Stanford (15-13, 8-8 Pac-12) vs. No. 25 Washington (22-6, 13-2 Pac-12)
Sunday • 1:00 p.m. • Maples Pavilion • Stanford, Calif.
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STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford plays its second game of a three-game homestand to end the regular season when it hosts No. 25 Washington Sunday at 1 p.m. at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal has won the last four meetings between the teams at Maples and three of the last four vs. the Huskies overall.
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford ends the regular season at home for the first time in five seasons. The Cardinal last finished its regular-season slate at home in 2014, against Utah. Since then, Stanford has concluded the regular season three times in the state of Arizona and once in Utah.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES
Stanford is 10-2 at home this season, outscoring its opponent by a combined 155 points (1,001-846) over the 12 games. Stanford is shooting 52.1 percent from the field in 12 games at home this season, as opposed to 41.8 percent in 16 games away from Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal averages 83.4 ppg at home, compared to 73.5 ppg away from The Farm.
JOSH SHARMA: THE PAC-12'S MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Senior Josh Sharma is making a strong case for the Pac-12's Most Improved Player award. In his first three seasons, the center averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds. Last season, he averaged 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds. As a senior, Sharma is averaging 9.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg. He has 272 points this season, after combining for 268 points over his first three seasons. He ranks in the top-12 in the Pac-12 in rebounds, offensive rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage. His 70.8 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 70.8% field goal percentage is the highest in a season in program history. He is currently ahead of second-place John Revelli, who shot 67.1 percent during the 1982-83 season. He leads the Pac-12 by seven percent (Oregon State's Kyler Kelley ranks second at 63.8%). Sharma would lead the nation in FG percentage, however the NCAA only ranks individuals who average 5.0 or more field goals per game. Sharma currently averages 4.1 field goals per game. Sharma's 70.8% is currently fourth-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 77.9% (74-of-95). He is 33-of-39 (84.6%) from the field over his last five games, highlighted by a 10-of-11 performance vs. UCLA, 7-of-7 at ASU and 4-of-4 vs. WSU.
SHARMA SHOOTING 84.6 PERCENT FROM THE FIELD IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Josh Sharma has made 33 of his last 39 field goal attempts over the last five games, shooting 84.6 percent during the span. He was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field against Arizona State, 4-of-4 from the floor against Washington State, and shot 10-of-11 from the field in the win over UCLA on Feb. 16. The center became the 10th player in program history with at least 10 field goal attempts and just one miss or zero misses with his performance against the Bruins.
SEVENTH ON THE CAREER LIST
Sharma owns a career field goal percentage of 56.7%, 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.
SHARMA'S LAST 12 COMPARED TO HIS FIRST 16
Over his last 12 games, Josh Sharma is averaging 12.3 ppg and 8.6 rpg, and is shooting 77.5 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 finalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.4 ppg) and 14th in rebounding (5.8 rpg). In conference play, the forward is fourth in scoring, averaging 18.1 ppg. Okpala scored a career-high 30 points at California.
BREAKING DOWN OKPALA'S PERFORMANCES
• Has increased scoring average by 7.4 ppg from last season
• 14 20-point games is second-most in Pac-12 and is 10 more than last year
• 30 points at Cal is one of 11 30-point games in conference play this year
• Stanford is 4-1 when Okpala scores 23 points or more
• Of the 23 performances of 29+ points in the Pac-12, only Okpala and Robert Franks have achieved the feat three or more times
OKPALA'S IMPACT AS A SOPHOMORE
KZ Okpala leads Stanford in scoring (17.4 ppg) in 33.2 mpg in 26 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.
COACHING FOR LITERACY
Stanford is teaming up with Coaching for Literacy to raise awareness about the problem of illiteracy and provide support to kids. Both Stanford and Washington will wear Coaching for Literacy's green tie as well as a green lapel pin and wrist band during Sunday's game.
AGAINST WASHINGTON
Stanford owns a 77-72 lead in the all-time series with Washington. The Cardinal has won the last four meetings at Maples Pavilion and three of the last four overall. They have split the last two, with both teams winning at home. Stanford defeated Washington, 94-78, at Maples Pavilion last season.
CARDINAL PLAYERS AGAINST WASHINGTON
Twelve active Stanford players have faced Washington previously. KZ Okpala has averaged 13.3 ppg in three games, and Daejon Davis has averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.3 apg in three games against the Huskies.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
No. 25 Washington is Stanford's fourth nationally-ranked opponent this season. Stanford is 1-16 vs. ranked foes in the AP poll in the Jerod Haase era, defeating No. 16 Arizona State (86-77) Jan. 17, 2018. Jerod Haase owns a 3-24 record against ranked teams as a head coach.
NOTABLES FROM THE 48-POINT WIN OVER WSU
• Largest margin of victory in a conference game in 19 years. The Cardinal defeated Cal by 51 (101-50) on Feb. 19, 2000.
• Largest margin of victory overall in 11 years. The Cardinal defeated Harvard by 55 (111-56) on Nov. 9, 2007
• Handed Washington State its worst defeat of the Ernie Kent era (five seasons).
• The 15 points by WSU at the half was the fewest by a Cardinal opponent in a half since Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored 14 on Dec. 29, 2014.
• 13 different members of the Cardinal played in the game and all but two scored. Those two were starters Daejon Davis and Oscar da Silva.
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. Through 28 games, first and second-year players have accounted for 82% of Stanford's minutes (4,591 of 5,627), 80% of Stanford's scoring (1,650 of 2,063) and 77% of Stanford's rebounding (788 of 1,015).
Stanford's starting lineup in seven games has been made up of freshmen and sophomores. Freshmen and sophomores have combined for 119 out of a possible 140 starts through 28 games. 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 fifth in the Pac-12 in assists (4.6 apg) and sixth 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 NINE GAMES
Sophomore Oscar da Silva is averaging 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in the last nine games. He is averaging 9.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg overall.
CORMAC CONNECTS
Freshman Cormac Ryan 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 10 games. He scored a career-high 19 points, thanks to five three-pointers against UCLA at home.
Ryan owns 44 threes on the season, the fourth-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 12 games, and 20 overall.
In Pac-12 play, Wills is averaging 8.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg.. In Stanford's last 11 games, he is averaging 9.6 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 5.0 ppg in 14.2 mpg off the bench in 24 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 11 threes in the last seven games, after registering 12 in the first 21 contests.