SETTING THE SCENE
Stanford continues its five-game homestand on Sunday, Nov. 17 with a 1 p.m. matinee against UC Davis. The contest will air on ACC Network Extra.
THE STARTING FIVE
• The Cardinal is off to a 3-0 start with wins over Denver, Cal State Fullerton and Northern Arizona, each by more than 20 points. The three-game run with each margin over 20 points is the first for the program since 2007. Stanford is one of three in the ACC with a 25-point or better scoring margin to start the year.
• Stanford’s roster holds an exciting mix of returning players, transfers and freshmen, led by All-Pac-12 standout, and one of the best centers in the country, Maxime Raynaud.
• The Pac-12 Most Improved Player last season, Raynaud is leading the ACC in rebounding with 12.3 per game to go with 17.0 points per night. He ranks fourth nationally rebounds per game and is the only power conference player with three double-doubles in the first three games.
• Five players are averaging double figures, paced by Raynaud but also including Oziyah Sellers (15.3), Jaylen Blakes (14.3), Benny Gealer (14.0) and Ryan Agarwal (10.7). Additionally, Gealer leads the ACC with four threes per game and 12 total threes on 66.7% shooting from beyond the arc.
• Kyle Smith joined the Cardinal from Washington State as the reigning Pac-12 Coach of the Year, where he led the Cougars to 25 wins and the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. Smith brought his entire staff from Washington State to the Farm along with program icon Eric Reveno, who was at Oregon State from 2022-24 and was previously on the Cardinal bench from 1997-2006.
TREE > LUMBERJACK
Stanford men’s basketball continued its winning start to the season, downing Northern Arizona, 90-64. Maxime Raynaud led the Cardinal with 22 points and 11 rebounds, giving the senior from Paris his third consecutive double-double to open the campaign. Oziyah Sellers added 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting while Ryan Agarwal pitched in a career-high 15. Jaylen Blakes and Benny Gealer added 13 and 10 points apiece, respectively, while the Cardinal shot 56.1 percent from the floor and 52.2 percent from three.
TAKING POSSESSION
Stanford has maximized possessions on both ends of the floor through three games, with the Cardinal recording 31 steals while committing just 26 turnovers. Stanford holds a plus-six turnover margin and the 17th best steal percentage (5.2) in the country, per KenPom. Additionally, Stanford ranks 30th nationally in offensive rebound percentage, and it has won the rebound battle by an average of 7.7 per game.