Stanford (15-14, 8-9 Pac-12) vs. California (7-22, 2-15 Pac-12)
Thursday • 8:00 p.m. • Maples Pavilion • Stanford, Calif.
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REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
For the first time in five seasons Stanford closes its regular season at home, when the Cardinal hosts California Thursday at Maples Pavilion. Stanford has won its last three and eight of its last 11 against the Golden Bears. The Cardinal defeated Cal, 84-81, in Berkeley last month.
HOME SWEET HOME
Thursday marks the final contest of a three-game homestand. The Cardinal last finished its regular-season slate at home in 2014, against Utah. Stanford is 10-3 at home this season, outscoring its opponent by a combined 154 points (1,062-908). Stanford is shooting 51.3 percent from the field in 13 games at home this season, as opposed to 41.8 percent in 16 games away from Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal averages 81.7 ppg at home, compared to 73.5 ppg on the road.
SENIOR SALUTE
Stanford will honor senior center Josh Sharma and manager Ryan Cole prior to Thursday's contest. Sharma, who ranks in the top-10 in the Pac-12 in four categories and is the conference's field goal percentage leader, will be joined by his family in a special ceremony around 7:45 p.m.
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 ppg and 2.3 rpg. Last season, he averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.3 rpg. This year, Sharma is averaging 9.9 ppg and 6.7 rpg. He has 288 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 69.8 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 69.8% 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 more than six percent (Oregon State's Kyler Kelley ranks second at 63.7%). 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 69.8% 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%.
SHARMA SHOOTING 78 PERCENT IN THE LAST SIX GAMES
Josh Sharma has made 39 of his last 50 field goal attempts over the last six games, shooting 78.0 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 56.6%, 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.
JOSH JAMS
Of Josh Sharma's 120 field goals this season, 54 are dunks. He has 47 dunks in the last 24 games.
SHARMA'S LAST 13 COMPARED TO HIS FIRST 16
Over his last 13 games, Josh Sharma is averaging 12.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg, and is shooting 74.7 percent. He averaged 7.8 ppg and 4.9 rpg with a 64.2 field goal percentage in his first 16 contests.
SENIOR AMONG SELECT COMPANY WITH MULTIPLE CONFERENCE HONORS
Josh Sharma, the Pac-12 Player of the Week Dec. 31 and Feb. 18, is the first Stanford player to be recognized with the conference's weekly award multiple times in the same season in nine years.
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 fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.0 ppg) and 15th in rebounding (5.7 rpg). In conference play, the forward is sixth in scoring, averaging 17.3 ppg. Okpala scored a career-high 30 points at California.
BREAKING DOWN OKPALA'S PERFORMANCES
• Has increased scoring average by 7.0 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 (17.0 ppg) in 33.0 mpg in 27 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 CALIFORNIA
In a series that dates back to the 1913-14 season, California holds a 149-123 edge on Stanford. However, the Cardinal has won the last three meetings and eight of the last 11 dating back to February of 2014. Stanford has out-scored Cal by a combined 25 points during the current three-game winning streak. Stanford has won six of the last eight against the Golden Bears at Maples Pavilion. Stanford last hosted California in its regular-season finale during the 2011-12 season, defeating the Bears, 75-70.
CARDINAL PLAYERS AGAINST CALIFORNIA
Thirteen active Stanford players have faced California previously. Sophomores KZ Okpala and Daejon Davis each average around 13.0 ppg.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE BEARS
Sophomore KZ Okpala scored a career-high 30 points and collected eight rebounds, as Stanford beat California 84-81 in Berkeley on Feb. 3. The Cardinal have won three of four against the Bears. Okpala's shot 10-of-17 in the game, finishing with nine of Stanford's final 19 points. Bryce Wills added 16 points and Daejon Davis scored 14 for Stanford. Okpala scored 19 in the second half and made a clinching free throw with 13.3 seconds left. Senior Josh Sharma then drew an offensive foul on the other end to force a turnover and seal the Cardinal victory.
DAVIS DOES IT ALL
Sophomore Daejon Davis is fifth 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 10 GAMES
Sophomore Oscar da Silva is averaging 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in the last 10 games. He is averaging 9.8 ppg and 5.9 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 11 games. He scored a career-high 19 points, thanks to five three-pointers against UCLA at home.
Ryan owns 47 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 13 games, and 21 overall.
In Pac-12 play, Wills is averaging 7.9 ppg. In Stanford's last 12 games, he is averaging 8.9 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 14.6 mpg off the bench in 25 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 13 threes in the last eight games, after registering 12 in the first 21 contests.