SETTING THE SCENE
Stanford hits the road for the first time this season, taking a short trip to county rival Santa Clara. The action tips off at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford went 14-13 (10-10 Pac-12) last season, including three victories over eventual Sweet 16 teams and two over Elite Eight programs. The team is off to a 1-0 start this season.
• Jaiden Delaire was named the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player of the Year after more than doubling his sophomore scoring mark to 13.4 points per game in conference action. He reached double-figure scoring in 15 of the last 19 games in 2020-21.
• Harrison Ingram joined the Cardinal as a consensus top-15 recruit, as Stanford’s second-consecutive five-star addition and McDonald’s All-American. He is one of two top-60 additions, joining Isa Silva.
• The Cardinal has scheduled a challenging non-conference slate led by defending national champion Baylor, beginning a home-and-home series, and a trip to Honolulu for the Diamond Head Classic. Stanford will play three teams this season in the AP preseason top-eight, four in the top-13 and eight that were either in the top-25 or received votes.
• Stanford’s defense was once again one of the best in the Pac-12, as well as nationally, a year ago. After finishing 7th in 2019-20 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency, the Cardinal finished 28th last year. The Cardinal allowed just 50 points in its opener against Tarleton State.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Stanford used a second half surge to power past Tarleton State, earning a 62-50 victory on opening night. Harrison Ingram led the charge with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Jaiden Delaire added 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, including a career-best 9-for-11 mark at the foul line, and Lukas Kisunas matched his career-best with 12 points. Stanford’s three freshmen in Ingram, Isa Silva and Maxime Raynaud dazzled in their first-career appearances for the Cardinal.