SETTING THE SCENE
Capping its homestand against the mountain schools, Stanford men’s basketball welcomes Utah to Maples Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 12. The 7 p.m. contest will air on Pac-12 Networks.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford is 12-8 start (8-6 Pac-12) on the season, 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 14 games, averaging 19.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per night in conference play.
• Through 20 games, Stanford ranks 22nd nationally in defensive efficiency (per KenPom, as of Feb. 12) while limiting opponents to 40.5 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.
• The Cardinal fell in Salt Lake City last month, 65-79, but beat Utah at home last season, 70-62.
• Stanford was the final power conference program to play at its home facility this season. Prior to the Feb. 2 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.
• Jaiden Delaire has emerged as one of the most improved players in the Pac-12, averaging 14.1 points per game in conference action. He has reached double-figure scoring in 10 of the last 12 games, including three-straight with 20 or more points from Jan. 28-Feb. 2.
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.