Men’s Basketball – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com Breaking news from the Farm since 1892 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:13:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-DailyIcon-CardinalRed.png?w=32 Men’s Basketball – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com 32 32 204779320 Kyle Smith says he ‘fits like a glove’ at Stanford https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/28/kyle-smith-believes-at-stanford/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/28/kyle-smith-believes-at-stanford/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:13:06 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1245017 On Wednesday, Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir introduced Kyle Smith as the new men's basketball coach on the Farm. Smith has been a head coach at three previous stops, but called Stanford his dream job in the introductory press conference.

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In the high-pressure world of basketball coaching, there aren’t many matches made in heaven. A variety of factors like compensation, available positions  and name, image, likeness (NIL) play crucial roles in  determining how teams and coaches are matched. But Stanford’s newly-announced head coach Kyle Smith may have found his ideal pairing with the Cardinal. 

The 54-year old coach is known for his extensive use of analytics, making him one of the most forward-thinking head coaches in all of college basketball. Athletic Director Bernard Muir told the media that many coaches in the basketball community rave about Smith and his teaching.

Despite his extensive use of the transfer portal at previous stops, a luxury he won’t have at Stanford, Smith believes that his philosophy “fits like a glove” on the Farm. 

“I just think like-minded guys that are achievement-oriented are going to succeed,” said Smith. “They’re going to do well.”

In addition to stops at Washington State and the University of San Francisco, Smith started his head coaching career at Columbia University. He believes that coaching at an Ivy League school will help him in his time at Stanford.

“We had to learn how to cast a wide net, a global net, in really identifying the guys that can play, that have the academic credentials” Smith said. “They’re there. You’ve got to work at it.”

Smith is also hoping that Stanford will allow him to obtain more Ivy League graduates from the transfer portal, something he talked about with women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer.

Throughout the press conference, Smith brought up faith and family as the two most important factors inspiring him. Indeed Smith lives out these principles, as his move was in part inspired by the resources that the Stanford Autism center could provide to his 13-year old child Bo, who has the condition.

“To have that opportunity for my family and my son to have more resources, it’s just an honor,” Smith said, his voice filled with emotion.

For Smith, his first task as head coach of the Cardinal is to put together a viable roster for next year’s team. 

“I reached out to guys that are in first, and I’ve also reached out to the guys that are in the portal,” Smith said. “The reason I’m attracted to this place is that people are going to be at Stanford not for NIL. Hopefully it’s for the degree, for the experience, for lifetime relationships, and we’ve got to keep selling that to the players in the program or the people in the portal.”

As Stanford moves into the ACC next year, the men’s basketball team aims to assert themselves against the likes of blue-bloods like Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse. But with the roster in flux, the Cardinal’s prospects for next year remain uncertain. 

However, the Cardinal should have no doubt about the dedication of their leader to the core values of the program.

“[At] Stanford, you can be something different than the rest of the country,” Smith said. “You’ve [just] got to sell it and believe in it.”

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Stanford hires Kyle Smith as new men’s basketball coach https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/25/stanford-hires-kyle-smith-as-new-mens-basketball-coach/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/25/stanford-hires-kyle-smith-as-new-mens-basketball-coach/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:31:08 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1245007 Stanford plans to hire Washington State head coach Kyle Smith to take over the men's basketball program. The hire is contingent on a background check.

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On Monday morning, athletic director Bernard Muir announced Kyle Smith will be taking over as Stanford’s new men’s basketball coach. The hire, which is contingent on a background check, comes just three days after Smith’s Washington State Cougars (25-10, 14-6 Pac-12) lost to No. 2 seed Iowa State in the Round of 32.

Smith accumulated a 94-71 total record at Washington State, including a 49-48 Pac-12 record. Before making his way to Pullman, Smith made stops at the University of San Francisco (USF) and Columbia University. At USF, Smith rattled off three straight 20-win seasons, which helped set the program on an upward trajectory that it still maintains. At Columbia, Smith led the Lions to its winningest season in program history,  tallying 25 wins in the 2015-16 season.

“The opportunity to serve as the head men’s basketball coach at Stanford is a dream come true, and I want to thank Bernard Muir for entrusting me with this opportunity,” Smith said. “From my perspective, Stanford has the resources and reputation to attract the ideal student-athlete who is seeking the character development aspects of what our basketball program will offer.”

Smith is known for his analytics-driven approach to basketball. He helped perfect an algorithm during his time at USF to identify under-recruited players. 

In an interview in 2021, Smith told Sports Illustrated that he “built a career on Moneyball.”

Smith has encountered challenges at every juncture, and will now look to overcome another obstacle: bringing Stanford back to the Big Dance for the first time since 2014.

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Stanford fires Jerod Haase after eight seasons with no NCAA tournament appearances https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/14/stanford-fires-jerod-haase-after-eight-seasons-with-no-ncaa-tournament-appearances/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/14/stanford-fires-jerod-haase-after-eight-seasons-with-no-ncaa-tournament-appearances/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 03:41:07 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1244837 Bernard Muir announced that Stanford head coach Jerod Haase will not return next season.

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Stanford fired men’s basketball head coach Jerod Haase, who leaves with a 126-127 record and zero NCAA tournament appearances over eight seasons on the Farm.

A prolific recruiter, Haase brought three McDonald’s All-Americans to Stanford over the past four years. Still, the team was unable to reach the NCAA tournament under his leadership.

Haase had an overall 67-84 Pac-12 conference record, with his best finish coming in 2017-2018, when he posted an 11-7 record en route to a third place conference finish. The program only made the postseason once during Haase’s tenure, getting to the second round of the NIT in 2018.

Between 1995-2008, the Stanford men’s basketball team made the NCAA tournament 13 out of 14 years. However, since that time, the program has only made the tournament once — in 2014.

Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir will now begin a nationwide search for the 19th men’s basketball coach in Stanford history as the team prepares to move to the ACC. Early favorites to land the role include Washington State’s Kyle Smith and Princeton’s Mitch Henderson. 

“While the on-court results fell short of our expectations, Coach Haase led our men’s basketball program with great integrity and made a deeply positive impact on many Cardinal student-athletes,” Muir said. “As we embark on the search for our next head coach, I wish Jerod and his family all the best in the future.”

This article was corrected to more accurately reflect Haase’s record. The Daily regrets this error.

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Wingin’ It: Roy Yuan https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/01/wingin-it-roy-yuan/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/01/wingin-it-roy-yuan/#respond Fri, 01 Mar 2024 08:50:23 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1243863 Roy Yuan. a walk-on on the men's basketball team, had a standout moment when he hit a dagger three over Bronny James. Get to know Yuan in this exclusive Daily interview.

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Roy Yuan, a walk-on on the men’s basketball team, had a standout moment when he hit a dagger three over Bronny James in Stanford’s game against USC on Feb. 10th. Get to know Yuan in this exclusive Daily interview.

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Trojan takedown: Stanford dominates USC in front of sellout crowd https://stanforddaily.com/2024/02/12/trojan-takedown-stanford-dominates-usc-in-front-of-sellout-crowd/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/02/12/trojan-takedown-stanford-dominates-usc-in-front-of-sellout-crowd/#respond Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:02:45 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1242234 Stanford men's basketball dominated USC on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd. The Cardinal move to 7-6 in conference play with the victory.

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Debuting their new red throwback uniforms, Stanford men’s basketball (12-11, 7-6 Pac-12) dominated USC (9-15, 3-10 Pac-12) last night 99-68 in front of a sold-out Maples crowd.

The uniforms were an ode to the Cardinal teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and current head coach Jerod Haase’s team certainly did them justice. The Cardinal were on fire from beyond the arc, setting a new program record of 19 three-pointers made in a single game — tied for the most by an NCAA team this year — and 12 three-pointers made in a single half. Add to that a stifling team defense, and the Cardinal were able to secure a massive 31-point victory against the Trojans. 

The game started evenly, with both teams trading baskets in the first few possessions. However, after a couple stops on the defensive end, including a block each from graduate guard Michael Jones and freshman guard Kanaan Carlyle, the momentum started to swing towards the Cardinal. Junior forward Maxime Raynaud scored a quick 10 points, propelling Stanford to a 15-14 lead with around 13 minutes left in the first half. 

At this point, the Cardinal defense hit another level, as the Trojans didn’t make another basket for 7 minutes. 

“I thought we were active in the first half,” said Haase. “I thought defensively we were exceptionally active, challenging the shots of the players that we wanted to try and eliminating three point attempts, I thought we were pretty good with that. But the activity is where I really think it started.”

“We all came out with amazing energy, rebounded the ball really hard, everybody knew the scouting report by heart, we were flying around rotations,” said Raynaud  about the team’s defense effort. 

While the Trojans went ice cold, the Cardinal started to get hot. Freshman guard Andrej Stojakovic made 11 points in four shot attempts en route to a career high 20-point performance in which he shot 8-for-12 from the field and 4-for-7 from three. In addition, Carlyle, sophomore guard Benny Gealer and fifth-year forward Spencer Jones all added three pointers of their own. 

No matter what USC tried on defense, be it a man or a zone scheme, Stanford’s ball movement gave them open looks on every possession, and the Cardinal’s hot hand took advantage of those opportunities. Stanford ultimately shot 56.3% from the field and an astonishing 50% from three on 38 attempts on the night. 

“The coaching staff does a really good job of giving us confidence and we pride ourselves on shooting a lot of threes because we’re a really good shooting team,” explained Stojakovic. “Obviously we don’t always want to make it a three point shooting battle, but if that’s the case I think we’re equipped with the right guys to compete with anyone in the country if that comes up.”

Finally, with 6 minutes left in the half, USC freshman guard Isaiah Collier split free throws to end the Trojans’ 7-minute scoring drought. But the Cardinal’s 25-0 run in that time had given them a commanding lead and control of the game. 

At halftime, Stanford was up nearly 30 points, with the score 55-26. 

Coming out after the break, the Cardinal kept their foot on the gas. USC’s scoring started to come back, cutting the lead down to 21, but Stanford was able to keep the Trojans at bay. Carlyle opened up the half by drilling a heavily contested three, while Raynaud hit a tough stepback jumper from the short corner. Raynaud would end the game having missed only one shot, leading the team with 25 points and 9 rebounds and recording his third consecutive 20+ point game. 

“He’s getting better. He loves the game right now, he loves the process of improving. He’s in there working before and after practice,” said Haase on Raynaud’s recent run of form. “I really feel like he’s fallen in love with the process of getting better right now.”

By this point, the sold-out crowd was electric. With every made basket, forced turnover, or rebound, the home fans were roaring with excitement. 

“It was different for sure,” Gealer said, speaking about the crowd. “I mean we loved it. We were all excited to play this one. Just seeing all these Stanford fans supporting, it really felt like a home crowd, the best crowd I’ve played in front of this season. It felt great, the energy [was] contagious.”

The crowd’s impact on the Cardinal was undeniable. After Gealer blocked a USC three point attempt, Maples broke out chants of his name, to which he immediately knocked down his own three pointer at the other end of the floor. Gealer would also have a career night, totalling 14 points and shooting 4-for-6 from three. Then, on the fourth of Spencer Jones’ 5 made threes of the night, Raynaud had his hand up in celebration before the ball even left Jones’ hand. Then, in the dying minutes of the game, fan-favorite graduate guard Roy Yuan checked into the game and immediately drained a three, causing Maples to erupt into the loudest cheers of the night. 

“It was really cool. Our guys fed off that energy. Obviously there was an excitement in the building once we had success. Our team fed off that energy, the crowd fed off that energy as well,” said Haase. 

Although it was an excellent offensive night for the Cardinal, one of the biggest takeaways from the players was the improvement on the defensive end of the floor.

“[This] shows us that we can also be a great defensive team. We’ve always been a great shooting team, now if we can get both together that would be amazing,” said Raynaud.

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Men’s basketball defeats Utah, advances to Pac-12 top three https://stanforddaily.com/2024/01/15/mens-basketball-defeats-utah-advances-to-pac-12-top-three/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/01/15/mens-basketball-defeats-utah-advances-to-pac-12-top-three/#respond Tue, 16 Jan 2024 06:37:17 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1240229 Stanford men's basketball moved to third in the Pac-12 rankings following its second quadrant one win on Sunday, defeating the Utah Utes 79-73.

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Stanford men’s basketball (9-7, 4-2 Pac-12) beat the Utah Utes (12-5, 3-3 Pac-12) in the final minute in Sunday’s game — a victorious return to Maples Pavilion on the heels of an upset win against No. 8 Arizona (12-4, 3-2 Pac-12).

Junior forward Maxime Raynaud earned his fifth double-double this year with 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Senior forward Brandon Angel added 16 points and graduate student guard Michael Jones 15. Senior guards Gabe Madsen and Deivon Smith led on Utah’s side with 16 points each.  

The Cardinal entered with a sluggish start and Smith led Utah to an 8-2 lead in the first three minutes. Utah sought an early substantial lead, but the Cardinal settled in and a 3-pointer from Angel tied the game 10-10 at around 15 minutes.

After the early offensive swing by both teams, the rest of the first half was a back-and-forth battle. Scores in the paint from Raynaud, timely 3-pointers from sophomore guard Benny Gealer and Jones and several trips to the free-throw line by freshman guard Kanaan Carlyle kept the game close.  

The highlight of the first half came from a putback dunk by Carlyle off of a missed layup, which would have tied the game with five minutes remaining in the half. However, the dunk was waved off due to basket interference. A few possessions later, a floater from Angel tied the game at 29-29 with 3:34 left in the half. To close out the half, the Cardinal were able to head into the locker room with a 34-32 lead thanks to an and-1 layup from Raynaud with 5.3 seconds remaining.

Stanford received a major blow early in the second half, after Carlyle was forced to exit the game following a collision with Utah’s Smith. Freshman guard Andrej Stojakovic checked into the game as a result of Carlyle’s injury and immediately rose to the occasion with a 3-pointer that created the largest lead of the game so far, 47-39.

A few minutes later, with 10:51 remaining in the game, Stojakovic drained another 3-pointer to extend Stanford’s lead to 55-43.

It was an upward trajectory for the Cardinal when Carlyle was cleared to re-enter the game and proceeded to nail a 3-pointer.

But Stanford was not able to pull away from Utah, as graduate student guard Cole Bajema drilled a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 60-57 with 5:40 remaining.

Stanford continued its steady play on offense, however, and maintained a slight edge down the stretch. Free throws from Jones iced the game with a 79-73 win for Stanford.

With this crucial conference win for the Cardinal, they moved up to third place — sitting only behind Oregon (13-3, 5-0 Pac-12) and Arizona State (10-6, 4-1 Pac-12). 

The Cardinal continue their homestand with another conference matchup against Washington State (12-5, Pac-12 3-3). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT on Thursday.

Stanford hopes graduate student guard Jared Bynum will return injury for its next game. Head coach Jerod Haase said Bynum’s injury status fluctuates “day-to-day” during the postgame press conference.

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Second-half comeback earns overtime win against Oregon State https://stanforddaily.com/2024/01/12/second-half-comeback-earns-overtime-win-against-oregon-state/ https://stanforddaily.com/2024/01/12/second-half-comeback-earns-overtime-win-against-oregon-state/#respond Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:25:21 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1240147 Stanford men's basketball found itself above .500 in conference play after a gritty overtime win against Oregon State.

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After a disappointing loss last Saturday against USC (8-8, 2-3 Pac-12), Stanford men’s basketball (8-7, 3-2 Pac-12) bounced back with a 88-84 win on the road against Oregon State (9-7, 1-4 Pac-12) on Thursday. With the win, the Cardinal climb to fifth place in the conference and Oregon State falls to the near bottom of the Pac-12 standings, with only UCLA behind them.

The Cardinal were without injured graduate student guard Jared Bynum, whose 6.5 assists per game rank in the top 10 nationally in Division I. Bynum’s injury opened the door for freshman guard Kanaan Carlyle’s first career start. Carlyle earned national player of the week honors after his 28-point performance against Arizona last month.

The Cardinal got off to a scorching start from the 3-point line, making their first four attempts on the way to a 20-14 lead with 12:57 remaining in the first half. Graduate student guard Michael Jones, coming off a career-high 23 points against USC, nailed his first three attempts beyond the arc. 

But the Cardinal were not able to create much separation, as Oregon State sophomores Michael Rataj and KC Ibekwe kept the game close with their 10 combined points. Oregon State dominated inside the paint in the first half, which was capped off by a buzzer beater from star sophomore guard Jordan Pope that propelled Oregon State to a 39-34 halftime lead.

The Cardinal looked to retake the lead after halftime, but a quick 7-0 run from Oregon State left Stanford facing a double-digit deficit. However, timely defensive and offensive plays kept the Cardinal within striking distance, and a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Benny Gealer trimmed the deficit to 5 with 6:40 remaining. Free throws from freshman guard Andrej Stojakovic a minute later made it a single possession game with the score sitting at 60-62. 

Stanford and Oregon State traded baskets, and the Cardinal found themselves down 69-70 with just under two minutes left. The Cardinal finally jumped ahead 71-70 after a layup from fifth-year forward Spencer Jones at the 1:23 mark. Both teams continued taking turns scoring, but Stanford had the final possession with the chance to break the 73-73 tie. Carlyle attempted a floater in the remaining seconds, but it failed to fall, and the contest headed to overtime.

In overtime, with the game knotted at 76-76 and under three minutes left, senior forward Brandon Angel buried a clutch three-pointer. That was followed by a tough fadeaway jumper from Carlyle to give the Cardinal an 81-76 lead with 1:54 remaining. Oregon State proceeded to foul their way back into the game, but the Cardinal were able to ice the game at the free throw line, earning them the impressive 88-84 comeback win. 

Carlyle led the way for the Cardinal with 22 points, while Angel and sophomore center Maxime Raynaud followed with 19 and 18 points respectively. Raynaud also grabbed 13 rebounds, seven more than any other Stanford player. 

Stanford now turns their attention to Sunday’s home matchup against the Utah Utes (12-4, 3-2 Pac-12). Stanford will be heavily tested against a very good Utah team that just handed UCLA their second-largest margin of defeat in program history, 99-44. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on Jan. 14.  

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Cardinal lose to San Diego State in second-half slump https://stanforddaily.com/2023/12/29/cardinal-lose-to-san-diego-state-in-second-half-slump/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/12/29/cardinal-lose-to-san-diego-state-in-second-half-slump/#respond Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:15:37 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1239708 Stanford men's basketball ended non-conference play with a 74-60 loss to San Diego State on Thursday. With the loss, the Cardinal now sit at 5-5 going into conference play.

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Stanford men’s basketball (5-5, 0-0 Pac-12) lost its fifth game of the year to the San Diego State Aztecs (10-2, 0-0 Mountain West) in Viejas Arena Thursday. The Cardinal end their non-conference slate with a combined 0-3 record against Quadrant one and Quadrant two teams in the NCAA’s NET ranking, with all five wins against Quadrant four teams. They will need to rely on a strong conference record to end up in postseason play. 

The Cardinal started the game strong against San Diego State (SDSU) thanks to junior center Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud had 6 points in the early, putting Stanford up 10-5 at the 14:06 mark in the first half. Stanford was also able to draw two early personal fouls on San Diego State star Jaedon Ledee, who consequently played just two minutes in the first half. 

Both teams traded blows with each other throughout the rest of the first half. Lamont Butler and Micah Parrish led the way for SDSU, scoring 10 and 8 points in the first half respectively. On the other side, Stanford’s ball movement challenged SDSU’s usually stingy defense, as the Cardinal were able to get open looks on their dribble-drive opportunities. 

After another Raynaud dunk, the Cardinal went up 26-22 with 4:04 remaining in the half. But from here, SDSU went on a 12-6 run to take a small 2-point lead going into halftime. The Cardinal were within striking distance of getting their first Quadrant one victory.

But the second half started disastrously for Stanford, as they allowed SDSU to go on a 15-3 run to extend their lead to 14. After playing sparingly in the first half, Jaedon LeDee made his presence known in the second half, tallying 6 points within the first six minutes. LeDee finished the game with 16 points, with 14 coming in the second half. Soon, Butler and guard Reese Waters joined Ledee in asserting themselves offensively, scoring 10 and 8 points in the second half respectively. 

Meanwhile, Stanford shot just 36% from the floor in the second half, including 1-11 from the 3-point line. Due to the poor shooting performance, the Cardinal were unable to close the deficit to within single-digits. Raynaud and senior forward Brandon Angel scored just 5 points in the second half, while freshman Kanaan Carlyle put up just 2 points the entire game. 

After the 15-3 run, SDSU cruised to victory on the back of their improved offensive performance and shutdown defense.  The game marks the last of a disappointing non-conference slate for Stanford, where the team was unable to pick up any Quadrant one or two wins. 

Next up, Stanford will take on the Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 0-0 Pac-12) in their first conference match of the year. The Sun Devils are currently two spots above the Cardinal in the NET rankings, and have suffered losses to three of the four Power Five teams they have played thus far.

They have also lost to mid-major San Diego on the road, a team Stanford dominated 88-64. The Cardinal must win this game in order to start conference play strong and to avoid more bad losses. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT on Dec. 29.

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Trouble in paradise: Men’s basketball loses thrice in the Bahamas https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/27/trouble-in-paradise-mens-basketball-loses-thrice-in-the-bahamas/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/27/trouble-in-paradise-mens-basketball-loses-thrice-in-the-bahamas/#respond Mon, 27 Nov 2023 10:12:58 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1238165 Stanford men's basketball had an unsuccessful slate of matches in the Bahamas, as it competed in the Battle 4 Atlantis over Thanksgiving break.

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Stanford (3-4, 0-0 Pac-12) traveled to the Bahamas to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis over Thanksgiving break. With potential contests against various ranked teams from around the nation, including former Stanford player Harrison Ingram’s No. 14 North Carolina (5-1, 0-0 ACC), the Cardinal sought to prove themselves ahead of Stanford’s shift to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

After three days of back-to-back matches, the Cardinal walked away with three straight losses. The matches against No. 20 Arkansas (4-3, 0-0 SEC) and Michigan (4-3, 0-0 Big Ten) were close contests ultimately decided in the final seconds, while the loss against Northern Iowa (2-4, 0-0 MVC) came with a disappointing deficit.

Stanford vs. Arkansas

Day one of the tournament for the Cardinal featured a match against No. 20 Arkansas.

After four collective turnovers on both teams, graduate student guard Jared Bynum drove into a busy lane for a layup, breaking Stanford’s early drought nearly three minutes into the match. This hustle on the floor is not uncommon for the player out of Providence, as he is no stranger to driving into the paint against multiple defenders to make tough shots and passes. He closed the match with 13 points and eight assists.

Fifth-year forward Spencer Jones and senior forward Brandon Angel returned to the court after sitting out due to injuries, and both contributed points early for the Cardinal. The first half featured a lot of back-and-forth between the teams, with the largest margin at just five points. Arkansas led 22-20 at halftime.

The Cardinal opened the second half with a 18-7 run, producing the largest lead of the match — nine points. Bynum and Jones spearheaded the effort with a combined 13 points. Jones was the only player with notable performance at the perimeter, going four for five in the period. Bynum missed the last attempt from the arc in the period, sending the match into overtime with both teams tied at 59 apiece.

Stanford produced two slams in the first overtime to maintain a tight margin with Arkansas’s foul shots. Graduate guard Michael Jones received his fifth foul with just 0:04 left, initiating the Cardinal’s most pivotal sub of the game: Michael Jones for sophomore guard Benny Gealer. Gealer weaved through a tight transition defense into the frontcourt and lobbed the ball from deep for a buzzer beater, sending the match into double overtime at 66-all. These were Gealer’s only points of the night but the most important for the team.

A collection of trips to the free-throw line kept the Cardinal in play in the second overtime. But with every set of made free-throws came a jumper or layup from Arkansas in response. Down three with 0:07 left in the game, Stanford missed two attempts at the perimeter and faced its first loss of the tournament, 74-77.

Spencer Jones led the night in scoring with 27 points, shooting 50% from both the field and the arc. The Cardinal’s anticipated point-makers had a less productive night: junior forward Maxime Raynaud, Michael Jones and freshman guard Andrej Stojakovic combined for only 20 points. 

Stanford vs. Michigan

Stanford returned to the court Thursday for another close match against Michigan, who lost to Memphis (5-1, 0-0 AAC) on Wednesday. This was the sixth time the Cardinal competed against the Wolverines in program history.

Stanford opened the match with a 12-2 run in the first five minutes. Both Angel and Spencer Jones contributed to this run, returning to the starting lineup for the first time together since Nov. 10 against Sac State (2-5, 0-0 Big Sky). Michael Jones followed with back-to-back contested threes, sparing Stanford in moments of offensive hesitation. He ended the game with 16 points, going 4-7 from the perimeter and forcing three turnovers.

The Cardinal demonstrated good team basketball, with 20 of 30 field goals assisted by various players — 12 of 17 in the first half and 8 of 13 in the second. Still, Michigan led by one at halftime, 44-45.

Michael Jones maintained intensity with a solo 8-0 run for Stanford to open the second half, all points assisted by Bynum. But Michigan responded with seven points to tie it up at 52-all early in the half. The Wolverines pushed ahead with a 9-2 run, producing a 13-point lead. Stanford caught up to the leading opponent late in the half with three from Bynum.

However, Bynum’s solo efforts were no match for the Wolverines’ jumpers and foul shots. Michigan handed Stanford a loss in another close contest, 83-78.

Despite the loss, Thursday was a well-rounded night of scoring for Stanford’s starters. Bynum had a stellar night, achieving a career-high 22 points and going five for eight from the arc. He also contributed six assists, a steal and a block.

Raynaud and Angel were the remaining players to score in the doubles, with 14 and 11 respectively.

Stanford vs. Northern Iowa

Stanford’s final chance at a win came and went against Northern Iowa on Friday. The Panthers were swept by North Carolina and lost by two to Texas Tech (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) previously in the tournament.

The Cardinal’s production on both sides faltered from the get-go. The lack of response on offense to various runs from Northern Iowa combined with the inability to keep the Panthers at bay on defense made for an unsuccessful night for the Cardinal. Northern Iowa held a large lead heading into halftime, 49-27.

Stanford found zero luck closing the gap, as Northern Iowa maintained a 19-point lead or greater the entire half. In the end, the Cardinal faced a brutal defeat in its final match in the Bahamas, 51-73.

Outside of close contests with a one-to-two-possessions difference in scoring, Stanford hasn’t seen such a low-scoring, large deficit since its loss 43-66 at then-No. 7 UCLA on Jan. 29, 2022. Even then, it was a top-10 opponent on their home-turf, so such an outcome can be expected.

Conclusion

Overall, the Battle 4 Atlantis was a disappointing run for the Cardinal, who took last place in the tournament. Their consistency has been questionable, from Spencer Jones being a wild card for the lineup game after game to scorers having incredible production one night and nothing to show for it the next.

However, some good came from the trip: Bynum’s 19 assists over the three matches brought his tally in the season to 48. He currently leads the country in total assists this season and is second in assists per game.

Looking ahead, Stanford has three non-conference games remaining — San Diego (5-2, 0-0 WCC), Idaho (3-3, 0-0 Big Sky) and San Diego State (5-1, 0-0 Mountain West) — before the Pac-12 schedule is in full swing. The team returns home to face San Diego on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. PT.

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Cardinal soar over Eagles at new season high https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/23/cardinal-soar-over-eagles-at-new-season-high/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/23/cardinal-soar-over-eagles-at-new-season-high/#respond Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:18:13 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1238005 Stanford men's basketball's 95 points against Eastern Washington showed promising intensity ahead of its first ranked matchup.

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Stanford men’s basketball (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12) scored a season-high 95 points in its victory against Eastern Washington (0-4, 0-0 Big Sky) Friday evening, after a Tuesday loss to Santa Clara (5-0, 0-0 WCC). Despite two key players — senior forward Brandon Angel and fifth-year forward Spencer Jones — sitting out due to hand and wrist injuries, the Cardinal upheld a strong front.

“The guys that are coming in off the bench, we have a great deal of confidence in,” said head coach Jerod Haase about the new lineup and sub pattern with Angel and Jones out. “We don’t want them to be passive and just fill in for a couple minutes while the other guys are out. We want them to be aggressive, and we know that they’re good players.”

The first half started with an early lead for Eastern Washington. Stanford’s defense struggled, allowing the Eagles to go six-for-nine from the arc within the first 11 minutes of the game. The Cardinal offense was quick to respond, with a three-pointer from sophomore guard Ryan Agarwal initiating a 16-0 run. Notably featured was a dunk from graduate forward James Keefe, as well as threes from sophomore guard Benny Gealer and graduate guard Jared Bynum. Stanford went seven-for-10 from deep in the remaining nine minutes of the period. 

Stanford’s guards continued to dominate from the perimeter as the clock ran down. One three from Gealer and graduate student Michael Jones each, sandwiched between two from freshman Andrej Stojakovic, gave the Cardinal a strong lead heading into halftime: 47-35.

“It’s been amazing ever since the start of the summer, having all those guys that have played so many college games that have been here for a couple years and picking their brains every day,” Stojakovic said.

Stanford amped its offense up even more in the second half — shooting 59.26% FG and 50% at the three-point line. Maples erupted in cheers for Stojakovic’s dunk, and threes from a number of players kept the Cardinal fans on their feet. A great assist by Bynum set up junior forward Maxime Raynaud for a dunk, pushing Stanford to a 20-point lead. 

The last minute of the game featured action from less frequently seen players: redshirt freshman forward Jaylen Thompson and graduate guard Roy Yuan. Thompson made a layup with just 16 seconds on the clock, and Yuan followed with a buzzer beater from deep. The Cardinal came out on top with a final score of 95-70. 

The Cardinal roster showcased their talent against Eastern Washington. Even without its central players, the team executed its highest scoring win since 2019, with four players contributing double-digit scores. Stojakovic led the team, matching his 18-point career high. Next in line was Michael Jones with 15 points, followed by Raynaud with 14 points. Gealer scored a career-high of 13 points, going four-for-five from deep. 

Bynum matched his season-high of 10 assists, and Keefe saw a career-high of 12 rebounds.

“A key part of our identity that we’re trying to build as a team is that it doesn’t matter how the game looks,” Keefe said. “It doesn’t matter what the crowd is in Maples. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is — we’re trying to bring the same level of intensity in the fight every night. And I think we did that tonight.”

Stanford is set to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas this Thanksgiving break, with a first round match against No. 14 Arkansas on Wednesday.

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Men’s basketball swats Sac State Hornets 91-73 https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/12/mens-basketball-swats-sac-state-hornets-91-73/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/12/mens-basketball-swats-sac-state-hornets-91-73/#respond Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:51 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1236744 The Stanford men's basketball team remained undefeated, now 2-0, after a victory against Sacramento State on Friday.

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Stanford men’s basketball (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) left Maples Pavilion with a 91-73 win against Sacramento State (0-2, 0-0 Big Sky) on Friday evening. A game of incredible plays hinted at a potentially strong season for the team. 

The Cardinal won tip-off to start, and their first make of the game — shot from the perimeter — came from none other than fifth-year forward Spencer Jones. After a rough performance at 3 against Cal State Northridge, Jones was back in his former stride as an elite perimeter shooter, shooting 3 of 4 from deep for the game.

Despite maintaining just a small lead over the Hornets through the half, the Cardinal showed how potent their offense could be. 

Sac State attempted to close the gap, but a steal from sophomore guard Benny Gealer stole the crowd’s attention as he ran the court for a layup — the first fast-break points of the game.

Shots by Jones, freshman guard Andrej Stojaković, graduate student guard Jared Bynum and graduate student forward James Keefe kept the score in favor of the Cardinal. 

With four minutes left in the half, the game saw its first dunk by senior forward Brandon Angel. The Card continued to stay ahead to the buzzer, and a dunk by junior forward Maxime Raynaud scored the final points for Stanford. The first half ended with a 47-39 lead for Stanford.

The second half saw stronger performance from Stanford, with 56.25% shooting from the field. Bynum continued dominating on the court, leading the team by initiating the offense.

“As a point guard, [I’m] always pushing the pace, always making the reads, always finding the right guys. The coaches give me a lot of confidence when I got the ball in my hands to play free and make the decisions.” Bynum said.

Early free throws by Jones continued the Card’s 100 percentage. The team maintained a double-digit lead over Sac State with shots by graduate student guard Michael Jones, Spencer Jones and Stojaković. A rebound from Gealer set up Keefe for the Cardinal’s third dunk of the game.

A steal by sophomore guard Ryan Agarwal and a layup with 7 minutes left in the game added another two to the Card’s lead. A dunk by Raynaud and a campaign of layups led by Angel shut down the Hornet’s attempts to close the gap. And at 88-73, with just seven seconds left in the game, senior forward Max Murrell drained a three-pointer to seal another win for Stanford: 91-73.

Overall, the team’s 55.7% from the field over Sac State’s 38.2% on a near-equal number of shot attempts is what led them to victory.

“We had 56 points in the paint … we were getting to the basket,” said coach Jerod Haase. “Our mindset was good.”

Stanford set the single game program record for assist to turnover ratio at 22:4, beating their previous best from 2013. Cardinal players also set a number of individual records against Sac State: Gealer had career bests of six assists, eight points and five rebounds, while Bynum met his career high with 10 assists and just one turnover. 

Angel led the Card in scoring with 18 points, followed by Spencer Jones with 15 points and Raynaud’s 14. Stojakovic increased his contributions from game one, with 12 points on 55% from the field and 2 of 4 from the perimeter.

The Cardinal looks to end their final season in the Pac-12 strong. “It’s the last year of the conference and we want to finish the conference strong, but it’s one game at a time and that’s our goal,” Angel said.

Stanford men’s basketball looks to continue its win streak on Tuesday at a home game against Santa Clara. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. PT.

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Can new faces change old fortunes? https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/06/can-new-faces-change-old-fortunes/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/06/can-new-faces-change-old-fortunes/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:36:36 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1235683 A highly anticipated Stanford Men's Basketball team returns to Maples November 6th. After a disappointing run last season, head coach Jerod Haase looks to his slate of new talent and returners to secure the program's first NCAA tournament run in 9 years.

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Things might finally be looking up for Stanford men’s basketball.

Coming off a disappointing 14-19 (7-13 Pac 12, 10th) season — where Stanford missed the NCAA Tournament for the eighth year in a row — the Cardinal were looking for any spark that might change their fortunes. 

And they may have found just that. 

Despite the underwhelming season, head coach Jerod Haase secured a massive recruiting class, signing McDonald’s All-American Andrej Stojaković and four-star recruit and former USA Basketball youth team player Kanaan Carlyle. This was the first time Stanford landed two top-25 recruits since the Lopez brothers in 2006. 

But the Pac-12 is as competitive as it’s ever been, with old powerhouses retooling their rosters and a new slate of up-and-coming challengers. The Cardinal will have to dig out some big-time wins if they want to rise to the top of the final Pac-12 basketball season. 

Roster

The most exciting changes to the Cardinal’s roster are the additions of Stojaković and Carlyle.

Stojaković, the son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojaković, is a consensus four-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American. The 6’7″ shot-maker is the third-ranked player in California and the fourth-ranked small forward in the country. Like his father, Stojaković is a multi-level scorer and comfortable both in the mid-range and beyond the arc. He’s also big for his position and highly skilled, making him a great asset for explosive scoring and defensive versatility. 

Carlyle is also a four-star recruit and the fifth-ranked combo guard in the country. Playing his senior season at Overtime Elite, the 6’3″ two-way guard impressed scouts with his three-level scoring and competitiveness, which will allow him to make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. 

Haase was also able to score in the transfer portal, landing graduate point guard Jared Bynum from Providence. Bynum averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his career at Providence, earning All-Big East second team and Big East Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2022. The transfer adds a proven veteran at a position that Stanford has lacked consistency in over recent years. 

However, the big question is whether these additions can fill the shoes vacated by star forward Harrison Ingram, who transferred to UNC in the offseason. The former five-star recruit and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year had been one of the Cardinal’s best players, starting almost every game last season and leading the team in average assists (3.7) and coming in second in points (10.5) and rebounds (5.8). Replacing his production will be tough, but Stanford must find a way if they want to improve on last season’s results.

Despite these changes, much of Stanford’s core remains intact. Fifth-year forward Spencer Jones returns off of a Second Team All-Pac-12 campaign last season, where he averaged 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists on an efficient 43.3% from the field and 38.9% from three. Jones also led the team in minutes played (29) as well as steals (1.2) and blocks (0.9). In his final season of eligibility, Jones is expected to be the face of the team and carry much of the load again for the Cardinal. 

Other important returners include Academic All-American senior forward Brandon Angel and sharpshooting graduate guard Michael Jones. Angel started almost every game last year, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on an impressive 51.6% from the field, 39% from three and 79.2% from the stripe. Jones was a spark plug off the bench — he was second on the team in 3-point attempts with 4.1 per game. 

Junior center Maxime Raynaud is also a player to watch. The 7’1″ stretch big showed his great potential last season, averaging 8.8 points and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds while shooting 54% from the field. Stanford fans are expecting Raynaud to take another step forward this season, which could see him dominating the paint for the Cardinal while also being a threat from three. 

Schedule

Stanford will start the season at home with four matchups against mid-major teams before traveling to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis. There, they’ll have their first big test of the season against No. 14 Arkansas before facing either Memphis or Michigan in their second game and potentially No. 19 UNC, No. 22 Villanova or Texas Tech in their third. This will be a huge challenge for the Cardinal, but big wins against ranked opponents early on would be massive in setting the tone for the rest of the season, and it would give the Cardinal a boost when pushing for the tournament. 

After returning home, the Cardinal will face two more mid-major opponents before ending the non-conference schedule away against No. 17 San Diego State. Playing last year’s national championship runner-up is another huge opportunity for a Q1 win and would help the Cardinal with final tweaks before heading into Pac-12 play. 

Even if the Cardinal can make it out of the non-conference schedule relatively unscathed, their conference schedule will be even more difficult. Multiple teams in the Pac-12 are expected to make deep tournament runs. No. 12 Arizona is projected to be the best team in the conference again; they’ll see the Cardinal twice this year. Despite losing four starters from their Pac-12 championship squad from last year, the Wildcats were able to keep guard Kylan Boswell and center Oumar Ballo, while also adding guard Caleb Love from UNC, who was a pivotal piece of the Tar Heels’ run to the 2022 national championship game. 

Stanford will also face both Los Angeles teams twice. No. 21 USC fields arguably the best starting backcourt duo in the country with freshman guard (and No. 2 overall recruit) Isaiah Collier and guard Boogie Ellis. Meanwhile, UCLA brought in seven freshmen and returned sophomore forward Adem Bona, last year’s Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. 

Add to that a Colorado team with one of its best rosters in recent history and an Oregon team trending upwards with multiple highly-rated recruits, and the Pac-12 could easily see three-to-four teams still dancing late in March. 

Having such a strong conference can be both a blessing and a curse. While each game is that much more difficult, a few big conference wins and a Pac-12 tournament run could see the Cardinal sneaking into the NCAA tournament. That’s definitely easier said than done, but Stanford will have plenty of opportunities to prove itself throughout the season. 

Keys to success

If Stanford is to escape its recent woes and break its NCAA tournament drought, it will be because of a few key factors.

Elite shooting

Stanford’s greatest strength, by far, is its shooting. The Cardinal returned three qualified players who shot over 40% from three in the conference: senior forward Max Murrell, Spencer Jones and Michael Jones. Angel and sophomore guard Ryan Agarwal also did the same on fewer attempts. Add a sharpshooting forward Stojaković and three-level scoring Carlyle to the list, and Stanford has the capacity to be one of the best shooting teams in the nation. 

While this does make the Cardinal susceptible to the inevitable poor shooting game, having an abundance of skilled shooters makes it less likely that the whole team is cold on any given night. But on a good night, when multiple players are hot, it will be nearly impossible for opponents to cover them all. 

Improved guard play

To take advantage of its weapons, Stanford’s guards must do a better job at facilitating the offense. Recent Cardinal teams have struggled at this position, with inconsistent guard play hindering offensive efficiency. However, the addition of Bynum and Carlyle aim to change that. Bynum’s veteran presence and proven experience will allow him to control the offense and distribute the ball, while the constant threat of Carlyle’s scoring can open up the game for his teammates. Stanford will be relying on these two to create open looks for its knockdown shooters, especially after Ingram’s departure. 

Player development

On top of the new additions, Stanford will be hoping to see significant development in some of its returning players, including Agarwal and Raynaud. Agarwal showed flashes of exceptional shooting last season and will hope to maintain his efficiency with more looks this season. Raynaud will also see an expanded role, given Stanford’s poor depth at center. The Cardinal will be looking for him to take another big leap this season and anchor the team on both sides of the ball. 

Replacing Ingram’s production

It was a massive blow to the program when Ingram left. While the Cardinal added new pieces, it’s never easy to replace one of your stars. Ingram’s impact, not just on scoring but also on the glass, as a ball-handler and as a playmaker cannot be overstated. Stanford’s success this season is highly dependent on whether the additions, as well as growth in the returners, can replace the role Ingram played. 

Verdict

This year’s Stanford team pairs youth and developing players with veteran experience, a combination that could make some noise this season. If they can improve on their consistency and play up to their potential, the Cardinal can compete with the best in the conference. But it remains to be seen if it is enough to see the Cardinal in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.

Stanford opens up the 2023-24 season on Monday against CSUN. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. PT at Maples Pavilion.

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Texan Ties: Ryan Agarwal and Anthony Black hold a special bond https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/03/texan-ties-ryan-agarwal-and-anthony-black-hold-a-special-bond/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/11/03/texan-ties-ryan-agarwal-and-anthony-black-hold-a-special-bond/#respond Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:00:16 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1235482 Ryan Agarwal and Anthony Black aren't your typical high school teammates. The two 6'7" players hold a special bond that extends as far back as middle school.

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It is rare to see young basketball players take inspiration from someone they grew up with. But for sophomore forward Ryan Agarwal, it is not difficult to find inspiration among friends — his childhood friend, Anthony Black, was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. 

Black “inspired me to know it’s possible [to reach the NBA],” Agarwal said. “I’m gonna meet him [there] one day for sure.”

Since middle school, the two have shared the same court, participating together on school and AAU teams. 

But the two first encountered each other as competitors, going against each other in AAU basketball when they were in elementary school in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

“We used to play against each other in AAU all the time,” Agarwal said. “His team was way better than my team and they would always crush us. I kind of knew him through that but we weren’t close at all.”

After Agarwal moved to Black’s school district, the two went to middle school together and played together on the school team. It was at this point when the relationship between both players grew stronger. 

“I feel like when we really got close was seventh grade,” Agarwal said. “I moved over to his AAU team after mine disbanded. We started hooping together in school and AAU for the next four to five years.”

Through playing together on 3D Empire, a Dallas-based AAU program, and with the guidance of head coach Shawn Ward, the two built an impeccable chemistry on the court.

“It was really easy to play with Ryan because of how well he shot the ball and how well I pass the ball,” Black said. “We would find each other for lobs, backdoor cuts as we got older. It’s all the simple stuff you get from having good chemistry.”

Clint Schnell, Agarwal and Black’s coach at Coppell High School, noted that both shared a competitive drive that also brought them together.

“What made Ryan and Anthony gel so well on the court was their competitive nature,” wrote Schnell in an email. “They each had a strong desire to win and do what it takes to be successful and that commonality between them was a strong bond.”

Off-the-court, the connection between the two six-foot-seven competitors grew as a result of the time spent together at practices.

“A lot of athletes are different people on-the-court to off-the-court, but Anthony’s pretty much the same guy,” Agarwal said. “He’s a really chill guy, not taking anything too seriously, and a great teammate.”

While the two basketball players shared trips to Vegas and other exciting experiences, both teammates cited car rides as a time where they got to bond the most. 

“We used to ride to school together,” Black said. “So those rides to the high school games or grabbing something to eat before the game were really enjoyable.” 

“Our AAU practices were originally 20 minutes from where me and Anthony lived, but because of COVID we had to change gyms so it became a 45 minute ride,” Agarwal said. “Anthony, me and two of our teammates would carpool to practice and we’d get home pretty late. But those drives were the most fun drives because knowing we’re done with practice we were just chilling. We would always stop by the 7/11 gas station and listen to music.”

As both players progressed through high school, each saw a quick rise in recognition from Division I coaches as they became upperclassmen. Through the trials of navigating recruiting, both Agarwal and Black appreciated having each other as they went through the process. 

“It was amazing going from being a skinny freshman in ninth grade and then having coaches come watch us at practices,” Agarwal said. “It was good because in some ways, we both got exposure from each other. A lot of coaches that came to watch him started recruiting me because they started seeing me when they came to recruit me. In the same way, coaches that came to see me started recruiting AB [Anthony Black] as well.”

According to Black, the two high-school teammates went on a few college visits together, including a visit to in-state school Texas A&M. 

“We kind of both learned the recruiting process from each other,” Black said. “It was good having one of my best friends and teammates go through the same thing as me.”

Eventually, both players went their separate paths for college, with Agarwal choosing Stanford and Black suiting up for the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Last season, Agarwal shot an efficient 50% from the field and 45.7% from the three-point line while appearing in 17 games. 

Meanwhile, Black averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for Arkansas, helping the Razorbacks advance to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season.

Following his standout season, Black declared for the NBA draft and was later selected with the No. 6 overall pick by the Orlando Magic. It came as no surprise that Agarwal was glued to the TV, as the NBA commissioner called out Black’s name. 

“It’s something you dream of,” Agarwal said. “I was watching with my family and it was a proud moment to watch him make it [to the next level]. Especially being able to watch someone that you grew up with and see how much work they put in to do it.”

While being an NBA player or a student-athlete at Stanford doesn’t leave much free time, the two still stay in contact when they can.

“We were watching the Cowboys game and talking,” Black said. “We talked about hoops, Stanford, the Magic and some football. So it’s always good to stay in contact with a guy like that.”

“It’s definitely hard to keep staying in touch, but I texted him the other day and he let me know about the [NBA] lifestyle and how it’s like living on his own,” Agarwal said. “We both know we’re super busy, but it’s one of those friendships where you see each other and it’s right back where we left off.”

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Inside the Booth: Troy Clardy’s rise to Stanford’s play-by-play announcer https://stanforddaily.com/2023/10/23/inside-the-booth-troy-clardys-rise-to-stanfords-play-by-play-announcer/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/10/23/inside-the-booth-troy-clardys-rise-to-stanfords-play-by-play-announcer/#respond Mon, 23 Oct 2023 11:52:09 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1234139 Troy Clardy ’97 is a familar name to Stanford sports fans; the veteran sports broadcaster has covered the Cardinal for most of his media career. Now he has the job he's wanted all along: Stanford's play-by-play announcer.

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Most people start preparing for a job after they are officially offered a position. 

But not Stanford alum Troy Clardy ’97, who was prepared to call the Cardinal’s first football game against Hawaii this season before he was offered play-by-play announcer role for Stanford football and men’s basketball. 

“I started prepping for the season-opener just in case I got the gig,” Clardy said. “Preparation is a never-ending process.”

Clardy received a phone call in August and was formally offered the role. 

“Stanford’s a special place, and a lot went into having that degree on my wall,” Clardy said. “Getting that phone call to get the offer for the job was truly special and a culmination of a dream come true.”

Athletics Director Bernard Muir told Stanford Athletics that “Troy has always been a loyal ambassador for Stanford Athletics and is uniquely positioned to share the stories of our student-athletes and programs.”

For those who have listened to Clardy, his excitement and high energy are among his most well-known attributes. In-person, it would be difficult to find Clardy without a cheerful expression on his face. But behind the veteran sportscaster’s beaming smile is a resolute individual, who has earned his stripes in the cutthroat industry of sports broadcasting.

To long-time fans of Stanford athletics, Clardy is a familiar name. The broadcaster spent the better part of three decades providing consistent coverage for Stanford men’s and women’s sports, including stints at San Francisco radio stations KTCT and KTRB.

He also contributed with play-by-play commentary for the Pac-12 network and hosted TreeCast since 2015, a podcast which includes commentary, analysis and exclusive interviews for Stanford sports fans.

His deep-rooted connection to Stanford sports extends back to his undergraduate years, where he got his start in sports broadcasting calling football and baseball games for KZSU, Stanford’s FM radio station. Thanks to the performance of both the football and baseball teams, Clardy was able to provide commentary on significant games even as a young adult.

“By the time I graduated I had done a Liberty Bowl, a Sun Bowl and a College World Series,” Clardy said. “There are a lot of folks who can be in this industry and not be fortunate enough to call events on that scale.”

Before committing to broadcasting, Clardy had planned to become an architect. However, one game changed his career trajectory.

During the 1995 season, the Cardinal were massive underdogs when they hit the road to play the Oregon Ducks, who had just come off a Rose Bowl season. Head coach Tyrone Willingham was an unknown figure at the time. 

“Nobody gave Stanford a chance of going up to Eugene, Oregon and getting it done,” Clardy said. “Oregon’s quarterback throws three interceptions and Marlon Evans ’96 takes a kickoff for a touchdown and Stanford ends up winning 28-21.”

The thrill of calling an upset victory prompted Clardy to re-evaluate his career: “I remember being on the plane, heading back with the team and thinking ‘This feels pretty cool!’ … Let’s see how many times I can get this feeling.’”

After graduating from Stanford, Clardy landed a job at the Stanford radio network, where he covered football and men’s basketball. Clardy also has extensive experience working in sports talk radio, hosting shows in the Bay Area and Pittsburgh, and even working for other nationally syndicated broadcasts like ESPN Radio. 

Clardy’s ascent within the broadcast field is certainly no shock to his media colleagues. “Troy is down to earth, talented and versatile,” wrote Bryan Fenley, a sportscaster with Fox Sports Radio and ESPN. “All of those characteristics, I believe, are what will lead to success in this industry.”

But in addition to those qualities, Clardy possesses an inordinate work ethic, perhaps the most important trait of all. This includes a process of meticulous preparation to give big sports moments the appropriate weight and time. 

For Clardy, the prep process for each game usually involves doing in-depth research on team rosters, talking with coaches and watching prior games. 

Clardy described the process as a survey of the 45 to 50 players he expects to see. “I’ll go through the biography they have on the school website and also try to get stories and news clips from local media,” Clardy said.

He also watches previous games to “get an idea of personnel and scheme.”

The commitment to bringing high-quality broadcasts for the viewer is one shared by Clardy and Stanford color analyst John Platz ’83 J.D. ’89 MBA ’89. 

“I’ve enjoyed the first few broadcasts that Troy and I have worked together as Stanford’s radio team. We have been acquaintances for many years; he has the same high standard that I do as far as putting out a quality on-air product,” Platz wrote. “These helpful commonalities translate to an enjoyable in-booth experience for each of us and — as a result — a good listening experience for our radio audience.” 

Throughout his career, Clardy has documented some of the most exciting moments in Stanford athletics history, like the 1998 Final Four run and the streak of BCS bowls the Cardinal went to in the early 2010s. He — and many in his community — hope he can capture many more.

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Star freshman Carlyle blazes his own path forward https://stanforddaily.com/2023/10/05/kanaan-carlyle-blazes-his-own-path-forward/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/10/05/kanaan-carlyle-blazes-his-own-path-forward/#respond Fri, 06 Oct 2023 04:31:01 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1230741 Freshman guard Kanaan Carlyle brings a lot of tools to the Stanford basketball team: athleticism, defense and shot-creation, to name a few. But the six-foot-three guard's mature mindset allows him to stand out from other basketball stars his age.

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Freshman guard Kanaan Carlyle does not need to talk a lot to make his presence known on the court. With a simple between-the-legs dribble, he makes defenders instinctively shuffle their feet backward. In just two hard dribbles, the six-foot-three guard can find himself at the rim, soaring over defenders for a dunk. 

This is nothing new for his longtime trainer, Korey Harris, who has known Carlyle for at least a decade now. 

“Kanaan will have you scratching your head sometimes like, “Did he just do that?!,” Harris wrote. “From his acrobatic finishes to his ability to find the tightest gaps within the defense and throw darts to his teammates, Kanaan is the definition of a player that flirts with the razor’s edge.” 

But beyond his noteworthy athleticism, which include a 40-inch vertical and speed to kill for, Carlyle possesses a mindset that’s rare for players of his caliber. 

“It takes a special person to truly not care what others think and be willing to play carefree, especially on some of the largest stages,” Harris wrote. “Kanaan has that level of self-confidence.”

This fearless mindset was also evident in his recruiting. The freshman guard from Atlanta had offers from some of the top basketball programs in the country, including Baylor, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. But rather than choosing one of those colleges, Carlyle decided to forge his own path and attend Stanford — 2,481 miles away from his hometown. 

The Georgia product is aware that his decision may puzzle outsiders. 

“I feel like Stanford is a different decision than what most players would make,” Carlyle said. “They would go to Baylor or Auburn, but to me I feel like I’m different. What I made was a different decision.”

It wasn’t Stanford’s athletic facilities or fan support that drew him. Rather, Carlyle was impressed by the determination displayed by the students on his visit to campus. 

“I really liked how ambitious everyone on Stanford’s campus seemed to be,” Carlyle told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Just walking around during my visit, everyone was studying. You could tell how goal-oriented they were. I was like, ‘I want to be a part of that.’”

Those who have worked closely with Carlyle understand that his mindset is different from other basketball stars his age. 

Recalling an old encounter with Carlyle, Harris wrote, “I knew Kanaan was different when I met him over 10 years ago.” Harris was brought in as a guest speaker for elementary school players at a local gym.

“He was the only kid to ask questions. In fact he asked so many questions that one of the coaches had to cut him off just so we could finish on time!” he wrote.

For Harris, this curiosity is what sets Carlyle apart from other athletes.

“He’s unique because most players that are fearless competitors also struggle with an out of control ego or an apprehension towards criticism,” Harris wrote. “Kanaan isn’t like most. He wants to learn.” 

Carlyle’s inquisitive and ambitious mindset does not just apply to basketball. He also plans to study business at Stanford and to become an entrepreneur after his basketball career ends.

“I’ll probably study business, hopefully I’ll go to the league so I gotta learn how to be able to take care of my own money,” Carlyle said in an interview with Pro Insight. “I want to build up my business one day after basketball.”

After spending his first three years of high school at Milton High School, 45 minutes from Atlanta, the six-foot-three guard wanted to expedite his basketball development even further. When looking into alternative options for his last year of school, the athletic combo guard was intrigued by the option to play at Overtime Elite, especially when league officials told him that he could forfeit the salary and not sacrifice college eligibility.

Eventually, Carlyle decided to join the upstart professional basketball league, which has become a popular alternative to college basketball. The league allowed Carlyle to get experience playing against the best 16-to-20 year old basketball talent nationally, while also giving him the opportunity to work out with top coaches and trainers. 

Despite an opportunity to get paid a hefty six-figure salary and start his professional career early, Carlyle remained firm in his commitment to the Cardinal, showing how much he wanted to attend school on the Farm — for its opportunities on and off the court. 

“My parents wanted me to go to college and I wanted to go to college, so it was never really in consideration to go the pro route through OTE,” Carlyle said. “But overall I’m glad I went there. I learned a lot from everyone who was there and it was amazing for my development.”

Coming out of high school, the dynamic guard has been praised by scouts for his tight handle, shot-creation and disruptive defense. But in his constant attempt to improve, Carlyle said he has focused on “becoming more efficient and expanding my range out to the college three-point line” this pre-season.

Stanford’s coaching staff has been impressed by Carlyle’s development since he’s gotten on campus

“He had an extremely productive summer and has continuously improved since the day we started summer workouts,” said assistant basketball coach David Berkun. “His natural ability, athleticism and basketball instincts really stand out, and these traits will immediately translate to the college game.”

While the Atlanta guard’s dedication to his development on and off the court is evident, he will need to find the necessary resolve for the distinct challenge that lays ahead of him. While other top players in his high school class are looking to aid programs that have had a history of recent success, Carlyle is looking to resurrect a program that hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since 2014.

“I want to be different,” Carlyle told the SF Chronicle. “I want to get Stanford back to the [NCAA] Tournament.”

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Meet Jared Bynum, the newest men’s basketball transfer https://stanforddaily.com/2023/05/14/meet-jared-bynum-the-newest-mens-basketball-transfer/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/05/14/meet-jared-bynum-the-newest-mens-basketball-transfer/#respond Mon, 15 May 2023 01:21:02 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1227790 Jared Bynum may not look like your prototypical basketball player. Standing at just 5-feet-10 inches, Bynum is one of the shortest players every time he steps on the hardwood. But that hasn’t prevented the 24-year-old point guard from making his mark on college basketball.

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Jared Bynum may not look like your prototypical basketball player. Standing at just 5-feet-10 inches, Bynum is one of the shortest players every time he steps on the hardwood. But that hasn’t prevented the 24-year-old point guard from making his mark on college basketball.

“I’ve been doubted my whole life based on my size,” Bynum said. “I don’t pass the eye test when I walk in the gym; I’m usually the shortest, if not the second-shortest player on the court. But I don’t usually think about that too much because basketball is about the results and the work that you put in.”

The newest member of Stanford men’s basketball has experienced both individual and team success within the collegiate ranks. After transferring from Saint Joseph’s following his freshman year, Bynum helped the Providence Friars win the Big East during the 2021-2022 season while winning the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award. 

Postseason success followed, as the Friars reached the Sweet Sixteen, where they barely lost to eventual national champions Kansas 66-61. This past season, Providence once again reached the NCAA tournament as a No. 11 seed. Bynum recognizes that the team’s success was in part due to its resilience, and hopes to bring a similar toughness to Stanford. 

“I learned that throughout the season, and throughout life, there’s going to be ups and downs,” the lead guard from Maryland said. “But at the same time there’s going to be success too, so I just approach basketball like I approach my life: whatever comes my way, I’m going to fight through.”

After coming off a disappointing 14-19 season, Stanford men’s basketball is looking to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014. Bynum certainly knows a thing or two about snapping tournament skids, as the Georgetown Prep product was part of a core group of players who led Providence to its first NCAA tournament appearance in three seasons. 

“I’ve been around multiple teams that had success and had down years,” Bynum said. “I’m definitely looking forward to coming to a team like Stanford that has high expectations for what they can do. I believe that with the pieces that they already have, and with the incoming freshmen as well, I feel like this upcoming year could be a special year, putting Stanford basketball back in a good position.”

Bynum will join a Cardinal roster filled with talent, as in addition to the returns of junior forward Brandon Angel, sophomore center Maxime Raynaud and fifth-year guard Michael Jones, the Cardinal also bring in two top-50 recruits from the high school ranks in Andrej Stojakovic and Kaanan Carlyle. The prospect of playing with a promising group of players was part of the reason the veteran guard ultimately chose Stanford. 

“The coaching staff expressed to me that they have guys that can score the ball and playmake,” Bynum said. “There are like five or six guys that can shoot 40% from three. That’s like a point guard’s dream.” 

With the losses of sophomore guard Isa Silva (Long Beach State) and junior guard Michael O’Connell (NC State) to the transfer portal, Bynum will likely prove valuable to a team in need of an experienced point guard and voice in the locker room. 

“I feel like with me coming in and the players they already have, I’ll be able to find a good balance of being a facilitator and also being able to pick my spots,” Bynum said.

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Third time’s a charm: Men’s basketball defeats Utah in Pac-12 tournament https://stanforddaily.com/2023/03/09/third-times-a-charm-mens-basketball-defeats-utah-in-pac-12-tournament/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/03/09/third-times-a-charm-mens-basketball-defeats-utah-in-pac-12-tournament/#respond Thu, 09 Mar 2023 18:30:48 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1223713 The Stanford men’s basketball team’s season isn’t over quite yet! After ending its regular season with a loss to the Oregon Ducks, the Cardinal flipped their momentum quickly, netting a 73-62 win in the Pac-12 tournament's first round against the Utah Utes. 

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The Stanford men’s basketball team’s season (14-18, 7-13 Pac-12) isn’t over quite yet! After ending its regular season with a loss to the Oregon Ducks, the Cardinal flipped their momentum quickly, netting a 73-62 win in the Pac-12 tournament first round against the Utah Utes (17-15, 10-10 Pac-12).

Stanford jumped out to an early lead thanks to a balanced scoring effort from the starting lineup. Sophomore forward Harrison Ingram, junior forward Spencer Jones, sophomore center Maxime Raynaud and junior forward Brandon Angel all scored within the first six minutes of the game. By the 11:56 mark, the Cardinal had extended their lead out to double digits. However, the Utes slowly crawled their way back into the game due in part to the shooting of Gabe Madsen. Madsen’s 3-point shot at the 7:06 mark brought Utah within one possession of the lead.

From here, Jones went on a scoring spree to give Stanford a 9-point lead. While the Cardinal had the opportunity to blow the game open, Utah center Branden Carlsen was able to keep the Utes within striking distance thanks to his timely scoring. At halftime, Stanford held a 34-27 lead.

The second half began with a back-and-forth offensive display from both teams, with the Utes unable to shift the lead in their favor. Ingram began asserting himself more offensively, driving the ball and scoring close to the basket. Angel also got in on the scoring action, displaying his versatile scoring arsenal in the paint and on the perimeter. Despite another great second half performance from Branden Carlsen and amplified output from Lazar Stefanovic, the duo of Angel and Ingram, along with timely 3-point shots, were too much for the Utes to overcome. 

After the 10-minute mark, Stanford maintained a double-digit lead throughout the remainder of the game. Moreover, a sloppy, turnover-filled performance by Utah dashed any hopes at a late-minute comeback. In the end, the Cardinal held on to beat the Utes by a score of 73-62, keeping their season alive for at least another day. This is the second time that Stanford beat the Utes all season, as they escaped Salt Lake City with a win back in February. 

Up next, the Cardinal will face No. 2 Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament Quarterfinal today at 6 p.m. PT. Stanford had one of the largest upsets of the college basketball season in February, defeating the Wildcats 81-69 in Maples Pavilion. For the Cardinal to keep their season and tournament hopes alive, it will have to dethrone Arizona again.

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Men’s basketball soars past Washington on senior day https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/27/mens-basketball-soars-past-washington-on-senior-day/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/27/mens-basketball-soars-past-washington-on-senior-day/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2023 02:26:31 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1222723 Stanford had an 81-69 victory over the Washington Huskies. While the win may seem meaningless to Stanford’s postseason hopes, it could serve as an on-ramp toward the team’s play in the Pac-12 Tournament.

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Despite a rainy day and drab scenery on the Farm on Sunday, Maples Pavilion was filled with excitement as the men’s basketball team played its final home game of the season. With the pre-game festivities of senior day in full swing and family in the stands, senior forward Spencer Jones saved some of his best for last, tallying 21 points in Stanford basketball’s (12-17, 6-12 Pac-12) 81-69 victory over the Washington Huskies (16-14, 8-11 Pac-12). 

“I got most of the family out today,” said Jones after the game. “You want to do it for them, you want to do it for all the guys you played with and all the fans that came out today. It’s a great little possible end to a career.”

While the win may seem meaningless to Stanford’s postseason hopes, it could serve as an on-ramp toward the team’s play in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Stanford started fast right out of the gate, piecing together an 8-0 lead within the first two and a half minutes of the game. Thanks to some prolific shooting, including knocking down 5-of-10 attempts from beyond the arc, Stanford opened up a double-digit lead within the first 12 minutes of the game. However, an intermittent period of sloppy play toward the middle and end of the first half allowed the Huskies to crawl back into the game. Washington was able to cut the lead to within 3 points at the 3:11 mark before Stanford regained its offensive footing due to a succession of fastbreak and transition opportunities. At the end of the half, Stanford held a 38-26 lead.

Jones led all scorers with 16 points in the first half, with sophomore forward Harrison Ingram following with 6 points. For Washington, star forward Keion Brooks Jr. accumulated 10 points in the first half, while guard Jamal Bey tallied 7 points. 

“I want [Spencer] to have as much initiative as he can possibly have,” said head coach Jerod Haase. “I don’t know in four years if I ever told him that was a bad shot. I want him to have confidence and feel like he has the green light.”

The second half continued with the fast pace that occurred toward the end of the first. The Huskies once again threatened Stanford’s lead, as Bey continued to attack the Cardinal defense in the paint. Stanford’s double-digit lead diminished to just 5 points in under five minutes. 

However, a barrage of 3-pointers from various perimeter players gave the Cardinal breathing room and enlarged the lead back up to double digits. Moreover, Stanford began diversifying its shot portfolio, taking and making more shots near the rim as the game went on.

Sophomore center Maxime Raynaud and junior forward Brandon Angel were more involved in the offense, scoring 15 points and 9 points, respectively. Angel had a few acrobatic finishes that got the crowd up on its feet. 

The Cardinal pushed their advantage all the way out to 20 points with 5:23 left in the game. 

With the game clinched and one minute remaining, senior walk-on guards Roy Yuan and Josue Gil-Silva entered the game to the applause of the student section. While the Huskies were able to get several garbage-time points toward the end, it didn’t matter as the Cardinal came away victorious on senior night. 

“There’s never a consistent line, but I feel throughout the year our team has trended north,” Haase said. “We continue to get better, and I thought today was a step forward.”

Up next, Stanford will go on the road to face Oregon State and Oregon this upcoming week. The Cardinal defeated both schools earlier this season at home and will have the opportunity to sweep the season series before heading to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament. Tip-off against Oregon State is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT on Thursday. 

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Stanford basketball and the Final Four run https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/23/stanford-basketball-and-the-final-four-run/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/23/stanford-basketball-and-the-final-four-run/#respond Fri, 24 Feb 2023 01:23:58 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1221738 Stanford men's basketball had a streak of excellence during the late 1990s and into the early 2000s. But what set the stage for their national success during this time period?

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“In the three years that I coached at Stanford, every game was sold out,” said Blaine Taylor, an assistant coach for Stanford men’s basketball team from 1998 to 2001. 

No, this wasn’t Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Dean Dome, or Rupp Arena. This was Maples Pavilion at its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

But who was the architect that drew large crowds to Maples every week and why were these crowds there? Looking at Stanford basketball’s history over the last 50 years, we have to trace the origins of this success to the turn of the century. 

Origins of success

For about a 50-year stretch, Stanford men’s basketball was mired in mediocrity. After winning an NCAA championship in 1942, the program suffered a 47-year drought of NCAA tournament appearances. The coaching tenures of Howie Dallmar, Dick DiBlasio and Tom Davis did little to inspire a restless fanbase yearning for a quality team that could make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. That was until former head coach Mike Montgomery took the program’s reins in 1986. 

The savvy Montgomery, who had coached at Montana the previous eight seasons, made some immediate splashes in Palo Alto, winning 20 games by his second year and reaching the NCAA tournament by his third. While things weren’t always smooth during his time coaching Stanford — Montgomery made just two NCAA tournaments in seven seasons, and even had a 7-23 year in his seventh season as coach — this didn’t prevent talented players from making their way to the Farm.

“I’m from Los Angeles, so I grew up watching Pac-10 basketball,” said former guard Arthur Lee ‘99. “I wanted to go to UCLA initially, but as the years progressed it came down to Stanford and Arizona, and I thought I was gonna go to Arizona. But I took my first trip and my only trip to Stanford, and once I came here, I said, ‘This has to be the place where I go to school.’”

Former guard David Moseley ‘00 expressed similar sentiments to Lee, but was also excited by the prospect of resuscitating the program and building it back into a powerhouse after the long dormancy. 

“I think what sealed the deal was Montgomery coming to watch me play and then coming on my visit, and having an amazing visit,” Moseley said. “Also having a vision of taking a team that had never made it out of the second round of the tournament and believing that we could go really far.”

The Golden Era

Beginning with the 1995 season, the Cardinal made 11 straight NCAA tournaments, a streak only 14 other schools have ever accomplished. Stanford also finished either first or second in the conference for eight straight seasons from 1997-2004. The team would win four Pac-10 titles from 1999-2004, and Montgomery would be named Pac-10 Coach of the Year four times. 

The coaching staff began to perfect their recruiting prowess, enticing several future first-round picks and McDonald’s All-Americans to ink with Stanford. Notable players included Casey Jacobsen ‘03, Jason and Jarron Collins ‘01, Josh Childress ‘05, Mark Madsen ‘00 and Curtis Borchardt ‘03.

“I always thought our roster was made up of about half Stanford guys,” Taylor said. “They were there because it was Stanford and they were really good basketball players, but they were there for the long haul. And then about half the guys were McDonald’s All-American kind of cats. Those guys were a little more mobile, a little more ‘eyes on the NBA prize.’”

But it wasn’t just about the Jimmies and Joes. Montgomery utilized a system that played to the intellectual strength of the players he possessed and also used the team’s talented front-court players most effectively. 

“Mike recruited really good, big players and developed them. And we would use them: we would run our offense through the Collins twins, Curtis Borchardt, Mark Madsen and Tim Young,” Taylor said. “We had really good, physical players that could screen, think and pass. So we created good jump shots for the right players. I thought what Mike did as good as anyone, he got shot opportunities or opportunities to make plays for the right players at the right time throughout the course of the game.”

The strong interior presence also contributed positively to the defensive side of the ball, where the Cardinal could match up against just about anybody.

“Defensively, Mike was almost all man-to-man, but because we were so big, we could handle the interior defense probably better than most teams,” Taylor said. “We didn’t have to help as much, we didn’t have to switch as much, we didn’t have to trap as much. So we played pretty much straight up with strong scouting reports.”

The quality of coaching was also cited as key by those who played under Montgomery.

“I would say Montgomery is one of the best X’s and O’s coaches ever in college,” Moseley said. “We were always prepared and our strategies were on point to beat almost anybody.”

During that time period, the Cardinal’s biggest rival for Pac-10 supremacy was the Arizona Wildcats, headed by coach Lute Olson. Olson led the Wildcats to the 1997 NCAA championship, and some of his most talented teams overlapped with Stanford basketball’s heyday. Notable Arizona players from this era included Richard Jefferson, Jason Terry and Gilbert Arenas.

“I don’t know if it’s a rivalry. During my four years, we beat them one time,” chuckled Moseley. “That’s just a team we poorly matched up against. They could match our athleticism, if not more athletic. And they always had size at the wing positions or at the guard positions. Or they were super quick at the guard positions. They just had our number.” 

But over time, the Cardinal would become more competitive against the Wildcats, with Montgomery going 4-4 in his last eight games against Olson. One notable win against Arizona occurred in 1999 at home, when the Cardinal were able to secure their first Pac-10 basketball championship in 36 years. 

“My first year there, we ended up winning the Pac-10 title, we beat Arizona at home, and it was funny to me that they didn’t know how to celebrate,” Taylor said. “I remember Mike Montgomery at the top of the ladder, swinging the net and putting it around his neck, and it was like everybody was trying to figure out how to do this just right because they had never done this before.”

Stanford would capture the Pac-12 title in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004. This allowed the Cardinal to clinch No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament in 2000, 2001 and 2004. Unfortunately, the teams fell short of fulfilling their national championship aspirations during those seasons, getting bounced out of the tournament earlier than anticipated. 

Even so, one NCAA tournament run still has a special place in the hearts of all die-hard Stanford basketball fans. 

1998 Final Four run

Despite having more talented and better-ranked teams later in his tenure, Montgomery’s most successful streak in the NCAA tournament came in 1998. Coming into the field as the No. 3 seed in the West bracket, Stanford defeated College of Charleston, Western Michigan and Purdue before squaring off with Rhode Island in the Elite Eight. After facing a 6-point deficit going into the final minute, Stanford was able to piece together a game-saving run thanks to the efforts of Arthur Lee ‘99 and Montgomery’s late game coaching strategy. 

“Montgomery always had a thing: under a minute, if you’re down less than 10, maybe a minute and 30 seconds, start fouling early. Start fouling earlier in the shot clock so you can prolong the game,” Moseley said. “I had four fouls under a minute, and I didn’t want to foul out of the game; I wanted to be on the court. But coach Montgomery was like, ‘We have to do this, don’t be afraid to foul out, we need to prolong the game.’”

Lee likewise played his role in keeping Stanford in the tournament, carrying the Cardinal offensively by scoring 6 points in that nail-biting final minute. 

“Personally, one of the biggest things that drove that comeback was being doubted in terms of my skills and ability to help lead this team,” Lee said. “Before me of course, Brevin Knight ‘97 was the point guard. I just remember reading so many articles and hearing so many ‘pundits’ saying Stanford would not be as good without Brevin Knight. So when I saw it slipping away, I thought, ‘Win or lose, I have to do something.’”

Lee also compiled an assist and key steal which led to the dunk by Madsen that gave Stanford the lead.  

“Mark danced badly, but I didn’t do much better,” said Kamba Tshionyi ‘98, referencing his reaction to Madsen’s dunk. “I was trying to hold Mike McDonald ‘01 back because he was going to run on the court. Elation was the right word. But then it was, ‘Wait, we still have game left and oh yeah, we have to finish this out.’”

After Rhode Island’s Tyson Wheeler went up for a 3-point attempt, a questionable foul was called against Lee with five seconds remaining. But Wheeler missed all three attempts from the line, which punched Stanford’s ticket to the Final Four for the first time in 56 years.

A 1-point overtime loss to eventual national champion Kentucky may have dampened Stanford’s spirits in the short-term, but that’s not what members of the team recall most. 

“Somebody told me relationships move at the speed of trust. I think one of the great things about sports in general, and what we got to go through, is that we all got baptized by fire during the workouts and there were a lot of hard moments,” said Tshionyi. “It was an eclectic bunch racially, economically, geographically, but put into this cauldron and going through things together, I think the reason we were such a good team was strength of relationships.” 

A group of men stand on a basketball court clapping.
Members of the 1998 Final Four team were honored on Feb. 24, 2018 at a home game against Washington State. This marked the 20 year anniversary of the team’s March Madness run. (Photo: BOB DREBIN/ISI Photos)

Post-Montgomery Era

After the 2003-2004 season, Montgomery jumped ship, leaving Stanford to go coach the Golden State Warriors for two seasons before returning to the college ranks to coach at Cal. 

After Montgomery left, assistant coach Trent Johnson took over the program. Johnson would sustain some of the success that Montgomery had, albeit at a lower level. In his four seasons with the Cardinal, Johnson had three NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen Appearance in his final season. Unfortunately for Stanford, Johnson bolted for LSU after the 2008 season.

Longtime Duke assistant coach Johnny Dawkins replaced Johnson as head coach. While Dawkins found some success at Stanford, leading the Cardinal to a Sweet Sixteen appearance and two NIT Championships, he would fall way short of the expectations set by both Montgomery and Johnson. When Dawkins was let go after the 2016 season, athletic director Benard Muir hired current head coach Jerod Haase away from UAB. Despite picking up elite talent from the high school ranks, Haase is still searching for his first NCAA tournament appearance at Stanford. 

While the men’s basketball program has long struggled to fill the void left by Montgomery’s departure to the NBA, players from the Hall of Famer’s tenure still believe in the program’s potential.

“I went to Stanford thinking that we would be a perennial top-25 [team] forever,” Moseley said. “You know, my friends that went to Arizona, we would talk trash. But when your team is not even competing, it’s not as fun. But I still think they could win the Pac-12 tournament and go to the [NCAA] tournament. That’s how much talent they have and that’s how much I believe in the team and the guys and the coaches.”

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S-wishes come true: Pair of men’s basketball managers promoted to walk-ons https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/13/mens-basketball-managers-promoted/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/13/mens-basketball-managers-promoted/#respond Mon, 13 Feb 2023 21:39:28 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1221260 Most know seniors Josué Gil-Silva and Roy Yuan as two of the student managers of the men’s basketball team. This past December, however, head coach Jerod Haase promoted both from managers to walk-ons, allowing them to realize lifelong dreams.

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Most know seniors Josué Gil-Silva and Roy Yuan as two of the student managers of the men’s basketball team. 

This past December, however, head coach Jerod Haase promoted both from managers to walk-ons, allowing them to realize lifelong dreams.

“It was surreal,” Gil-Silva said. “When I became a manager, at the back of my mind, that was my goal: to make the team.”

For both senior guards, basketball has always been a large part of their lives. 

Gil-Silva started playing the sport when he was five years old, as his father, Jose Gil, runs his own basketball academy in Gil-Silva’s hometown of Salinas, Calif. and also was Josué’s head coach at Alisal High School. Despite receiving opportunities to play in college, he decided to attend Stanford, his “dream school,” even though playing for the Cardinal was not initially a possibility. Regardless, Gil-Silva knew he wanted to stay involved with the sport.

“I had no idea what a manager did,” Gil-Silva said. “I just tried it out my first quarter here at Stanford and I loved it. I just loved being part of the team, helping out, learning from everyone at practice.”

Yuan, who grew up in the Bay Area, played basketball at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View and scored over 1,000 points during his high school career. 

“Basketball is a big part of my character,” Yuan said. “Not a lot of Asian parents, especially from the Bay Area, really push their kids into athletics, much less pursuing college athletics. It feels good knowing that I can look [my parents] in the eye and be like, ‘Thanks for supporting my dream,’ and I was actually able to do something with it.”

Despite not holding any official tryouts this year, Haase made the decision to promote Gil-Silva and Yuan based on their consistent efforts during practice and their dedication to the team.

Gil-Silva recalls being shocked when Haase shared his decision, especially after an official tryout last year ended without the program taking anyone. 

“I was definitely tearing up,” Gil-Silva said. “I called my dad and we both started tearing up.”

Meanwhile, Yuan made it clear to Haase that he wanted to walk on from the moment he became a team manager.

“I think he told me ‘no’ three times before, so I was just coming in like I’m about to have that regular meeting again, he’s gonna say the same old,” Yuan said. “And then he told me ‘We finally got a spot for you.’ I kind of just stared at him. I don’t think I really processed it until afterwards.”

For Gil-Silva, making the team as a walk-on was extra special: It meant he would be able to play collegiate basketball with his cousin, sophomore Isa Silva, which has long been a dream of theirs. 

“We always talked about it when we were kids,” Silva said of his cousin’s recent promotion. “Having him as a player now, it’s just really helpful and puts things into perspective. For me, whenever I have a bad game, or even a good game, I can look at the sideline and I have Josué to give me advice and to keep me centered.”

Although they did not grow up in the same city, Silva and Gil-Silva grew up playing basketball together on the same team until high school, contributing to their close relationship.

“We’re best friends,” Gil-Silva said. “It’s an amazing feeling. We played on the same team when we were younger and then once we got to high school, we stopped playing on the same team but now we’re back.”

“We would always spend the most time together; it’s the closest you can get without being blood brothers,” Silva offered. “The best part of having a family member on the team is joy — it just brings a lot of joy to something I already love doing. I get to do it with one of the people who I love most so there’s no more joyful experience than that.”

While the possibility of making the team as walk-ons was not high, it was something both managers accepted and overcame.

“The first thing they said to me is ‘Don’t have any hopes, it’s a very small chance,’” Yuan said. “But I stayed with it and just trusted myself.”

“It was a dream I had since I was a kid to play Division I basketball,” Gil-Silva added. “It’s pretty crazy that it came true.”

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Mayhem at Maples: Men’s basketball upsets No. 4 Arizona https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/12/mayhem-at-maples-mens-basketball-upsets-no-4-arizona/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/12/mayhem-at-maples-mens-basketball-upsets-no-4-arizona/#respond Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:51:03 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1221126 The Stanford’s men’s basketball team tallied their first win against a ranked opponent of the season on Saturday They defeated the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats 88-79 with a terrific second-half defensive performance.

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (11-14, 5-9 Pac-12) tallied their first win against a ranked opponent this season on Saturday, defeating the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (22-4, 11-4 Pac-12) 88-79 with a terrific second-half defensive performance. After back-to-back conference losses, Saturday’s win could spur a run down the stretch of the season as the Cardinal have won six of their past eight. This is Stanford’s first home win against Arizona at Maples Pavilion since 2009, as well as the Cardinal’s second top-five victory in as many years. 

In the first half, Stanford was able to jump out to a one-to-two possession lead thanks to a balanced scoring effort from the entire starting lineup. However, the Wildcats were able to claw their way back into the game with the 3-point shooting of guard Courtney Ramey and others. At the 9:20 mark, Arizona held a 24-19 lead over the Cardinal. 

But the lead swings would continue into halftime, with both teams having stretches of brilliant play. Stanford went on a 9-2 run to chip away at Arizona’s five-point lead, but promptly after, the Wildcats pieced together a 13-0 run of their own, catalyzed by a sequence of Cardinal turnovers and more 3-point shooting. Arizona went 8-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first half, with Ramey knocking down four. Yet, the Cardinal were able to accumulate some timely points down the stretch in order to cut the Wildcats’ advantage to 44-41 at halftime. 

A balanced Stanford scoring attack was led by sophomore center Maxime Raynaud’s 9 points, sophomore forward Harrison Ingram’s eight points and junior guard Michael O’Connell’s 8 points. Meanwhile, Arizona’s scoring remained lopsided with Ramey tallying 14 points, and the second leading scorer, Pelle Larson, accumulating eight. 

However, most notably, Stanford was able to limit the effectiveness of Arizona’s Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo, who each were held to single digits. 

“The truth is most teams can’t take away everything,” said head coach Jerod Haase. “So we had a plan of how we would try to protect the paint and try to protect inside. Honestly, one of the byproducts of that plan ended up being 35 3-point attempts by them.”

As the second half got underway, the Cardinal remained within striking distance of the Wildcats, trailing by just two possessions in the first four minutes. Even though Ramey continued his prolific perimeter shooting from the first half, Stanford went tit-for-tat with the Wildcats, particularly senior forward Spencer Jones, who began to assert himself more offensively. Jones’ mid-range pullup with 12:09 remaining gave Stanford its first lead since the 3:06 mark in the first half.

“I could tell early on their game plan was trying to not let me get the ball,” Jones said. “But in the second half, I knew I was gonna have to put up a performance to maintain our lead in this game.”

A tug-of-war promptly ensued, as both teams were unable to pull away from the other with just under ten minutes remaining. After Arizona held a 66-63 lead with 7:35 remaining, Stanford mustered together enough offensive firepower to stymie Arizona’s momentum. The Cardinal were able to corral key offensive rebounds, which directly led to second-chance points. O’Connell’s 3-pointer with 3:28 left on the clock extended Stanford’s lead to 10 points. The Wildcats began to press in order to cause the Cardinal to turn the ball over, but were unable to get any loose balls, instead sending Stanford to the free-throw line. Both O’Connell and Angel were able to clinch the game for the Cardinal at the line, and the Wildcats’ attempt to flip the contest in their favor came up short. 

“At the end of the day, the message to the team was it was a big game because it was today’s game,” Haase said. “We’ve talked all year about making progress, all the cliches you want to throw out there, we lived those things.”

Stanford has another difficult task up next, as the Cardinal hits the road to take on UCLA (21-4, 12-2 Pac-12) in Los Angeles. The Bruins defeated Stanford earlier this season 80-66, so the Cardinal will be looking to split the season-series and exact revenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday.

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Stanford’s home win streak put up in smoke by Sun Devils https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/10/stanfords-home-win-streak-put-up-in-smoke-by-sun-devils/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/10/stanfords-home-win-streak-put-up-in-smoke-by-sun-devils/#respond Sat, 11 Feb 2023 01:19:10 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1221088 Arizona State edged out the Cardinal 69-65 to hand them a bitter loss at home.

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Stanford men’s basketball (10-14, 4-9 Pac-12) came into its Thursday night matchup in Maples Pavilion looking to keep a 4-game home winning streak alive. But unfortunately for the Cardinal, Arizona State (17-8, 8-6 Pac-12) put an end to the run, as the biggest obstacle of the night for Stanford was the Sun Devils’ stringent top-10 defense. 

Senior forward Spencer Jones and junior forward Brandon Angel did their part to ignite the Cardinal offense, but crucial mistakes in the game’s last stretch and poor shooting inside the arc allowed the Devils to sneak away with the win 69-65. 

The game started out spectacularly for the Cardinal, and more specifically, for Angel. Coming into the matchup hot with a quick 3-pointer, Angel singlehandly led the charge for Stanford, scoring their first eight points. Propelled by the Angel onslaught, the Cardinal were able to hold the Sun Devils scoreless for upwards of four minutes — while also bringing their advantage up to 10 points, albeit on an under 25% clip during the stretch. Arizona State then responded to chip away at the differential. The Sun Devils went on a 7-0 tear, led by Arizona State guard Frankie Collins as Stanford was unable to buy a basket until a timely 3-pointer from sophomore guard Isa Silva. 

For the remainder of the period, Stanford battled against the Cambridge brothers, Desmond Jr. and Devan, who each provided staunch defense and much needed offense for Arizona State. Their teammate, DJ Horne, also added touches of his own that continued on throughout the night. Junior forward Max Murrell helped keep the Stanford offense afloat with an emphatic jam and three-pointer in the half, while senior guard Michael Jones hit a three after a rough stretch of shooting. However, it took a tough buzzer-beating layup from Angel to keep the game even, 33-33. 

The Cardinal came out roaring in the second half. They went on a quick 9-0 run, ignited by a 3-pointer from sophomore forward Harrison Ingram and a tough and-1 finish from junior guard Michael O’Connell, and punctuated with a dunk from junior center Maxine Raynaud, stunning Arizona State. The momentum carried the Cardinal to a game-high 13-point lead with a 3-pointer from Ingram, and the night looked to be going Stanford’s way. However, the Devils came racing back, as Collins responded with a driving layup and 3-pointer to reduce the advantage to eight. After some back-and-forth play, Arizona State was able to snag two consecutive 3-pointers, cutting the lead to just three as the half of the second approached — and with a free throw, the Devils officially matched the Cardinal with their own 9-0 run. 

Jones hit two more 3-pointers to keep Arizona State at bay, but it wasn’t enough to put the Devils down. On the next play, Devan fought for a rebound through traffic and converted a physical and-one that kept the game close, and a layup from Arizona State brought the team within three with seven minutes remaining. With two more threes from Jones and a physical post hook from Raynaud, the Cardinal maintained their 8-point buffer. However, the Devils responded with two 3-pointers within half a minute from Desmond and Horne, cutting the lead back down to two with 4:30 to go. 

Jones, after a timeout, was fouled and hit two free throws. From there on out, Arizona State, led by Desmond and Horne, simultaneously locked down the Stanford offense and orchestrated their very own 8-0 run to close out the game. The Cardinal, frantically trying to create any spark of offense, looked very much at the mercy of the Sun Devils, making multiple mistakes that led to a final foul which made Horne the leading scorer of the night and put the victory out of reach for Stanford. 

After Jones’ two free throws, Stanford failed to score for the remainder of the game due to some glaring impediments: first, Arizona State’s swallowing defense and second, the Cardinal’s inability to generate quality looks inside the 3-point line. While the Cardinal’s 3-point percentage was excellent — 41% on 29 attempts — their work inside the arc was nothing short of dismal at a 31% clip, compared to the Sun Devils’ 2-point clip of 53%. 

But, above all, they were 0-4 in the game’s last 4 minutes, and let Arizona State score eight unanswered points in the most crucial period of the night. 

“I need to coach better. I need to give us plays to execute down the stretch,” said head coach Jarod Haase after the game. “[A]s a group, as a team, we need to make the plays and make the stops as well… but I need to do a better job of coaching us down the stretch and getting the win.”  

The Cardinal are now 0-6 in games decided within 5 points.  

The team stays at home for their next game against No. 4 Arizona (22-3, 11-3 Pac-12). Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.

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Men’s basketball snaps winning streak at Colorado, drops to 4-8 in conference play https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/06/mens-basketball-snaps-winning-streak-at-colorado-drops-to-4-8-in-conference-play/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/06/mens-basketball-snaps-winning-streak-at-colorado-drops-to-4-8-in-conference-play/#respond Mon, 06 Feb 2023 19:59:42 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1220496 The Stanford men’s basketball team dropped its game against the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder, Colo. on Sunday by a score of 84-62. After an upset road win over the Utah Utes on Thursday, the Cardinal began the game strong but was unable to finish down the stretch of the second half. 

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (10-13, 4-8 Pac-12) dropped its game against the Colorado Buffaloes (14-11, 6-8 Pac-12) in Boulder, Colo. on Sunday by a score of 84-62. After an upset road win over the Utah Utes on Thursday, the Cardinal began the game strong but were unable to keep up their level of play in the second half. 

After Stanford kicked things off with baskets by sophomore center Maxime Raynaud and senior forward Spencer Jones to make it a 4-0 game, the Buffaloes began crawling back thanks to the play of forward Tristan Da Silva. Da Silva, whose brother Oscar Da Silva ‘21 played for Stanford for four seasons, had 9 points within the first seven minutes of the game. From around the 16-minute mark to the 10-minute mark in the first half, Colorado held a one-to-two possession lead. Both teams shot the ball efficiently from the field, with Stanford primarily hitting shots from inside the arc. 

However, just inside the 10-minute mark, the Buffaloes began to pull away, stretching their lead all the way out to 11. But the Cardinal slowly and steadily chipped away at that advantage, reducing the lead from 11 to 7 to 4 with just under 1:30 remaining. And thanks to a hook-and-hold foul and second-chance basket by junior guard Michael O’Connell, Stanford entered halftime tied with Colorado at 39-39. 

For Stanford, both Jones and junior forward Brandon Angel led the team with 8 points in the first half. Meanwhile, for the Buffaloes, Da Silva anchored the squad with 11 points, while star point guard KJ Simpson followed with 8.

But almost immediately after the halftime break, the game began to slip away from the Cardinal. Colorado began the half by going 16-0, a stretch in which Stanford was unable to find the basket in the midst of increased ball pressure by the Buffaloes. Both Da Silva and Simpson increased their scoring load in the second half, tallying 13 and 14 points, respectively. Colorado also shot the ball efficiently from the perimeter, knocking down 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. 

Meanwhile, Stanford shot just 29% in the second half, a number which was boosted by some garbage-time buckets. After falling down 16 with 13:21 remaining, the Cardinal’s counter-punch was just not strong enough to counter the Buffaloes’ momentum. Their lead stretched to beyond 20 points. The fouls started racking up for Stanford, which led to easy points from the free-throw line for the opposition.  

Ultimately, the Cardinal’s lackluster second half cost them the opportunity to come back from the Mountain West with a pair of victories, as Colorado swept the season series with Stanford, winning the game decisively, 84-62. 

Up next, the Cardinal face a pair of Arizona opponents, as they will host the Arizona State Sun Devils (16-8, 7-6 Pac-12) before facing the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats (21-3, 10-3 Pac-12) in perhaps their toughest task of the season. The Sun Devils defeated Stanford at home earlier this academic year by a score of 68-64, handing the Cardinal its second conference loss of the season in December. It will be interesting to see whether the team will let the Colorado loss unravel its season down the stretch, or if this will be the starting point for a late-season run. Tip-off against Arizona State is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. PT.

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Men’s Basketball picks up fifth straight win, takes down Utah https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/03/mens-basketball-picks-up-fifth-straight-win-takes-down-utah/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/02/03/mens-basketball-picks-up-fifth-straight-win-takes-down-utah/#respond Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:57:15 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1220436 Stanford continued their strong run against Utah, surviving a second-half comeback to win 78-72. Senior forward Spencer Jones led the team with 22 points, with three other Cardinal players reaching double digits. 

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Stanford (10-12, 4-7 Pac-12) continued its strong run against Utah (15-10, 8-5 Pac-12), surviving a second-half comeback to win 78-72. Senior forward Spencer Jones led the team with 22 points, with three other Cardinal players reaching double digits.

After four straight wins, three of which were against Pac-12 opponents, Stanford faced the biggest test of its recent play against the Utes. Coming in as 8-point underdogs, the Cardinal arrived in Salt Lake City ready to prove their recent hot streak was more than just a fluke. 

The first 15 minutes of the game were evenly matched, with both teams trading baskets, but neither able to pull away. With the score tied at 24, however, Stanford started to put together a run. Led by Jones and junior guard Michael O’Connell, the Cardinal outscored Utah 22-7 in the last six minutes of the first period. To cap it off, graduate student guard Michael Jones was able to draw a foul on a 3-pointer with time running out, cashing in all three free throws to put Stanford up 46-31 at the half.

The Cardinal’s quality first-half display came down to shooting and defense; they went 7-10 from beyond the arc, with the Joneses accounting for five combined. Stanford also held Utah to 35.7% shooting from the field and scored 10 points off of the Utes’ six turnovers. 

Unfortunately for the Cardinal, they couldn’t coast to a victory off of their first-half performance. Utah came out of the break looking like a new team, knocking down four-straight threes to cut the lead down to 6 points. Despite their hot shooting in the first half, Stanford only attempted two threes in the first seven minutes, missing both, until junior forward Max Murrell ended the dry spell from long distance with his first points of the game. 

Due to good offensive rebounding and a myriad of unforced turnovers from the Cardinal, the Utes made it a one-possession game with 12 minutes left. Stanford needed to wake up, and they did: O’Connell scored twice to extend the lead, and Spencer Jones hit two threes to put the Cardinal up by 9 with two minutes left.

It wasn’t over yet, however, as Utah guard Lazar Stefanovic hit two 3-pointers in quick succession to drag his team within 4 points with less than 40 seconds left. But in a desperate attempt to steal the ball with time ticking down, Stefanovic fouled out. He left the game with 26 points, forced to watch on from the sidelines as Stanford players hit their game-clinching free throws. 

The second half wasn’t pretty, but make no mistake, this is a big win for the Cardinal. It is their first road victory of the season, and only their second quadrant two win. The first half of this game showed that when they move the ball and fight for rebounds, Stanford is a quality team. The Cardinal’s postseason hopes might be dashed due to the team’s poor start, but gaining momentum going into the Pac-12 tournament may give the team a desperation heave. 

Stanford next plays Colorado (13-11, 5-8 Pac-12) in Boulder, Co. on Sunday, with tip-off set for 4 p.m. PT.

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Men’s Basketball dominates Rival Golden Bears, tallies fourth straight win https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/29/mens-basketball-dominates-rival-golden-bears-tallies-fourth-straight-win/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/29/mens-basketball-dominates-rival-golden-bears-tallies-fourth-straight-win/#respond Sun, 29 Jan 2023 20:36:46 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1218195 With the win, the team avenges its 22-point loss to Cal earlier this season.

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (9-12, 3-7 Pac-12) defeated the California Golden Bears (3-18, 2-8 Pac-12) 75-46 in dominant fashion in Maples Pavilion on Saturday night. With the win, the team avenges its 22-point loss to Cal earlier this season.

Early in the game, Stanford received significant looks off their offensive actions in the half court. But despite the Cardinal’s early offensive efforts, Cal was able to stay in the game thanks to efficient 3-point shooting. Junior forward Brandon Angel made his presence known in the opening minutes, tallying 7 of the team’s first 12 points. However, the offenses began to stagnate towards the middle of the half, with both teams unable to capitalize on easy opportunities to score. 

Lars Thiemann’s jump hook with 6:45 remaining broke a seven-minute scoring drought for both teams. But instead of catalyzing a Golden Bears’ run, Stanford promptly responded to the basket with an 11-0 run to take a commanding double-digit lead. After missing a few bunnies earlier, sophomore Maxime Raynaud scored six of Stanford’s 11 points during their late half run. Raynaud’s wave toward the student section got the Maples crowd back in the game once again. 

The Cardinal were able to extend their lead all the way out to 13 points before Cal was able to manufacture some offense at the tail end of the half. At halftime, the Cardinal led the Golden Bears by a score of 31-20. Raynaud led all Stanford scorers with 9 points, while Angel followed with 7. Meanwhile for Cal, Dejuan Clayton led the way with 6 points, albeit on 2-for-9 shooting from the field. 

In the second half, Stanford immediately pounced on the Golden Bears, as the team started corralling offensive rebounds and began shooting prolifically from the perimeter. Within five minutes, the Cardinal extended the lead to 17 points. Cal continued their struggles offensively in the second half, shooting only 40% from the field. 

Capitalizing on the Bears slow offensive start, the Cardinal continued to extend its lead down the stretch thanks to the play of sophomore Harrison Ingram, who accumulated 14 points in the second half. Ingram’s dunk over forward ND Okafor lifted the Maples crowd out of their seats and helped blow the game wide open for the Cardinal.

By the 10-minute mark in the second half, the Golden Bears found themselves down 22. A three-and-a-half-minute scoring drought from Cal allowed Stanford to build a 31-point lead with 6:31 remaining. 

Senior walk-ons Roy Yuan and Josue Gil-Silva found themselves in the game with 1:37 remaining, causing the student section to erupt. This is the second conference game this season both walk-ons have seen the court. Yuan’s only shot attempt rimmed out, keeping the newly-minted roster addition scoreless for the season. But in the end, nothing much went wrong for the Cardinal, as they were able to walk away with a commanding 75-46 win.

Up next, Stanford will head out to east to take on the Utah Utes (15-8, 8-4 Pac-12) and Colorado Buffaloes (12-11, 4-8 Pac-12) in rematches from earlier in the conference slate. Stanford was unable to come away with a victory against either team at home, so there’s a real possibility the Cardinal come away from the trip 0-2.

The team first plays against Utah. Tip-off is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. PT in Salt Lake City.

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Men’s basketball earns second-straight conference win against Oregon https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/22/mens-basketball-earns-second-straight-conference-win-against-oregon/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/22/mens-basketball-earns-second-straight-conference-win-against-oregon/#respond Sun, 22 Jan 2023 14:13:12 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1217645 The Stanford men’s basketball team earned their second Pac-12 win of the season against Oregon on Saturday, winning by a score of 71-64. After starting conference play 0-7, the Cardinal have now won two-straight conference games. 

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (7-12, 2-7 Pac-12) earned their second Pac-12 win of the season against Oregon (11-9, 5-4 Pac-12) on Saturday with a final score of 71-64. After starting conference play 0-7, the Cardinal have now won two straight conference games. 

The Cardinal offense got into an early rhythm, scoring easy baskets off turnovers while also running an efficient half-court offense. Stanford was efficient from beyond the arc, making five of their first six 3-point attempts. The team’s early success shooting from the perimeter created greater driving lanes later in the half. Stanford’s lead ballooned to as many as 9 points within the first eight minutes.

However, the Ducks were able to linger around thanks to prolific perimeter shooting of their own, stroking six 3-pointers in the first half. Guard Jermaine Cousinard led a balanced scoring attack with 9 points, while star center N’Faly Dante followed with 8 points. Oregon’s offensive play allowed them to stay within one-to-two possessions of Stanford in the remainder of the first half.

But despite their efforts, the Ducks were never able to reclaim the lead due to timely baskets by the Cardinal that stymied Oregon’s momentum. The Ducks also began to go cold from the field, unable to convert a field goal in the last 3:26 of the first half.

Stanford took a slight 42-37 lead into halftime. Senior forward Spencer Jones led the team in scoring with 8 points, while sophomore guard Isa Silva and sophomore forward Harrison Ingram chipped in 6 points each. The Cardinal shot a whopping 67% from the field and 58% from the 3-point line.

Stanford continued its productive offensive play in the second half, starting the half on a 10-2 run to extend its lead to double-digits. Meanwhile, the Cardinal ramped up their defensive effort, forcing Oregon to make just four of their first 18 field goal attempts. Even after cooling down offensively toward the middle of the second half, Stanford’s defense allowed them to maintain a solid lead throughout the second half. However, the Ducks had their part in facing a double-digit deficit, as the team was unable to convert many close shots at the rim.

“We put a great premium on keeping the ball out of the paint, and so to do that and then contest threes is a real challenge because we’re not necessarily the quickest team in the world,” said head coach Jerod Haase. “But I was really pleased with the guys in terms of executing the scouting report, taking away threes, but doing so in a way that didn’t jeopardize having the guys go by us.”

After a 3:54 dry spell from both teams, Stanford was able to stretch its lead all the way out to 17 in just under two minutes to put the game away. A last-second comeback effort by the Ducks fell short, and the Cardinal were able to secure their second-straight conference win, providing the team momentum going forward.

“It feels great. Especially for the young guys, the momentum really helps them,” Spencer Jones said after the game. “The older guys, you know, you try to keep everybody steady. Whether you’re winning or losing, you try to keep the same mindset. But for the younger guys they really feed off momentum and energy.”

Up next, the Cardinal will play a non-conference game against Chicago State (4-16) on Wednesday before their rematch against the California Golden Bears (3-16, 2-6 Pac-12) on Jan. 28. Cal defeated Stanford by 22 points in the first matchup earlier this season, so the Cardinal will be looking to exact revenge.

Tip-off against Chicago State is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on Wednesday at Maples Pavilion.

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Men’s basketball picks up first win of 2023, no longer winless in conference play https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/19/mens-basketball-picks-up-first-win-of-2023-no-longer-winless-in-conference-play/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/19/mens-basketball-picks-up-first-win-of-2023-no-longer-winless-in-conference-play/#respond Fri, 20 Jan 2023 07:30:15 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1217560 Stanford men’s basketball earned their first Pac-12 win of the season, putting an end to a losing skid that started before the new year.

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (6-12, 1-7 Pac-12) defeated the Oregon State Beavers (7-12, 1-7 Pac-12) 67-46 in Maples Pavilion on Thursday night to notch their first conference win of the season. With the win, the Cardinal are now tied with Oregon State for last place and also tally their first win of the new calendar year.

The action got started right away as after the tip-off, junior guard Michael O’Connell hit sophomore center Maxime Raynaud on an early run-out to begin the game. This helped catalyze an early one-to-two possession lead for the Cardinal, who were able to get open looks on offense while forcing the Beavers into contested 3-point shots on defense. Raynaud, graduate student guard Michael Jones and senior forward Spencer Jones spearheaded a balanced scoring attack that allowed Stanford to get out to its early lead.

“We were able to come out strong tonight and attack instead of being attacked,” Michael Jones said after the game.

Later in the half, Stanford continued its smothering defense, pressuring the Beavers into settling for contested mid-range shots while also getting high-percentage shots at the rim on offense. Spencer Jones also buried three 3-pointers in the first half to extend Stanford’s lead all the way out to 17. The 31-14 lead held by the Cardinal was their largest during Pac-12 play this season. However, Oregon State didn’t lay down, hastening their scoring effort within the last two minutes to make it a single-digit 31-22 deficit at halftime.

No Oregon State player scored more than 5 points during the first half and the team shot just 38% from the field, illustrating the woeful offensive performance put on display by the Beavers.

However, the Beavers’ run toward the end of the half seemed to flip momentum, as Oregon State tallied the first 8 points of the second half to cut the lead to just one.

“There was no panic,” head coach Jerod Haase said of his team’s response to the Beavers’ run. “It was just try to execute the offense and defense a little bit better.”

But the Cardinal were able to stymie Oregon State’s run with a 19-1 run of their own over the course of the following seven minutes to extend the lead up to 19. Michael Jones got back on the scoreboard with three straight 3-point shots to energize the Maples crowd once more. Jones amassed 14 points in the second half to lead Stanford. In addition to Michael Jones, sophomore forward Harrison Ingram and Raynaud chipped into the scoring load with six points each in the final period.

Stanford remained relentless on defense, not allowing Oregon State to score for a seven-and-a-half-minute stretch in the second half. The Beavers’ inability to score helped ossify Stanford’s ever-growing lead. Oregon State shot just 35% from the field and accumulated eight turnovers in the second half.

After Stanford had all but clinched the game, holding a 22-point lead with 1:23 remaining, head coach Jerod Hase brought senior walk-ons Josue Gil-Silva and Roy Yuan into the game. While neither Gil-Silva or Yuan scored in their brief appearance on the court, their presence in the game amped up the student section in the closing minute.

Up next, Stanford will take on the Oregon State’s foe to the south, hosting the Oregon Ducks (11-8, 5-3 Pac-12) in Maples Pavilion on Saturday. The Ducks have weathered some early-season struggles, and they have picked up wins against No. 11 Arizona and Utah, two of the top teams in the Pac-12 standings. Last season, Stanford defeated Oregon at home thanks to a buzzer-beater by former Stanford forward Jaden Delaire.

“I remember [last year’s] game really well,” Spencer Jones said. “I think they were even a little bit better last year so we have a lot more confidence coming in this year that we know we can keep this up.”

This game will be the next test to see if the Cardinal can turn around their season. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT on Saturday.

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Men’s basketball drops nail-biter to Washington State, finishes road trip 0-3 https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/14/mens-basketball-drops-nail-biter-to-washington-state-finishes-road-trip-0-3/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/14/mens-basketball-drops-nail-biter-to-washington-state-finishes-road-trip-0-3/#respond Sun, 15 Jan 2023 05:16:15 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1217240 After a 60-59 loss to Washington State, Stanford men’s basketball went 0-3 during its three-game road trip and remains the only winless team during conference play in the Pac-12.

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Stanford men’s basketball (5-12, 0-7 Pac-12) lost a thrilling 60-59 game to the Washington State Cougars (9-10, 4-4 Pac-12) on Saturday night. With the loss, the team went 0-3 during its three-game road trip, and they remain the only winless team during conference play in the Pac-12.

After a quick 5-0 start by Washington State, Stanford responded in a timely manner, piecing together a 9-0 run thanks to a balanced scoring effort from junior forward Brandon Angel, sophomore forward Harrison Ingram and sophomore center Maxime Raynaud.

After the Cardinal held a 9-5 lead four and a half minutes into the game, both teams were eager to launch the 3-point shot. Within the next three minutes, both teams combined for five 3-point shots, with Stanford hitting two and Washington State hitting three. Justin Powell’s stepback jumpshot at the 10:50 mark allowed the Cougars to once again regain the lead. However, the Cardinal were able to assemble another 9-0 run to stretch their lead out to eight, the largest of the first half. From there, Washington State threatened to close the deficit thanks to an equitable scoring effort from the entire team. But Ingram continued to put pressure on the Washington State defense, finding the soft spots in the Cougar zone to exploit. At the end of the half, the score was 34-31 in favor of the Cardinal.

Ingram had one of his best halves of the year, tallying 14 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Raynaud followed Ingram with eight points, while senior forward Spencer Jones chipped in seven of his own. For Washington State, senior forward DJ Rodman accumulated nine points in the first half, while Mouhamed Geuye and Andrej Jakimoviski had six points each. Despite eight different players scoring during the first half, the Cougars still found themselves down at halftime.

At the beginning of the second half, both teams began to extend their defense further out on the perimeter, which resulted in slow offensive starts for both teams. This helped keep the score within one possession in the first 10 minutes. The game also became more physical, with Stanford getting into the bonus less than 10 minutes into the half.

The 3-point shooting of Jakimoviski allowed the Cougars to maintain a one to-two possession lead throughout most of the second half. Jakimoviski, who had 11 points in the second half, went 5-for-6 from the 3-point line. Later on, Rodman hit two clutch threes at the three-minute and-two minute marks to extend the Cougars’ lead to two possessions. However, Stanford prevented the game from becoming out of reach thanks to the offensive play of Spencer Jones, Raynaud and Ingram. Despite not scoring in the second half, Ingram was able to facilitate well down the stretch, tallying three assists.

Jones hit a jump hook with 1:22 left to make it a 3-point game, and later Raynaud made a layup as the shot clock was expiring to close Washington State’s lead to just one. After Raynaud’s basket, the Cardinal quickly fouled Jakimovski to put him on the line. With a one-and-one, Jakimovski’s shot drew iron, and Stanford rebounded the ball with 20 seconds remaining and no timeouts.

After a sloppy possession where the ball deflected out of bounds, the Cardinal inbounded the ball with 2.7 seconds remaining in the game. Raynaud caught the ball at the top of the key and launched a 3-point shot. After the ball grazed the rim, Brandon Angel attempted to tip the ball into the basket, but came up just short of giving Stanford their first conference victory.

Up next, the Cardinal will return home for a four-game homestand to round out their January schedule. On Thursday the team will face Oregon State (7-11, 1-6 Pac-12), who remains just one place above the Cardinal in the Pac-12 rankings. This is a prime opportunity for the Cardinal to capture their first Pac-12 win of the season.

Tip-off is scheduled at 8 p.m. PT at Maples Pavilion.

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Poor defensive effort hampers men’s basketball against Washington https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/12/poor-defensive-effort-hampers-mens-basketball-against-washington/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/12/poor-defensive-effort-hampers-mens-basketball-against-washington/#respond Fri, 13 Jan 2023 07:07:20 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1217214 The Stanford men’s basketball team remains winless in conference play after losing 86-69 to the Washington Huskies on the road Thursday night.

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (5-11, 0-6 Pac-12) remains winless in conference play after losing 86-69 to the Washington Huskies (10-8, 2-5 Pac-12) on the road Thursday night. The Huskies’ win broke their five-game losing streak while Stanford still holds sole possession of last place in the Pac-12.

The Cardinal began the game with a 7-0 run, in part to their efforts on the offensive glass in the opening minutes, edging the Huskies’ 6-1 in that regard within the first ten minutes. Quickly, Washington was able to close the lead to one to two possessions. But despite obtaining open shots against Washington’s zone, the Cardinal were unable to convert at a high rate, shooting just 33.3% in the first half. The poor shooting performance would come back to bite Stanford, as the Huskies were able to piece together a 15-2 run to gain a nine-point lead at the seven minute mark. Washington’s run was spurred by transition play and turnovers, which allowed the Huskies to get easy baskets before Stanford’s half-court defense became set. 

Later, Washington was able to see a few 3-point attempts go down while continuing to jump the passing lanes on defense. At the end of the first half, the Huskies held a comfortable 47-29 lead. Center Braxton Meah led Washington in scoring, accumulating 11 points in the first half, mostly through lob passes. Star forward Keion Brooks Jr. followed on Meah’s heels with 10 points of his own. Meanwhile for Stanford, junior forward Max Murrell led the way with seven points and sophomore forward Harrison Ingram tallied six points. 

At the beginning of the second half, both teams were prolific on offense. Stanford made their first three 3-point attempts of the half, while Washington converted their first five field goals. Thanks to the length of Meah and Brooks on the interior, the Cardinal continued to miss open shots near the rim, and were unable to keep up with Washington’s scorching hot offense. Husky guard Cole Bajema hit three 3-point shots to help pace the team in the second half. Additionally, Meah and Brooks continued to assert themselves on the offensive end, totaling 19 points between the both of them in the second half. 

In the end, the Huskies’ offense was too much for the Cardinal to overcome, as Stanford dropped the game by a score of 86-69. The team has now suffered back-to-back blowouts to begin their three-game road stretch. Meah led all scorers with 21 points, while Brooks Jr. trailed with 19 points. For the Cardinal, senior forward Spencer Jones led with 12 points, albeit on an inefficient 25% from the field. Murrell and freshman forward Ryan Agarwal followed with 10 points each. 

Up next, the Cardinal will finish their road trip with a pit stop in Pullman, Wash. to take on the Washington State Cougars (8-10, 3-4 Pac-12). 

The game will tip-off at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday.

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Men’s basketball still winless in Pac-12 play after loss against Cal https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/07/mens-basketball-still-winless-in-pac-12-play-after-loss-against-cal/ https://stanforddaily.com/2023/01/07/mens-basketball-still-winless-in-pac-12-play-after-loss-against-cal/#respond Sat, 07 Jan 2023 22:21:39 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216814 The Stanford men’s basketball team dropped a road game across the Bay on Friday, losing to Cal in a 22-point rout. They now hold sole possession of last place in the conference.

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The Stanford men’s basketball team (5-10, 0-5 Pac-12) dropped a road game across the Bay on Friday, losing to Cal (3-13, 2-3, Pac-12) in a 22-point rout. The 0-5 start in conference is the worst start during head coach Jerod Haase’s tenure on the Farm.  

The Cardinal were dealt a blow before the first whistle, as senior forward James Keefe was unable to play due to a lower leg injury. Additionally, Haase instituted lineup changes, starting senior forward Neal Begovich and sophomore center Maxime Raynaud instead of sophomore forward Harrison Ingram and junior forward Brandon Angel. 

Despite a perfect start on offense, making their first six shots, the Cardinal allowed Cal to linger around in the beginning of the first half thanks to a hot 3-point shooting start. The Golden Bears hit seven of their first eight 3-point attempts, and were able to get out to a one-to-two possession lead midway through the game. Guard Dejuan Clayton led the way for Cal, knocking down his first four 3-point attempts and tallying 14 points. For Stanford, sophomore center Maxime Raynaud had a bounce-back game, scoring on four consecutive possessions at the beginning of the first half while accumulating 10 points. 

Later on, the Golden Bears were able to push out their lead to three-to-four possessions thanks to a cold offensive spell from the Cardinal. At the end of the first half, Cal took a commanding 45-37 lead. 

As bad as the first half was for Stanford, the second half spelled much worse, and ultimately sealed their fate in this game. From the 18-minute mark, the Golden Bears were able to augment their lead due to a 15-5 run over the span of three minutes. The prolific 3-point shooting continued from the first half, as Cal shot 8-for-12 from beyond the arc in the second half. Every time Stanford began chipping into the lead, Cal would promptly respond with a 3-point shot or by getting to the free-throw line. After the 16:30 mark in the second half, the smallest deficit Stanford could achieve was 11. 

Dejuan Clayton resumed his first half play, putting up 12 points in the second half. Forward Kuany Kuany one-upped Clayton with 13 second-half points, displaying an all-around offensive arsenal. 

Despite efficient shooting performances from graduate student guard Michael Jones and senior forward Spencer Jones, the Cardinal were unable to get quality minutes from sophomore forward Harrison Ingram, who had just 6 points on eight shot attempts. 

The Golden Bears steadily built upon their lead throughout the second half, and were eventually able to come away with a resounding 22-point victory for their second conference win of the season. Clayton, guard Sam Alajiki and Kuany led Cal with 26 points, 19 points and 18 points, respectively. Shooting over 50% from the field and 65% from the 3-point line in both halves, Cal put together perhaps their most impressive offensive performance of the season. 

Up next, Stanford will travel up to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies (9-7, 1-4 Pac-12) in a battle of bottom-dwelling Pac-12 foes. However, the Huskies may carry some momentum into the game, losing by just 3 points on the road against No. 5 Arizona (14-1, 3-1 Pac-12).

The game will tip-off at 8 p.m. PT on Thursday.

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Men’s basketball unable to finish improbable comeback against Utah https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/31/mens-basketball-unable-to-finish-improbable-comeback-against-utah/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/31/mens-basketball-unable-to-finish-improbable-comeback-against-utah/#respond Sun, 01 Jan 2023 06:05:03 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216744 The Utah Utes escaped Maples Pavillion with a 71-66 victory against the Stanford Cardinal on New Year's Eve.

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The Utah Utes (11-4, 4-0 Pac-12) escaped Maples Pavilion with a 71 -66 victory against the Stanford Cardinal (5-9, 0-4 Pac-12) on New Year’s Eve. This is the second time Stanford has started 0-4 in conference play during head coach Jerod Haase’s tenure on the Farm.

A poor 3-point shooting performance dug the Cardinal into an early hole. Stanford missed their first eight 3- point attempts, and shot 25% from the field in the first 10 minutes of the game. Meanwhile, the Utes got off to a consistent start offensively thanks to the play of center Branden Carlson and guard Lazar Stefanovic. Despite quality play on both ends of the floor, the Utes let Stanford linger thanks to an early turnover deficit.

After facing a 10-point deficit, the Cardinal assembled a brief offensive spurt in the middle of the half, and cut the lead to two possessions multiple times. However, down the stretch, Stanford resumed their poor offensive play, only scoring one point in the final 5:10 seconds of the first half. The team finished the half shooting just 34.5% from the field, while the Utes shot an impressive 60%. At halftime, Utah led by a score of 30-23. Sophomore forward Harrison Ingram led the Cardinal in scoring with seven points, while graduate student guard Michael Jones followed with six points. For the Utes, Carlson led all scorers with 11 points, with Stefanovic on his heels with eight points.

“I thought many, many, many of the looks that we had were clean looks with good shooters,” Haase said after the game. “We did want to attack the paint. I thought we settled maybe a touch too much. But it’s hard to tell really good shooters not to shoot open shots.”

The beginning of the second half featured more of the same narrative as the first half. Utah continued to get clean looks at the rim, while tightening up their halfcourt defense. The Cardinal remained cold from the floor, struggling inside and outside of the arc. The Utes were able to extend their lead out to 16 early in the half. Carlson and Stefanovic continued to be the catalysts offensively for Utah, finishing with 18 and 20 points respectively.

“He’s an excellent three point shooter, he can put the ball on the ground a little bit, he can score inside, he’s a great offensive rebounder,” Haase said of Carlson after the game. “Not a surprise that he did well, but was a little disappointed we weren’t able to be a little more efficient defending him.”

However, the tides began to turn when the Cardinal began stroking the ball from the 3-point line.

“For most shooters, once you see it go through the net once you just build a little confidence,” said senior forward Spencer Jones. “If I could miss five, I’ll still put it up with the same amount of confidence.”

The team hit five threes in a four minute stretch to shrink Utah’s cushion to six with 3:21 remaining, and within 45 seconds, Stanford was able to cut it to a two-point game. But costly fouls on back-to-back possessions allowed the Utes to push the lead back to six with 1:29 in the game.

From there, Utah was able to hit clutch free throws in order to clinch their fourth straight victory in conference play.

Up next, Stanford will head across the Bay to take on the struggling Cal Golden Bears (1-14, 0-4 Pac-12). Both teams are looking to earn their first conference win of the year, raising the stakes in an already competitive rivalry.

Tip-off will commence at 8 p.m P.T. on Friday at Haas Pavilion.

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Men’s Basketball remains winless in Pac-12 play, loses to Colorado https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/30/mens-basketball-remains-winless-in-pac-12-play-loses-to-colorado/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/30/mens-basketball-remains-winless-in-pac-12-play-loses-to-colorado/#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:55:28 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216700 Eight days after becoming the winningest coach in Colorado history, Tad Boyle and the Buffaloes edged out a road win down the stretch against the Stanford Cardinal.

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Eight days after becoming the winningest coach in Colorado history, Tad Boyle and the Buffaloes (9-5, 1-2 Pac-12) edged out a road win down the stretch against the Stanford Cardinal (5-8, 0-3 Pac-12). The Cardinal remain winless in Pac-12 play, and the team’s postseason prospects look grimmer and grimmer by the day. 

An offensive explosion allowed the Buffaloes to build a 17-8 lead early in the game. But the Cardinal climbed back quickly thanks to a scoring spurt from senior forward Spencer Jones. Jones scored 11 points, including nine from beyond the arc, to allow Stanford to take their first lead of the game. Thanks to his 17 first half points, Jones was able to hit a career milestone, surpassing 1,000 points in his time on the Farm. 

“It means I’m old,” said Jones in jest after being asked about the accomplishment. “It’s a nice milestone. I’m obviously more focused on wins, but it’s nice to have something like that under your belt.”

The Cardinal were able to maintain their lead throughout the half thanks to offensive rebounds, collecting five over the course of the first half. Freshman guard Ryan Agarwal also logged impactful minutes, hitting two threes in five minutes played. 

On the other side, star guard KJ Simpson Jr. led the Buffaloes with 13 points in the first half. Simpson’s play, along with points off turnovers, helped keep Colorado within striking distance. Both teams shot over 50% from the field in the first half, and at halftime, the Cardinal led 37-33. 

However, the second half featured worse shooting performances, as both teams went cold from beyond the arc. Despite shooting an abhorrent 31.8% from the field, the Cardinal were able to stay on the scoreboard due to their 22 free throw attempts. For the Buffaloes, the second half featured a heavy dose of Simpson. His playmaking and free throw attempts, along with Colorado’s swarming defense, allowed the Buffaloes to stay within one to two possessions of the Cardinal. 

“We tried a lot of different things,” Haase said. “We tried a couple times doubling the ball screen, we tried different matchups on him, we tried different coverages: with switching, a higher hedge with the bigs, a drop coverage where we put the bigs back at the rim. None of them were overly effective.”

In the final five minutes of the game, Simpson played like Superman, scoring the Buffaloes’ final 11 points. The sophomore from West Hills, Calif. hit two shots inside the arc and four free throws to put Colorado on top 69-68 with 2:06 remaining. 

But the Cardinal wouldn’t surrender without a fight, as Spencer Jones hit two free throws to give Stanford a 70-69 lead with 1:34 remaining. After a short scoreless drought from both teams, Simpson hit a layup with 18 seconds left to put the Buffaloes up one. On the next possession, Colorado forced junior guard Michael O’Connell to give the ball up after a downhill drive. The ball landed in the hands of senior forward James Keefe, who attempted a hook shot in the paint. The shot missed, the Buffaloes corralled the rebound and were able to clinch the game at the free throw line. 

“We wanted Michael O’Connell going downhill, we thought we might be able to get something at the rim: an uncontested layup for him or come to a stop and have options out of that,” Haase said.  “We had Brandon making a 45 degree cut, we had Jones in the corner, we had James diving down as well. I asked Michael to come to a stop, he came to a stop, he made an easy pass to James. That shot looked like the one in the conference tournament against Arizona State but it didn’t go in.”

This also marks yet another game where Stanford was unable to close down the stretch. 

“It’s me looking in the mirror and finding out as head coach [how] we get over the top right now,” Haase said. “It’s obvious we’re close against a lot of good teams, and we need to find a way to squeeze out another basket or one more stop to finish the deal.”

Up next, Stanford will stay home in Palo Alto to take on the Utah Utes (10-4, 3-0 Pac-12) in another conference showdown. The Utes have been the surprise team of the Pac-12 so far, going undefeated through three games in conference play. Meanwhile, Stanford is looking to earn its first Pac-12 win of the young conference slate. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT on New Year’s Eve.   

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Sampath: Stanford’s defensive prowess can spark a run in Pac-12 play https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/28/sampath-stanfords-defensive-prowess-can-spark-a-run-in-pac-12-play/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/28/sampath-stanfords-defensive-prowess-can-spark-a-run-in-pac-12-play/#respond Wed, 28 Dec 2022 22:06:28 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216488 While it seems unlikely from the outside looking in, recent developments in men's basketball have made a run in Pac-12 play a possibility.

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It’s been a disappointing start to the season for Stanford basketball fans. The Cardinal (5-7, 0-2 Pac-12), who were projected to be the fifth best team in the Pac-12, have not performed up to preseason expectations. While there have been stretches of inspiring play, offensive droughts have continued to plague the team. The droughts, combined with numerous live-ball turnovers, have led to early deficits in games. Although the team often fights back valiantly, it’s never enough to ultimately overcome the dreadful starts. One just has to begrudgingly remember the UCLA game, where the Bruins got off to a 17-0 run in the first five minutes only to see a Cardinal comeback attempt that fell short.

However, there’s been a noticeable change recently. The Cardinal have gotten out to early leads in each of their past three games, including against No. 7 Texas in Dallas. These starts have been catalyzed by Stanford’s defense, which has allowed an average of 58 points in the last three games. For the season, KenPom ranks the Cardinal as the No. 47 overall adjusted defense in the nation. Increased ball pressure, better screen-and-roll defense and terrific rebounding have all married to create a suffocating defense.

Prior to the 2022 season, Stanford had back-to-back seasons of top-30 KenPom adjusted defense, showing that defensive excellence is not a novel phenomenon under head coach Jerod Haase. It also shows that the Cardinal can keep up or even improve their defensive performance as the season progresses.

But what does this mean for the rest of the season?

While Stanford probably doesn’t have the offensive talent to win shootouts consistently, the team just needs to piece together enough points so that the defense doesn’t need to be absolutely perfect night-in-night-out. If a couple starters can augment their scoring load by just a bit, it could spell trouble for the rest of the Pac-12.

Some fans may doubt whether this will be enough to make any meaningful run down the stretch. But my recent experiences following college basketball have told me otherwise.

The Arkansas Razorbacks, my favorite collegiate athletics program and hometown school, had a similar recipe for success last year. Lacking 5-star talent and explosive offensive pieces, the Razorbacks utilized their length and athleticism to form a smothering defense. After a slow start to the year that saw them lose to Hofstra in the non-conference, Arkansas earned a 4-seed in the NCAA tournament and was able to make a run to the Elite Eight, highlighted by their upset of No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga.

Admittedly, the Cardinal don’t have the same type of athletes that the Razorbacks had, nor do they have the home court advantage that bolstered Arkansas’ run toward the end of the year. But Stanford does compete in a much less competitive basketball conference, as the SEC is currently loaded up with terrific coaches and programs. The Cardinal also possess more outside shooting and an NBA talent on the wing in sophomore Harrison Ingram, a ball-dominant forward who could help take over games late.

While I don’t want to get ahead of myself and predict a deep tournament run, my point is to show that a total defensive effort can lead to results greater than the sum of their parts. And who knows? Maybe the Cardinal will find themselves on the right side of the bubble come March.

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Horns Up: Men’s basketball overwhelmed by Texas https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/19/horns-up-mens-basketball-overwhelmed-by-texas/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/19/horns-up-mens-basketball-overwhelmed-by-texas/#respond Mon, 19 Dec 2022 18:25:43 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216382 After Friday night's win against Green Bay, Stanford men’s basketball fell to No. 7 Texas 72-62 on Sunday during the Pac-12 Coast-to-Coast Challenge at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas

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After Friday night’s win against Green Bay, Stanford men’s basketball (4-7, 0-2 Pac-12) fell to No. 7 Texas (9-1, 0-0 Big 12) 72-62 on Sunday during the Pac-12 Coast-to-Coast Challenge at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Despite missing head coach Chris Beard following his arrest earlier in the week, the Longhorns were able to muster enough offensive firepower in the middle of the second half to push them over the edge. 

Unlike previous games against ranked opponents, the Cardinal were able to gain an early advantage against Texas. Stanford jumped out to an 11-5 lead, its largest of the game, but could not hang onto the ball, turning the ball over 12 times in the first half. Texas took advantage, creating 11 points off of Stanford turnovers. 

“In the first half we had too many turnovers,” said head coach Jerod Haase. “In the second half, there were a few turnovers, but they were costly, especially early in the second half in the transition points.”

Despite this, the Cardinal were able to keep within striking distance, shooting 50% from the field and 44.4% from the 3-point line. Graduate student guard Michael Jones and senior forward Spencer Jones led the way offensively, scoring 8 and 7 points, respectively, in the first half. Stanford also forced the Longhorns into taking contested jump shots while limiting their attempts at the free throw line. 

For Texas, forward Timmy Allen and guard Sir’Jabari Rice scored 10 points each in the opening frame, while forward Dylan Disu followed with 5 points. 

After leading in the first half 31-28, the Longhorns extended their lead all the way to 15 points. Texas guard Marcus Carr started heating up during this stretch, and scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Costly turnovers from Stanford led to Texas getting out in transition for easy baskets.  

But the Cardinal were not done trying to piece together a comeback. Stanford fomented a 13-1 run and once again came within striking distance, closing Texas’ lead to just 5 points with 4:50 remaining. The run was again catalyzed by Stanford’s defense, which forced the Longhorns into missing 13 out of 14 shots during the stretch. 

However, Stanford was ultimately unable to overcome Texas’ shot-making and strong second-half defense down the stretch. 

“I was proud of our guys to fight back in the second half,” Haase said. “I thought our game plan was sound; I thought our players understood it.”

Michael Jones led the Cardinal with 17 points. Junior forward Brandon Angel followed with 11 points, and Spencer Jones with 10 points.

Up next, Stanford will head back to the Bay Area to take on Loyola Chicago (6-5, 0-0 A-10) in Santa Cruz, Calif. Despite making prolific runs in the NCAA tournament in the past five years, the Ramblers have had some struggles in this young season, already accumulating five losses. 

The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. PT on Thursday. 

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Smothering defense allows men’s basketball to blow past Green Bay https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/16/smothering-defense-allows-mens-basketball-to-blow-past-green-bay/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/16/smothering-defense-allows-mens-basketball-to-blow-past-green-bay/#respond Sat, 17 Dec 2022 06:04:59 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216360 The 45-point victory is the Cardinal’s largest of the season.

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After a two-week hiatus, the Stanford men’s basketball team (4-6, 0-2 Pac-12) is back in the win column after defeating the Green Bay Phoenix (2-10, 1-1 Horizon) 85-40 for their first win in December. The 45-point victory is the Cardinal’s largest of the season.

A stifling defensive effort allowed Stanford to get out to an early double-digit lead in the first half. Even with having opportunities to score in the paint, Green Bay was unable to cash-in on close field goals early. Despite having nine turnovers themselves, the Cardinal’s aggressive ball pressure disrupted Green Bay’s offensive rhythm, and ultimately forced them into committing 15 turnovers. 

“We started the game and had just some careless silly turnovers,” said Stanford head coach Jerod Haase. “But on the defensive end, I thought we executed the game plan and what we were trying to do. [We were] trying to have good ball pressure, trying to eliminate driving lanes.”

Overall, the Phoenix shot a pedestrian 28.6% from the field, and 25% from the 3-point line in the first half.

Offensively, Stanford was able to use their size at the center and wing positions to score easy baskets at the rim. Senior forward Spencer Jones led a balanced Stanford scoring attack with 10 points before halftime while junior forward Brandon Angel followed with eight. The Cardinal shot a whopping 65.4% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line.

“We definitely expected to come out and kind of punch them in the mouth,” Jones said. “Just cause, with our little losing streak coming in, we had to try and turn things around.”

Additionally, freshman guard Benny Gealer earned his first points of the season in the first half, knocking down a 3-point shot from the top of the arc to extend Stanford’s lead to 19. Gealer dealt with health-related issues, which prevented him from playing earlier in the season.

“Benny was really a spark,” Haase said. “He has a pace to his game and confidence in his ability. Obviously he can shoot the basketball. I don’t expect a finished product right now, but I expect him to go out and play with a reckless abandon.”

By the end of the half, the Cardinal led by a score of 42-19, their largest halftime lead of the year.

In the second half, Stanford received more production from their bench, as freshman guard Ryan Agarwal and sophomore guard Jarvis Moss added to the scoring spree. Moss and Agarwal finished the game with 10 points and 11 points respectively, and both players combined to shoot 5-for-8 from the 3-point line.

“We just put a lot of work outside of the game that people don’t see,” Agarwal said. “When any of us get one of those looks, we’re just shooting it with confidence.”

The strong defensive start carried through in the second half for the Cardinal, as the team forced the Phoenix to repeat their first half performance. Green Bay shot just 25% from the floor and 15.4% from the 3-point line in the second half.

At the end of the game, senior walk-ons Josue Gil-Silva and Roy Yuan entered the game with about a minute remaining. Despite neither tallying points, the excitement their entrance created on the bench is evidence of the team’s chemistry.

“This type of game is where you see the chemistry we kind of have,” Jones said. “Everybody is standing up when one of these guys or anybody knocks down a three. Everybody’s celebrating. It’s just an example of the culture we have and the type of fun we have with each and every guy.”

Up next, Stanford will head to Dallas to take on the No. 7 Texas Longhorns (7-1, 0-0 Big 12). The Longhorns have already accumulated wins against No. 15 Gonzaga and Creighton and may prove to be Stanford’s most formidable opponent so far this season.

The game is also a homecoming for sophomore forward Harrison Ingram and Agarwal, who both hail from Dallas. In order to have a chance against Texas, the Cardinal will have to start the game much stronger than they have in previous games against ranked opponents.

“I’d say the biggest thing is how we perform in those first five minutes,” Jones said. “Each and everyone of those games, if you look at the second half and we’re right there with them. Even score pretty much, if not outscoring them in the second half. It really just comes down to how strong we can come out in the first five minutes, whether we can set the tone and show what we can do.”

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Stanford Basketball Film Study: Fake pindown action https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/15/stanford-basketball-film-study-fake-pindown-action/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/15/stanford-basketball-film-study-fake-pindown-action/#respond Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:17:09 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1216314 This installment of Stanford Basketball Film Study will look at an action that the Cardinal like to run off-the-ball to get shooters wide-open.

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Previous installations of Stanford basketball film study have taken a look at empty ball-screen and zoom action, which attempt to get ball-handlers going downhill. This installment will look at an action that Stanford likes to run off-ball to get shooters wide-open. We’ll call this action “Fake pindown,” since it uses a pindown screen to create false motion for the defense to chase.

What is Fake pindown action?

To set up fake pindown action, Stanford will usually pass the ball to the wing, where either a guard or forward will handle the ball. From there, a forward or center will set a pindown screen for a guard, who cuts away from the ball. It’s preferable if the guard is a competent shooter, as the defense will focus attention on his movement. From here, the screened guard will then go set another pindown screen for a guard or forward on the opposite wing of the ball. But instead of just one screen, the defender will have to go through a staggered screen to chase his man, as the original screener will also set a pindown. The false motion and staggered screen make this a very difficult action for the defense to guard. 

Stanford Basketball Film Study: Fake pindown action

Against San Diego State, the Cardinal ran this action to get senior forward Spencer Jones open 3-point attempts. In the video below, center James Keefe passes the ball to sophomore guard Isa Silva on the wing. Keefe then sets pindown for Jones to cut away from the ball. But then graduate student guard Michael Jones and Keefe set a staggered pindown screen for Spencer Jones, who cuts toward the ball-side wing. The Cardinal are able to get an open look off the action, and Jones drains the 3-pointer to cut San Diego State’s lead to nine. 

Look for Stanford to continue to run fakepin down action to get more open 3-point attempts.

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Stanford Basketball Film Study: Zoom action https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/08/stanford-basketball-film-study-zoom-action/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/08/stanford-basketball-film-study-zoom-action/#respond Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:39:33 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1215839 The second installation of Stanford Basketball Film Study looks at zoom action, a set utilized a lot in Jerod Haase’s offense.

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The second installation of Stanford Basketball Film Study will look at zoom action, a set utilized a lot in Jerod Haase’s offense. Similar to the empty ball-screen, zoom action is a set that has increased in usage across college basketball due to the five-out revolution. The set looks to get guards and forwards going downhill, where they can use the space generated to make a variety of decisions.

What is zoom action?

The zoom action involves an off-ball down screen from a player on the perimeter, while the man with the ball delivers a dribble hand-off to the player receiving the down screen. The zoom action can create plenty of space for driving opportunities, as defenders can become bunched up on one side of the court thus leaving open gaps. Zoom action can also be run using staggered screens to generate even more space on weak side drives.

Throughout this season, Stanford has run the zoom action and other actions off it various times.

During this sequence, the Cardinal use a high pick-and-roll 10 feet above the arc to get into zoom action.

Senior center James Keefe screens sophomore forward Harrison Ingram’s man. Ingram passes Keefe the ball, and Stanford flows into zoom action, with junior forward Max Murrell setting an off-ball screen for graduate student guard Michael Jones. Unfortunately, Jones is not able to gather his footing and loses the ball for the Cardinal.

In the example below, the Cardinal fake the zoom action to junior forward Brandon Angel, who then circle cuts through the paint. After that, sophomore center Maxime Raynaud passes the ball to sophomore forward Harrison Ingram, who was the off-ball screener for Angel. A top-of-the-key pick-and-roll ensues, and Ingram is able to get a clean look from mid-range to give the Cardinal an easy basket at the beginning of the game.

This movement is especially effective because many times the ball-screen defender won’t anticipate that the screener will eventually get the ball.

In this play against Memphis, Angel has the ball up at the extended elbow area, while junior guard Michael O’Connell sets a down screen for senior forward Spencer Jones, who’s running from the left wing to the top of the key. Jones’ defender goes over the screen, looking to disrupt the potential handoff. Jones reads the defender, and fades back out to the wing. He could’ve taken the 3-pointer off the catch, but instead he pump fakes and dribbles to the space left open by his defender. The help defender is ball-watching Jones, which allows him to kick the ball out to graduate student guard Michael Jones for a 3-pointer.

Look for Stanford to run more zoom action plays and their analogs throughout the rest of the season.

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Men’s basketball sputters offensively, loses to Arizona State on the road https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/05/mens-basketball-sputters-offensively-loses-to-arizona-state-on-the-road/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/05/mens-basketball-sputters-offensively-loses-to-arizona-state-on-the-road/#respond Tue, 06 Dec 2022 00:46:05 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1215602 Coming off a disappointing loss to UCLA, where the Bruins got off to an improbable 17-0 run to begin the game, the Stanford men’s basketball team was eager to earn its first Pac-12 win on the road against Arizona State on Sunday. Unfortunately

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Coming off a disappointing loss to UCLA (7-2, 2-0 Pac-12), where the Bruins got off to an improbable 17-0 run to begin the game, the Stanford men’s basketball team (3-6, 0-2 Pac-12) was eager to earn its first Pac-12 win on the road against Arizona State (8-1, 2-0 Pac-12) on Sunday. Unfortunately, in a script familiar to Stanford basketball fans, the Sun Devils built an early first-half lead that ultimately propelled them to a 68-64 victory. Offensive woes continue to afflict the Cardinal, as the team shot just 36% from the field, including 23% from the 3-point line. 

Similar to its previous games against Power 5 opponents, Stanford got out to an early deficit. The Sun Devils exploited Stanford’s self-inflicted turnovers and inability to guard the paint. Despite poor shooting from beyond the arc, guards Frankie Collins, Desmond Cambridge and DJ Horne were able to utilize pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs to get easy baskets for themselves and their teammates. This allowed the Sun Devils to open up a double-digit lead during the end of the first half. At halftime, the Cardinal were down 32-21. 

Despite the deficit, Stanford was able to claw back into the game in the second half by taking a page out of Arizona State’s book: forcing turnovers. The turnovers, along with solid halfcourt defense, allowed the Cardinal to stay within striking distance of the Sun Devils. 

While Arizona State was able to extend its lead several times during the second half, the Cardinal would always mount a counter-attack to keep it close.

At the 5:27 mark in the second half, graduate student guard Michael Jones hit two free throws to make it a 51-50 score and give Stanford its first lead since the opening seconds of the game.

Despite losing their lead, the Sun Devils were able to score with ease down the stretch, utilizing the dribble-drive to get quality looks in the interior. After Frankie Collins drilled a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, Stanford looked dead in the water down 64-55 with 50 seconds remaining.

But with the help of Arizona State’s timely free throw misses and a late offensive surge, the Cardinal climbed back into the game late. Michael O’Connell’s 3-pointer off a turnover made it a one possession game with 17 seconds remaining. After the Sun Devils’ Luther Muhummad stretched it out to a 4-point lead at the free throw line, Stanford’s sophomore center Maxime Raynaud threw an outlet pass to junior forward Max Murrell. However, the pass caught Murrell by surprise and ricocheted off his face and into the hands of Arizona State guard Devan Cambridge. Cambridge passed it to Horne, who was then fouled by Michael Jones. 

This play effectively iced Stanford’s chances at victory, as the Cardinal would not have enough time to come back from a 6-point deficit. 

Up next, the Cardinal will take a 12-day hiatus for exams before facing Green Bay (0-7, 0-1 Horizon) at home on Dec. 16. Then, two days later, Stanford will head to Dallas to take on No. 2 Texas (6-0, 0-0 Big 12).

Tip-off against Green Bay is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT.

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Bruin Beatdown: Men’s basketball outlasted by No. 21 UCLA https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/03/bruin-beatdown-mens-basketball-outlasted-by-no-21-ucla/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/12/03/bruin-beatdown-mens-basketball-outlasted-by-no-21-ucla/#respond Sat, 03 Dec 2022 19:59:23 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1215439 After UCLA opened the game on a 17-0 run, Stanford clawed back in the second half but still came short in a 80-66 loss.

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On Thursday, the No. 21 UCLA Bruins (6-2, 1-0 Pac-12) defeated the Stanford Cardinal (3-5, 0-1 Pac-12) 80-66 in dominant fashion, earning their first Pac-12 win of the season. The Cardinal have now dropped to 1-5 against Power Five competition this season.

Stanford got off to a ghastly start, as the Bruins’ full court pressure disrupted Stanford’s rhythm and sets on offense. The Cardinal gave up the ball six times within the first five minutes, which catalyzed UCLA’s 17-0 run to start the game.

“We can’t play from our heels,” said head coach Jerod Haase. “Offensively, obviously, we got back and turned the basketball over and weren’t aggressive. And on the defensive end, there was literally zero ball pressure. We just took punches for 20 minutes.”

Even after sophomore forward Harrison’s Ingram’s bucket in the post to break Stanford’s scoreless streak, the Bruins’ aggressive ball-screen defense gave Stanford trouble in the half court. Despite shooting a respectable 43% from the field, the Cardinal hoisted 12 less shots than UCLA during the first half, largely due to their nine turnovers.

On the other side of the court, UCLA was also able to generate efficient offense thanks to the play of forwards Amari Bailey and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Both players dominated the scoreboard during the half, accumulating 15 points each. The Bruins also received production from star point guard Tyger Campbell, who chipped in with 10 points. Overall, UCLA shot 63% from the field during the first half.

While UCLA’s press defense was effective early on in creating turnovers, it also allowed Stanford to get several easy baskets late in the first half. Senior forward James Keefe capitalized on those opportunities, tallying nine points in the first half, nearly four above his season scoring average of 5.3.

However, the Bruins were able to maintain the lead they built thanks to their offensive play, and at halftime, they enjoyed a sizable 50-29 lead.

Despite the large deficit, the Cardinal refused to lay down in the second half. A 9-0 run, a time in which senior forward Spencer Jones scored seven straight points, allowed Stanford to cut the lead to just 12. But thanks to an offensive spurt, the Bruins were able to once again extend their lead to 21.

Stanford punched back in a huge way, dialing up the ball pressure on defense while maintaining their composure and distributing the ball more on offense. The Cardinal hit six threes in the second half while also forcing thirteen turnovers.

“They just started pressuring us,” Jaquez remarked. “We could have folded under that pressure- we made some turnovers, but we made up for it with our defense and trying to get great shots.”

With less than five minutes left in the game, Stanford cut their deficit down to 66-58. However, Jaquez Jr. came up big in key spots, hitting two field goals down the stretch to clinch the victory for the Bruins.

At the end of the game, the 6-foot-6-inch forward tallied 27 points, leading all scorers. Bailey and Campbell followed with 19 and 17 points, respectively. For Stanford, Spencer Jones led the way with 18 points, while graduate student guard Michael Jones trailed behind with 10 points.

Up next, Stanford will take on Arizona State (7-1, 1-0 Pac-12) on the road in Tempe, Ariz. before taking a 12-day hiatus. After the halt in play, the Cardinal will return home to take on Green Bay (0-7, 0-1 Horizon).

Tip-off against Arizona State is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT on Sunday.

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Stanford Basketball Film Study: Empty ball screen https://stanforddaily.com/2022/11/29/stanford-basketball-film-study-empty-ball-screen/ https://stanforddaily.com/2022/11/29/stanford-basketball-film-study-empty-ball-screen/#respond Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:34:26 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1214939 This first installation of Stanford basketball film study will take a look at one of Stanford’s most used offensive actions: the empty ball screen.

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This first installation of Stanford basketball film study will take a look at one of Stanford’s most used offensive actions: the empty ball screen. The empty ball screen is one of the most utilized actions in all of college basketball. With NCAA teams increasingly using five-out offense nowadays, look for the empty ball screen to increase in utility. Like other teams, Stanford uses the empty ball screen to create more space for the roller and to scheme shooters open by pressuring help defenders.

What is an empty ball-screen?

An empty ball screen is simply a pick-and-roll in which the roller moves toward the side of the court with no offensive players. If the player with the ball decides not to use the screen and reverses the ball, a cutter usually cuts backdoor and another empty ball screen can be made. 

Some teams like to run the empty ball screen as a continuous action, while other teams will only do it once at the beginning of the shot clock. Coaches will also try to use false motion to get into the action.

The empty ball screen provides several options for the offense. The guards can try to hit the roller on the empty side, where he has a lot of space. Teams can also run pick-and-pop off this action if the bigs are quality shooters. The guard can also reject the screen and conduct a baseline drive if there’s enough space. If opposing bigs try to aggressively hedge, the screener can slip and get an easy eight to 10-foot shot at the rim. The action can also provide pressure on help defenders by forcing them to choose whether to stick to shooters on the wing or stay at the nail.

Stanford Basketball Film Study: Empty ball screen

On this offensive possession against Wisconsin, Stanford uses false motion to prevent the pass to junior guard Michael O’Connell from being denied. O’Connell catches the ball on the wing and initiates an empty ball screen with junior forward Brandon Angel as the roller. The defense decides to hedge the ball-handler, and Angel reads this and decides to slip the screen. Wisconsin’s help-side defender is preoccupied with the movement of fifth-year Michael Jones, a prolific shooter, to the opposite corner, and he’s not able to prevent Angel from getting an easy basket. 

With the Cardinal offense struggling early this season, it will be interesting to see if head coach Jerod Haase will decide to tweak the use of this action. The action could be used more as a continuity, where the team keeps running the play, or the pace of the screen-and-roll could be increased.

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