SETTING THE SCENE
Remaining at Maples Pavilion for the third time in the last four games, Stanford men’s basketball is set to host Colorado on Thursday, Feb. 11. The 4 p.m. contest will air on ESPNU.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford is off to a 12-7 start (8-5 Pac-12), with league wins vs. Arizona (twice), Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, UCLA and California (twice).
• Senior captain Oscar da Silva is stating his case as the Pac-12’s top player through 13 games, averaging 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per night in conference play.
• The Cardinal earned its second regular season sweep on Saturday vs. California, having also swept Arizona earlier this season. Additionally, Stanford won its only contest this season against UCLA.
• Through 19 games, Stanford ranks 21st nationally in defensive efficiency (per KenPom, as of Feb. 9) while limiting opponents to 40.1 percent shooting from the field this season. Stanford ranked seventh nationally in defensive efficiency a year ago, while boasting the nation’s 16th-ranked scoring defense.
• Stanford was the final power conference program to play at its home facility this season. Prior to last Tuesday’s clash with USC, the Cardinal’s only “home” games had been played in Santa Cruz. The Cardinal is also one of two power conference teams to boast multiple road wins in non-conference play, joining Oklahoma State.
• The team hasn’t missed a beat with players out of the lineup, as Michael O’Connell and Lukas Kisunas have emerged in the starting five. Jaiden Delaire is averaging 16.3 points per game over the last 11 outings.
ELITE COMPANY
Senior captain Oscar da Silva is posting numbers that rival the best in all of college basketball this season. He is the only player nationally averaging at least 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game while shooting better than 55% from the field, and he joins only Luka Garza (Iowa) and Corey Kispert (Gonzaga) - two locks for All-America status - in averaging 19 points and shooting 56% or better from the field.