SETTING THE SCENE
Stanford continues its three-game start on the road to ACC action with its first trip to the East Coast. The Cardinal will take on Clemson on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. PT on ACC Network.
THE STARTING FIVE
• The Cardinal is off to a 9-3 start with wins over Denver, Cal State Fullerton, Northern Arizona, UC Davis, Norfolk State, Santa Clara, Utah Valley, Merrimack and Cal. Stanford has won nine of its first 12 games for the first time since 2019-20, when it started 15-3.
• Stanford’s roster holds an exciting mix of returning players, transfers and freshmen, led one of the best centers in the country, Maxime Raynaud. The Pac-12 Most Improved Player last season, Raynaud is ninth nationally in scoring at 21.4 points per game and third in rebounding with 11.8 per night. He leads the ACC in scoring and rebounding, and his 10 double-doubles this season pace the nation.
• Three players are averaging double figures, paced by Raynaud but also including Jaylen Blakes (15.3) and Oziyah Sellers (13.8). Both players are posting a career best by a comfortable margin.
• Stanford opened ACC action with an 89-81 victory on the road over California. Blakes and Raynaud had 20 points each, helping Stanford to its first win at Haas since 2021 and its third straight overall in the series.
• 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.
THE FIRST TIME IN CLEMSON
Stanford travels to Clemson for the first meeting in program history and the first ACC matchup against a new conference opponent, as the Cardinal opened ACC play with a win at previous Pac-12 rival California. Stanford is starting conference play with three consecutive road games for the first time since opening the 1982-83 Pac-10 season with three on the road. Stanford's Maxime Raynaud (11.8) and Clemson's Ian Schieffelin (11.6) are in a tight battle for the conference lead in rebounds.