Dec. 17, 2012
Game Notes 
Stanford Cardinal (7-3, 0-0 Pac-12)
at
No. 25/- NC State Wolfpack (7-2, 0-0 ACC)
Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 • 6 p.m. PT
Raleigh, N.C. • PNC Arena (19,700)
Series History: Stanford leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Stanford 76, NC State 72 (Dec. 4, 2011 at Stanford, CA)
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM (PBP: John Platz)
KZSU 90.1 FM (PBP: Preston Chin)
TV: ESPN2 (PBP: Dave LaMont, Analyst: Sean Farnham)
The Opening Tip
Stanford (7-3) prepares for its first away game of the season, traveling to No. 25/- NC State (7-2) to kick off a crucial non-conference road swing. After taking on the Wolfpack, the Cardinal squares off against Northwestern three days later. Following the holiday break, Stanford hosts Lafayette on Dec. 29 before the start of Pac-12 play.
Media Memo
Tuesday's game can be heard live on KNBR 1050 AM and Stanford's official athletics website, www.gostanford.com, featuring a solo effort from veteran play-by-play announcer John Platz (play-by-play). KZSU 90.1 FM also provides coverage. The game is televised on ESPN2 with Dave LaMont (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst).
Scouting No. 25/- NC State
NC State (7-2, 0-0 ACC), which is coming off an 84-62 rout of Norfolk State on Saturday, has been ranked as high as No. 6 in both national polls to open the year ... This year's preseason pick to win the ACC, NC State is averaging 78.4 points and 36.7 rebounds while shooting 52.7 percent overall, but only 63.9 percent from the foul line ... The Wolfpack has navigated through a difficult schedule, having already faced off against Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oklahoma State ... Four players average double-figure scoring, led by T.J. Warren (14.6 ppg, 69.1 percent FG), Richard Howell (14.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 66.7 percent FG), C.J. Leslie (12.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 57.7 percent FG) and Lorenzo Brown (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 54 assists, 21 steals) ... NC State returns four starters from a squad that finished 24-13 last year and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Stanford All-Time Against NC State
In the only previous meeting, Stanford clipped NC State 76-72 last December at Maples Pavilion. Josh Owens scored 19 points and Chasson Randle added 16 points, rallying the Cardinal from a 12-point deficit in the second half. Stanford shot only 36.2 percent, but cashed in at the foul line (29-34), held a 40-30 rebounding edge and forced 17 turnovers. NC State, which shot 47.3 percent and made 7-17 from beyond the arc, held a 35-31 lead at halftime and did not trail until the game's final three minutes.
Stanford Against The Top-25
Stanford is 3-9 all-time against top-25 opponents under head coach Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal has faced one nationally-ranked opponent already this year, dropping a 78-70 decision to No. 13/14 Missouri on Nov. 22 in the opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas. Stanford last defeated a top-25 team back on Jan. 13, 2011, with the Cardinal picking up a 58-56 home victory over No. 17/18 Washington.
Finally, A Road Game
Tuesday's game will represent the first true road game of the year for the Cardinal, which has played four neutral-site games to date. The Dec. 18 date is the latest Stanford has played a true road game since the 2010-11 campaign, when the Cardinal faced Butler, also on Dec. 18. The Bulldogs won that contest, 83-50, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Stanford Winning Despite Shooting Struggles...
It's been no secret that Stanford has struggled with its shooting, connecting at 39.8 percent overall and 26.0 from three-point territory. Those marks rank last in the Pac-12. The Cardinal has shot better than 40.0 percent just four times this year and has topped the 50.0 percent mark in only one contest. The extended cold stretch has been a surprise, considering the number of talented shooters on this year's team. Only one starter (Dwight Powell, 56.3) is shooting at least 50.0 percent from the floor.
...Because The Defense Has Been There
However, Stanford is holding its opponents to 61.2 points per game, a total that ranks fifth among Pac-12 teams. The opposition is shooting 38.3 percent from the floor, with six 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 only 28.3 percent from long distance. That total also ranks 42nd in the nation.
Cardinal Productive From The Charity Stripe
Stanford has excelled at the free throw line, converting at a 75.1 percent clip to rank third in the Pac-12 and 36th 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 (84.9) and Chasson Randle (83.9). Earlier this year, Powell had made 18 in a row at one point while Randle owned a streak of 15 straight makes.
Powell's Hot Start Ignites Cardinal
Fully healthy and contributing consistently, Dwight Powell is showcasing the kind of dynamic all-around game many expected when he first arrived on The Farm. In addition to averaging 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, Powell is shooting 56.3 percent overall, 84.9 percent from the foul line and is also 5-12 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 on Dec. 2) and rebounds (13 vs. Seattle on Nov. 28).
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 35.8 percent overall and 21.6 percent from three-point territory. That being said, Randle is still averaging 14.4 points per game while also leading the team in assists (32) and steals (19). In addition to grabbing 3.3 rebounds per game, Randle has been impressive from the foul line (83.9 percent). Randle's totals should continue to 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 29 blocks this year and his 2.9 swats per game rank 15th nationally. Stanford's single-season record is 85, achieved by Curtis Borchardt in 2001-02. Huestis has registered 79 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. Brown is averaging 7.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting a team-best 56.5 percent from the field that ranks eighth among Pac-12 players. In addition to providing a much-needed leadership presence, Brown's hustle and high basketball IQ have been welcomed assets.
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.
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.
