SETTING THE SCENE
On the heels of its Pac-12 opening victory, Stanford men’s basketball remains in Santa Cruz to host CSU Bakersfield on Monday, Dec. 21 at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The 6 p.m. tip-off will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford is off to a 4-2 start, including a fourth-place finish in the Maui Invitational (Asheville, N.C.) and wins over NC A&T, CSUN and most recently Arizona. The Cardinal defeated Alabama in the opening round of the tournament, 82-64, which stands as the only Pac-12 win to this point over a ranked opponent, as the Crimson Tide was slotted at No. 25 in the week one USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
• The Cardinal finished 20-12 overall and remained solidly in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth throughout a 2019-20 season shortened by the COVID-19 global outbreak.
• Through six games, Stanford ranks 14th nationally in defensive efficiency (as of Dec. 20) while playing the nation’s 43rd-toughest schedule, per KenPom. Stanford ranked seventh nationally in defensive efficiency a year ago, while boasting the nation’s 16th-ranked scoring defense.
• The Cardinal outlasted Arizona, 78-75, in its conference opener, as four players scored in double figures. Oscar da Silva scored 20 or more for the third straight outing, as Stanford stopped a 20-game win streak in the series by the Wildcats.
• Stanford is one of three power conference programs yet to play at its home facility so far this season, joining DePaul and South Carolina. Both the Blue Demons and Gamecocks open at home Dec. 23.
CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS
In the Pac-12 opener for both teams, Stanford led for all but 83 seconds in a 78-75 win over Arizona. Oscar da Silva led the team with 21 points, while Ziaire Williams and Spencer Jones added three triples apiece. Bryce Wills (13) and Daejon Davis (11) also finished in double figures, as Stanford won against Arizona for the first time since 2009.