SETTING THE SCENE
Stanford returns to Maples Pavilion for the first of two straight games this week at home, hosting San Jose State on Monday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. on Pac-12 Bay Area.
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 1-1 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, before falling on the road in game two to Santa Clara. Through a pair of outings, Harrison Ingram leads the team with 17.5 points per game, while Jaiden Delaire is also averaging double figures at 10.0 per night. Maxime Raynaud leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, including his first-career double-double against the Broncos Nov. 12, while Michael O’Connell paces the squad with 3.0 assists per game.