April 16, 2013

2012-13 Final Record: 19-15, 9-9 Pac-12 (T6th)

2012-13 Postseason: NIT Second Round

Check Out The Numbers Archive: Josh Huestis | Dwight Powell

Mark Soltau Features Archive: Christian Sanders | Andy Brown | Gabriel Harris

Student-Athlete Profiles Archive: Gabriel Harris | Andy Brown | Josh Huestis | Dwight Powell | Robbie Lemons | Rosco Allen

Quick Links: Final Release | Commit To The Court Archive | Statistics | Facebook | Twitter | Photos

The Opening Tip
Stanford (19-15, 9-9 Pac-12) advanced to the postseason for the second straight year, reaching the second round of the NIT after winning the event in 2012. Stanford wrapped up non-conference play at 10-5, including wins over Northern Iowa and Northwestern. In Pac-12 action, Stanford swept the season series against California for the first time since 2008 and notched a 76-52 upset of No. 10/12 Oregon at Maples Pavilion.

Awards Banquet Concludes 2012-13
Dwight Powell walked away with four awards, including the Hank Luisetti Most Valuable Player honor. Powell also received the Roy Young Toughness award while claiming statistical award titles for scoring and three-point field goal percentage. Josh Huestis snagged the Most Improved Player award for the third consecutive year and also was named the club's Best Defensive Player. Huestis was also recognized as one of three Captains' Award recipients, joining Aaron Bright and Chasson Randle. Andy Brown earned the Most Inspirational Player honor for the second year in a row. Gabriel Harris received the Howie Dallmar Coaches award. Jack Ryan was acknowledged for attaining the team's highest GPA (3.81), highlighting another successful academic campaign.

2013 Postseason NIT Recap
Stanford opened defense of its 2012 NIT championship with a 58-57 victory over Stephen F. Austin at Maples Pavilion. Dwight Powell led the way with his 10th double-double, finishing with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Despite not scoring over the final 3:52, Stanford handed Stephen F. Austin only its fifth loss when Desmond Haymon's last-second jumper fell short. The Cardinal shot 40.4 percent overall but was 7-16 from three-point territory while the Lumberjacks were just 3-11 from long distance. In the second round, Stanford dropped a 66-54 decision at Alabama. Chasson Randle scored 11 points to pace the Cardinal, which was held to season-low totals in points and field goal percentage (31.0). Stanford twice closed to within four points in the second half after trailing 32-24 at intermission. Dwight Powell battled foul trouble and was held to a season-low two points on 1-6 shooting.
First Round: Stanford 58, Stephen F. Austin 57 - March 19
First Round: Alabama 66, Stanford 54 - March 23

Stanford All-Time In The Postseason
Stanford is 36-21 all-time over 24 postseason appearances. The Cardinal is 21-15 in 16 NCAA Tournament showings, 13-5 in seven NIT appearances and 2-1 during one year of CBI competition. Stanford was making its seventh appearance in the NIT, falling short in its bid to join St. John's (1943, 1944) and South Carolina (2005, 2006) as the only schools to claim back-to-back NIT championships.

Cardinal Has Performed Well In March
Stanford is 16-10 in games played during the month of March under head coach Johnny Dawkins. In 2011-12, the Cardinal won a school-record seven games in March, including its final five contests en route to capturing the NIT championship.

Seven Pac-12 All-Academic Picks A League Best
Stanford was represented with a conference-best seven players named to the Pac-12 All-Academic team. For the fourth straight year, Stanford totaled the most selections of any conference school. John Gage and Robbie Lemons were named to the first team, while Andy Brown, Stefan Nastic, Dwight Powell and Chasson Randle were recognized as second team picks. Anthony Brown earned honorable mention status. To be eligible, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and be either a starter or significant contributor. Stanford has produced 54 all-time All-Academic selections, the most of any conference school since the award's inception in 1985-86.

Powell, Huestis Highlight Stanford's All-Pac-12 Picks
Dwight Powell was named an All-Pac-12 First Team selection and recognized as the conference's Most Improved Player of the Year, highlighting Stanford's honorees among this year's All-Pac-12 award winners. Meanwhile, Josh Huestis earned a spot on the five-member All-Defensive Team, one year after receiving Honorable Mention status in the same category. Powell, who was named to the All-Freshman Team two years ago, is the first Stanford player tabbed to the 10-member First Team since Jeremy Green in 2011. Powell also becomes the first Cardinal to earn the Pac-12's Most Improved Player of the Year since the inception of the award four years ago.

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Significant Improvement Fuels Powell's Season
Dwight Powell showcased the type of dynamic all-around game everyone expected when he first arrived on The Farm. In addition to his Pac-12 accolades, Powell was also named a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Second Team All-District selection. The only Pac-12 player ranked among the league's top-10 in both scoring and rebounding, Powell averaged a team-best 14.9 points while ranking second on the squad with 8.4 rebounds per game. In addition to compiling a team-best 10 double-doubles, he produced nine 20-point games while reaching double figures in 27 games overall.
Just how much did Powell improve? During the 2011-12 campaign, Powell averaged 5.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while scoring in double figures six times.
Powell became one of three Stanford players over the last decade to register at least 10 double-doubles, joining Landry Fields (13 in 2009-10) and Matt Haryasz (10 in 2005-06).
Scoring and rebounding aside, Powell also excelled from the foul line (79.6 percent) and three-point range (45.5 percent). He totaled 72 assists, 39 blocks and 26 steals.
Powell was equally impressive in the classroom, as he was the only player to earn a spot on both the Pac-12 All-Academic Team and All-Pac-12 First Team.

Huestis Enjoys Breakthrough Season
Josh Huestis developed into one of the Pac-12's premier defensive performers, thanks in large part to his rebounding and shot-blocking prowess. Huestis averaged 10.5 points and a team-best 9.0 rebounds per game, doubling his production from the previous season and nearly becoming the first Cardinal player to average a double-double since Curtis Borchardt (16.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg) in 2001-02. Huestis, who tallied 10 blocks against Seattle on Nov. 28, finished with 71 swats, the fourth-best single-season mark in school history. Starting all 34 games, Huestis scored in double figures 17 times and compiled nine double-doubles.
Huestis was especially dominant on the offensive glass. His 111 offensive rebounds were the most for a Stanford player since Adam Keefe's 134 during the 1991-92 campaign.
Just like Dwight Powell, Huestis continued to develop into a perimeter threat. Huestis made 33.8 percent from three-point range, with his 26 triples ranking fourth on the team.
Huestis has totaled 121 career blocks, tied with Howard Wright (1985-89) for fifth in school history. He is on pace to break the school record of 167 established by Tim Young (1994-99).
Only three Stanford players boast career marks of at least 500 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks: Huestis (617, 539, 121), Tim Young (1544, 1070, 167), Howard Wright (1599, 860, 121).

Double-Double Machines...
Dwight Powell and Josh Huestis were one of five duos nationally to have notched at least nine double-doubles apiece. In fact, prior to a Feb. 27 loss to Colorado, Stanford had received at least one double-double from either Powell or Huestis in eight straight games.

Randle Heats Up After Slow Start
Chasson Randle ranked second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and assists (89), while leading the club in three-pointers (61) and steals (38). In addition to grabbing 2.9 rebounds per game, Randle was very effective from the foul line (91-116, 78.4 percent). A season of early struggles for Randle officially hit rock bottom against USC back on Jan. 3, as the sophomore guard was held scoreless for the first time in his career. But since that game, Randle was terrific, producing solid numbers for the remainder of the conference season.

Bright In Control At The Point
Aaron Bright averaged 9.3 points and 3.4 assists in 30 games, making 22 starts. Bright finished with shooting totals of 34.7 percent overall and 32.1 percent from three-point territory, noticeable declines from his sophomore marks of 43.2 percent overall and 43.6 percent from beyond the arc. Despite the offensive struggles, Bright was at his best in terms of getting his teammates involved while constantly protecting the basketball. Bright's career-best 2.1 assist/turnover ratio ranked second in the Pac-12 to UCLA's Larry Drew II (3.0). Over his final six games, Bright committed only eight turnovers while playing at least 31 minutes in each contest.

Gage Provides Valuable Weapon Off Bench
Stanford received an immediate boost off the bench from sharp-shooter John Gage, who averaged 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 34 games (33 coming off the bench). Gage, who scored in double figures 10 times, enjoyed a breakthrough night against Utah on Jan. 27, establishing career highs in points (19), field goals (6) and rebounds (6). Gage finished the year as the Pac-12's leading three-point shooter in both overall games (45-101, 44.6 percent) and conference-only games (27-55, 49.1 percent). In games where Gage played at least 15 minutes, he averaged 9.3 points and shot 52.1 percent (38-73) from beyond the arc. Gage was equally proficient from the foul line (26-31, 83.9 percent).

Andy Brown Dependable In Comeback Season
Andy Brown, who appeared in just nine games during the 2011-12 campaign after recovering from three ACL tears in three seasons, clearly seized his opportunity to make a difference. Brown, who played in 33 games while making 20 starts, averaged 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting a team-best 48.5 percent overall. Brown matched his career high of 17 points on three different occasions, most recently on Feb. 27 against Colorado in which he also grabbed a career-high eight boards. In addition to providing a much-needed leadership presence, Brown's hustle and basketball IQ were welcomed assets.

Cardinal Adjusts After Loss Of Anthony Brown
Head coach Johnny Dawkins announced on Nov. 28 that junior Anthony Brown would miss the remainder of the year due to a hip injury and require surgery. Brown is eligible to apply for a medical redshirt and by all indications is on track for a full return next season. A 2011 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection, Brown appeared in only four games this year. However, his production was greatly missed, as Brown had 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.

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Stanford Exceptional From The Charity Stripe
Stanford converted its free throws at a 74.3 percent clip, good for 35th in the nation. Only once in the last six years had Stanford finished the season making at least 70.0 percent from the foul line. This year's clip was the best in school history since the 2005-06 squad connected at 76.3 percent. There were 10 games in which the Cardinal knocked down at least 20 free throws.

Perimeter Shots Make The Difference In Pac-12 Play
Stanford struggled from beyond the arc against non-conference opponents, shooting just 28.9 percent (85-294). In fact, Robbie Lemons (14-34, 41.2 percent) was the only player to connect at better than 36.0 percent in games versus non-league foes. However, it was a different story in Pac-12 play, as Stanford shot a league-best 41.1 percent, with USC's 36.1 percent clip the next in line. The Cardinal also topped the league standings in scoring, averaging 71.3 points in Pac-12-only games along with Arizona.

Balanced Scoring Key To Cardinal Attack
Stanford received double-figure scoring from at least four players in a game on 12 occasions. Dwight Powell was the most consistent, reaching double-digit scoring in 27 games, including 20 in a row from Jan. 3-March 19. Chasson Randle also reached double figures in 27 games, including eight of his final 10 contests. Of Stanford's 14 available players, 11 scored in double figures at least once this season.

Lineup Stability Helped Define Roles
Head coach Johnny Dawkins employed a starting lineup of Aaron Bright, Chasson Randle, Andy Brown, Josh Huestis and Dwight Powell for the final 17 games of the season. It was the longest stretch for a starting five during his tenure. Dawkins used nine different starting lineups this year, compared to 15 in 2011-12, seven in 2010-11 and six combinations in both 2008-09 and 2009-10. Meanwhile, 12 different players made at least one start.

Signature Win Comes Against No. 10/12 Oregon
Chasson Randle scored a game-high 17 points to lead four players in double figures, pacing Stanford to a 76-52 rout of No. 10/12 Oregon at Maples Pavilion. The Ducks ultimately reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Stanford hadn't beaten a ranked opponent since Jan. 13, 2011, taking down No. 17/18 Washington 58-56 at home. Stanford also earned its first victory over a top-10 team since Feb. 2, 2008, when the Cardinal won at Washington State 67-65 in overtime.
Stanford dominated the frontcourt thanks to double-doubles from Josh Huestis (14 pts., 13 reb.) and Dwight Powell (12 pts., 13 reb.).
Oregon entered the game boasting a high-octane offense (76.2 ppg, 46.4 percent FG) and the Pac-12's top rebounding mark (39.2 rpg). However, the Ducks were held to just 52 points on 34.6 percent shooting while totaling only 31 rebounds.
A smothering Cardinal defense racked up nine steals and forced the Ducks into 20 turnovers and only four assists.

Harris A Surprise Factor On Senior Day
Gabriel Harris entered his Senior Day game on March 3 having averaged 2.0 points while scoring in double figures only three times in 81 career games. However, Harris enjoyed his best game in a Cardinal uniform against Utah, totaling career highs in points (14) and rebounds (7) in 23 minutes off the bench. Harris was 6-7 from the field, made his only three-point try and played lock-down defense.

Dawkins Inks Two To Letters Of Intent
Joining the Cardinal 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.

Cardinal Places Sixth At Battle 4 Atlantis
Stanford placed sixth at the second annual Battle 4 Atlantis in November, 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.

Nation's Longest Win Streak Snapped In Loss
Stanford's 70-62 loss to Belmont on Nov. 18 snapped the nation's longest active winning streak at the time. Entering the game, the Cardinal had won eight in a row dating back to last year's NIT title run.