Back From Finals Break, Stanford Hosts UC Davis Saturday

Back on the court for the first time in 13 days, Stanford (6-3, 0-0 Pac-12) hosts UC Davis (1-5, 0-0 Big West) on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m.

	The Cardinal, which has won three of its last four overall, has four non-conference games remaining before its Pac-12 opener at USC on Jan. 3.

Dec. 14, 2012

Game Notes

Stanford Cardinal (6-3, 0-0 Pac-12)
vs.
UC Davis Aggies (1-5, 0-0 Big West)

Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 • 2 p.m.
Stanford, CA • Maples Pavilion (7,239)
Series History: Stanford leads 15-1
Last Meeting: Stanford 70, UC Davis 49 (Nov. 18, 2011 at Davis, CA)
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM (PBP: John Platz, Analyst: Drew Shiller)
KZSU 90.1 FM (PBP: Lucas Prokopiak, Analyst: Andrew Santana)
TV: P12NET (PBP: JB Long, Analyst: Dan Belluomini)

The Opening Tip
Back on the court for the first time in 13 days, Stanford (6-3, 0-0 Pac-12) hosts UC Davis (1-5, 0-0 Big West) on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. The Cardinal, which has won three of its last four overall, has four non-conference games remaining before its Pac-12 opener at USC on Jan. 3.

Media Memo
Saturday's game can be heard live on KNBR 1050 AM and Stanford's official athletics website, www.gostanford.com, featuring the chemistry-rich duo of John Platz (play-by-play) and Drew Shiller (analyst). KZSU 90.1 FM also provides coverage. The game is televised on Pac-12 Networks with JB Long (play-by-play) and Dan Belluomini (analyst).

Scouting UC Davis
UC Davis (1-5, 0-0 Big West) has lost three in a row since winning 87-76 at Sacramento State back on Nov. 20 ... UC Davis is averaging 74.5 points per game while shooting 46.9 percent overall, 38.1 percent from long range and 74.0 percent from the foul line. However, the Aggies are allowing 77.3 points per game while opponents are connecting at 43.8 percent ... All five of the Aggies' losses have come by 10 points or less ... Ryan Sypkens is the nation's top three-point shooter, averaging 5.0 makes per game ... Players to watch include: Corey Hawkins (20.5 ppg, 90.5 percent free throws, 23 assists), Ryan Sypkens (17.5 ppg, 53.6 percent FG, 55.6 percent 3FG) and Ryan Howley (7.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 51.3 percent FG) ... UC Davis is coming off a 5-26 campaign, which included a 1-21 start to the year.

Stanford All-Time Against UC Davis
Stanford has dominated the all-time series with a 15-1 advantage. The Cardinal picked up a 70-49 road win over the Aggies last November for its third straight win in the series. UC Davis came away with its only win (64-58) in the series on Dec. 4, 2005, which before last year represented the only game in the series played at Davis.

Stanford Winning Despite Shooting Struggles...
It's been no secret that Stanford has struggled out of the gates with its shooting, connecting at 40.1 percent overall and 26.3 from three-point territory. Those marks rank last in the Pac-12. The cold stretch has been a surprise, considering the number of talented shooters on this year's team. Only one starter (Dwight Powell, 53.2) is shooting at least 50.0 percent from the floor.

...Because The Defense Has Been There
Stanford is holding its opponents to 62.2 points per game, a total that ranks fourth among Pac-12 teams and 56th in the country. The opposition is shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, with five teams held to under 40.0 percent so far this year. And while the Cardinal has struggled from beyond the arc, its foes haven't fared much better. Stanford is the Pac-12's best team at defending the three, as opponents are shooting 29.3 percent from long distance.

Cardinal Productive From The Charity Stripe
Stanford has excelled at the free throw line through nine games, converting at a 75.4 percent clip to rank third in the Pac-12 and 33rd nationally. Only once in the last six years has Stanford finished the season making 70.0 percent or better, and that came in 2008-09 when the Cardinal was slightly over the mark at 70.5 percent. Three players are connecting at better than 80.0 percent: Aaron Bright (85.7), Dwight Powell (83.7) and Chasson Randle (83.0). Earlier this year, Powell had made 18 in a row at one point while Randle owned a streak of 15 straight makes.

Looking For Some Breathing Room
Stanford has yet to post a 20-point victory, a feat the Cardinal accomplished 11 times in 2011-12. There are at least four non-conference games remaining on the schedule (excluding any postseason). It's been eight years since Stanford failed to record at least one 20-point win during non-conference play.

Recognizing A Dominant Effort On The Glass
Stanford used its height advantage to outmuscle Denver two weeks ago in its most recent victory. The Cardinal held a 36-20 scoring advantage in the paint and boasted a 33-16 rebounding edge. Denver's 16 rebounds were the fewest for a Cardinal opponent since Princeton was also limited to 16 boards back on Dec. 21, 2005, in a 58-34 Stanford win.

Powell's Hot Start Ignites Cardinal
Fully healthy and contributing consistently, Dwight Powell has emerged as one of Stanford's go-to players. In addition to averaging 14.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, Powell is shooting 53.2 percent overall, 83.7 percent from the foul line and is also 5-11 from long distance. A Pac-10 All-Freshman pick two years ago, Powell has notched two double-doubles while establishing career highs in every category, including points (29 vs. Denver, Dec. 2) and rebounds (13 vs. Seattle, Nov. 28). A matchup nightmare for opponents, Powell is finally showcasing the type of dynamic all-around game many expected when arriving on The Farm.

Randle Contributing Despite Shooting Woes
One year after producing arguably the best freshman season in school history, Chasson Randle has struggled with his shooting touch early on. The sophomore floor general is shooting only 36.4 percent overall and 23.8 percent from three-point territory. That being said, Randle is still the squad's top scorer at 14.7 points per game while also leading the team in assists (28) and steals (16). In addition to grabbing 3.2 rebounds per game, Randle has been impressive from the foul line (83.0 percent). Randle's totals should increase when Aaron Bright returns to the lineup on a full-time basis, after missing four games in late November due to an ankle injury.

Huestis' Block Party Continues
The milestone everyone was talking about after Stanford's 68-57 win over Seattle on Nov. 28? Josh Huestis' 10 blocked shots, just two shy of the school record established by Brook Lopez on Jan. 25, 2007 against USC in a triple-double performance that included 18 points and 11 rebounds. Huestis has totaled a team-best 27 blocks this year and his 3.0 swats per game rank 12th nationally. Stanford's single-season record is 85, achieved by Curtis Borchardt in 2001-02. Huestis has registered 77 career blocks, good for 13th in the school record books.

Brown A Key Reserve Off The Bench
Andy Brown, who appeared in just nine games last year after recovering from three ACL tears in three seasons, has seized his opportunity to make a difference. In eight games, Brown is averaging 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting a team-best 61.5 percent from the field that also ranks third among Pac-12 players. In addition to providing a much-needed leadership presence, Brown's hustle and high basketball IQ has allowed him to carry the Cardinal during key stretches. After a breakthrough performance in the Battle 4 Atlantis, Brown posted career highs in points (17) and rebounds (7) during a victory over Seattle on Nov. 28.

Anthony Brown Out For Remainder Of Season
Head coach Johnny Dawkins announced that junior guard/forward Anthony Brown would miss the remainder of the year due to a hip injury and require surgery. He is eligible to apply for a medical redshirt. A 2011 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection, Brown appeared in only four games this year but has averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 71 career games while shooting 39.6 percent overall and 35.1 percent from three-point territory.

Home Sweet Home
Stanford is 72-20 dating back to the start of the 2007-08 campaign that ended in an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. The Cardinal won a school-record 17 home games last year.

Non-Conference Success
Stanford is 48-15 against non-conference opponents under head coach Johnny Dawkins.

Cardinal Places Sixth At Battle 4 Atlantis
Stanford placed sixth at the second annual Battle 4 Atlantis, widely considered the nation's best preseason tournament with four top-25 teams included in the field. In a game that featured 12 ties and 11 lead changes, Minnesota edged Stanford 66-63 to claim fifth place. Stanford opened play against No. 13/14 Missouri, with the Tigers prevailing 78-70 despite the Cardinal erasing a 12-point deficit and trailing by one possession with just over three minutes remaining. Stanford bounced back the following day with its only victory of the tournament, producing its best defensive performance of the year in a 66-50 win over Northern Iowa.

Pac-12 Preseason Projection Highest Since 2005
Stanford has been picked to finish fourth in this year's Pac-12 preseason media poll, as announced at the conference's Media Day. The fourth-place projection is the highest since the 2005-06 campaign, when the Cardinal was tabbed for second.

Dawkins Inks Two To Letters Of Intent
Joining the Cardinal for the 2013-14 campaign are Marcus Allen (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Schuyler Rimmer (Orlando, Fla.). Allen is a 6-3, 180-pound guard from Centennial High School while Rimmer is a 6-10, 235-pound center from Boone High School.