SETTING THE SCENE
Stanford men’s basketball returns to Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, California for a Thursday evening tilt with Washington. The 6 p.m. tip off will be televised on FS1.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford is off to a 6-3 start (2-1 Pac-12), including four consecutive wins after a fourth-place finish in the Maui Invitational (Asheville, N.C.). 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 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. The team’s second Pac-12 win came Monday, Jan. 4 at Oregon State (81-71).
• Through nine games, Stanford ranks eighth nationally in defensive efficiency (as of Jan. 5) while playing the nation’s 40th-toughest schedule, per KenPom. Stanford ranked seventh nationally in defensive efficiency a year ago, while boasting the nation’s 16th-ranked scoring defense.
• Stanford is the only power conference program yet to play at its home facility this season. The Cardinal’s only two “home” games were 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.
• Stanford swept both Washington programs a year ago, going 4-0 for the second time in three years.
BEAT THE BEAVS
In a game rescheduled to Jan. 4, Stanford rolled to an 81-71 win at Oregon State. Oscar da Silva tallied his second 30-point outing of the season, to go with 10 rebounds, while Jaiden Delaire pitched in season highs of 19 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Michael O’Connell added a hyper-efficient stat line of 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, becoming the first Stanford player with at least 12-7-8 in those categories since Brevin Knight finished with 18-7-10 against Oklahoma on March 14, 1997.