SETTING THE SCENE
The first of two consecutive rivalry games begins in Berkeley, as Stanford men’s basketball travels to Cal on Thursday, Feb. 4. The 6 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPN2.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford is off to an 10-7 start (6-5 Pac-12), with league wins vs. Arizona (twice), Oregon State, Washington, Washington State and UCLA.
• Senior captain Oscar da Silva is stating his case as the Pac-12’s top player through 11 games, averaging 19.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per night in conference play.
• The Cardinal opened conference action with a 78-75 win over Arizona, which snapped a streak of 20 straight defeats in the series. Stanford finished its Wildcat sweep last Thursday in Tucson, 73-64.
• Through 17 games, Stanford ranks 21st nationally in defensive efficiency (per KenPom, as of Feb. 3) 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.
• Michael O’Connell became the second Stanford player this season to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 1. He averaged 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game against Arizona and Arizona State, with a 7 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.
• Stanford was the final power conference program to play at its home facility this season. Prior to 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.
BASKETBALL’S BIG GAME
Stanford and Cal have played a competitive series in the Jerod Haase era, with both teams winning five contests. Cal leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1913-14, but Stanford has a 28-17 advantage since the turn of the Millennium. Stanford beat Cal at home last year to open Pac-12 play.