recorded 14 threes in the last nine games, after registering 12 in the first 21 contests.