SETTING THE SCENE
It has been 18 days since Stanford last took the floor, but the Cardinal ends its pause on Tuesday, Jan. 11 when No. 5/7 USC visits Maples Pavilion. The action tips off at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
THE OPENING TIP
• Stanford is 8-4 (1-1 Pac-12) on the season, including a 4-1 mark in December. Jaiden Delaire leads the team with 12.3 points per game, while Harrison Ingram is close behind with 12.2 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game. Michael O’Connell paces the squad with 4.0 assists per outing.
• Showcasing the program’s depth and balance, 11 Cardinal players have reached double figures in a game this season. The Cardinal is one of two Pac-12 programs to meet that standard, joining Washington State.
• Stanford is 6-0 at home this season, besting opponents by an average of 11.3 points per game at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal remained unbeaten in November home games since 2018 (12-0), and are off to a 6-0 start at home for the second time in three seasons. The Cardinal is 1-0 in home Pac-12 games after beating Oregon Dec. 12 with a buzzer beater from Jaiden Delaire.
• The Cardinal has outrebounded its opponent in all 12 games this season, posting a plus-9.3 margin on the glass, which is 16th-best nationally. Stanford holds foes to 28.8 rebounds per game, and ranks in the top-20 nationally in offensive rebound (36.1%) and defensive rebound percentage (77.9%) per KenPom.
• Spencer Jones emerged with his best games of the season at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, posting averages of 20 points and six rebounds per game. Jones was named to the All-Tournament Team.
RETURN TO PAC-12 PLAY
Stanford split its early season conference contests, falling in a tight game in Boulder before besting Oregon at home. Jaiden Delaire (13.0), Harrison Ingram (12.0) and Michael O’Connell (11.5) are averaging double figures in Pac-12 games, while Ingram paces the way with 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Stanford shot 46.8 percent from the floor as a team over the two games, 37.5 percent from 3-point range and a league-best 80.0 percent from the free throw line.