STANFORD, Calif. – For the second year in a row, Stanford will close its regular season in Tucson, as the Cardinal faces No. 18/16 Arizona at McKale Center at 1 p.m. PT on Saturday. Stanford has played its final road contest of the regular season in Tucson in each of the last three seasons.
THE CARDINAL PAIR FROM ARIZONA
Sophomores Michael Humphrey and Dorian Pickens grew up in Phoenix, Ariz. and faced each other several times in high school. The Cardinal sophomores are in the middle of their second trip back to the Grand Canyon state as teammates. They have each played in every game this season. In Thursday’s game in Phoenix, the pair combined to score 34 of Stanford’s 64 points against the Sun Devils. In the Cardinal’s last six games, the duo has combined to average 29.7 ppg of Stanford’s 71.3 ppg.
ROSCO ALLEN’S LAST 11 GAMES, SINCE STANFORD’S LAST MEETING WITH ARIZONA
• Averaging 18.4 points (15.7 ppg overall) and 6.8 rebounds
• Averaging 13.3 points in the second half alone
• Led or tied for the team lead in scoring in seven games
• Four of his seven career 20-point games, including career-high 25 vs. Colorado and Oregon
• Recorded 23 three-point field goals
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Stanford’s schedule, the sixth-toughest in the nation in ESPN’s Daily RPI on March 4, includes 16 games against RPI top-50 teams - tied with Kansas and Texas for the most in the nation on March 4. Stanford has five RPI top-35 wins already with victories over Oregon (4), Utah (8), California (16), Oregon State (34) and USC (35) in the RPI rankings on March 4. The Cardinal has played four top-25 teams in both the Coaches and Associated Press Poll national polls, with wins over No. 21/22 Utah and No. 11/12 Oregon.
PICKENS MOST IMPROVED IN PAC-12
Sophomore Dorian Pickens owns the largest increase in scoring average among returning Pac-12 players.
Largest increase in scoring average from last year to this year among returning players in the Pac-12
MOST STEALS IN 19 YEARS
Stanford’s 6.8 steals-per-game average is its highest since the 1996-97 season (6.9 spg). With 191 steals already this season, the Cardinal is on pace to record at least 200 steals for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The 6.8 spg average is fourth-best in the Pac-12.
AGAINST ARIZONA
Arizona holds a 60-29 advantage in the all-time series with Stanford. The Wildcats have captured the last 12 games in the series. The Cardinal’s last victory over Arizona in Tucson was on Feb. 16, 2008 (67-66). Stanford has dropped its last six contests in Tucson.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Cardinal is 2-2 against top-25 teams this season and 13-22 against ranked foes in the Johnny Dawkins era. Stanford defeated No. 21 Utah (70-68) on Jan. 1 and No. 11 Oregon (76-72) on Feb. 13 at home. Stanford has dropped decisions to No. 8/9 Villanova (59-45) on Nov. 27 and No. 12/11 Arizona (71-57) on Jan. 21.
THE LINEUP
Stanford has presented a different starting lineup in five of its last eight games after utilizing the same lineup the previous 12 contests. Senior Rosco Allen is the lone Cardinal to have started all 28 games. Senior Grant Verhoeven has started six of the last seven contests. Stanford has used 10 different lineups in its 28 games.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Five members of the Cardinal are averaging double figures in the scoring column. It’s the first time a Stanford team has had five individuals average double figures, dating back to the 1948-49 season. Rosco Allen (15.7), Dorian Pickens (12.3), Marcus Allen (10.8), Michael Humphrey (10.3) and Reid Travis (12.8) have averaged double figures so far. Travis played in the first eight games before missing the remainder of the season.
