Stanford Cardinal Game Preview & How to Watch

The Essentials

Date: Thursday, 2/20/20

Tip-Off Time: 7:00 pm PT

TV: Pac-12 Networks

Radio: KOMO 1000

Streaming: Pac-12.com/live

Location: Seattle, Washington

Betting line: Washington -2.5

Stanford 2019-20 Statistics:

Record: 16-9 (5-7)

Points For per Game: 70.0 ppg (182nd)

Points Against per Game: 61.7 ppg (14th)

Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 103.6 (154th)

Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 89.5 (9th)

Strength of Schedule: 97th overall

Stanford Key Players:

C- Oscar Da Silva, Jr. 6’9, 225: 15.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 59.0% FG, 32.3% 3pt, 77.6% FT

F- Spencer Jones, Fr. 6’7, 195: 9.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 40.5% FG, 41.9% 3pt, 68.4% FT

G- Bryce Wills, So. 6’6, 195: 7.2ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 47.3% FG, 15.4% 3pt, 54.7% FT

G- Daejon Davis, Jr. 6’3, 185: 8.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 40.8% FG, 32.2% 3pt, 60.5% FT

G- Tyrell Terry, Fr. 6’2, 160: 15.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 45.0% FG, 39.7% 3pt, 90.2% FT

2019-20 Stanford Shot Chart

Synergy Sports

If this were a baseball team with the idea of being strong up the middle then Stanford would have failed. The Cardinal are fantastic finishing around the rim but otherwise are somehow not good lined up straight with the basket. They’re much more adept shooting from the wing which will likely stretch UW’s zone a little further beyond the 3-point line then they would like.

The Outlook

Washington has obviously been the greatest disappointment in the conference but Stanford over the last month has been right on their tails. The Cardinal weren’t expected to be all that great this season and have fallen back to earth losing 7 of their last 8 games with the one win bizarrely coming against Oregon. Much like Washington many of those losses have been close with a pair of overtime defeats, and losses by margins of 2, 5, 5, 7, and 9.

Stanford’s calling card all season has been their defense and they’re one of the best groups in the country. They’ve been the best team in the conference forcing turnovers and in the first matchup with Quade Green absent the Huskies coughed it up 21 times. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a similar game this time around as the Dawgs haven’t figured out their turnover woes.

The first part of a possession advantage goes to Stanford but the second one is a pillow fight as UW is 331st in defensive rebound percentage against Stanford’s 311th ranked offensive rebounding group. Washington thoroughly dominated the Cardinal on the boards last time around but still lost because of their abysmal shooting from the free throw line and the 3-point arc. If this game is to be close or remain in the Huskies’ favor then they once again will have to show improvement in that respect.

Isaiah Stewart struggled badly the first time around against Stanford with just 4 points and 5 rebounds and that shouldn’t be shocking for a team with possibly the best interior defense in the entire country. The Huskies won’t be able to rely upon Isaiah to carry the offense and so RaeQuan Battle, Marcus Tsohonis, and Jamal Bey will need to step up with probably 5+ outside shots to soften up Stanford’s defense. Those 3 played a combined 21 minutes without a 3-point attempt in the first game.

I still think that from a gameplan standpoint that Washington matches up well with Stanford. There’s a reason that the Dawgs were up by 12 on the road with a little over 10 minutes to go. But even for a numbers guy like me it’s evident that the Huskies are firmly inside their own heads once they get into crunch time and there’s no way I can pick them until they actually pull one out.

Prediction

Washington Huskies- 56, Stanford Cardinal- 65

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Look Further Ahead

Washington plays tonight but at this point you’ve probably already decided whether or not you’re heading to the game. Get an early jump on the opportunity to watch Washington host California on 3pm this upcoming Saturday afternoon when you don’t have to contend with post-work Seattle traffic.

Realistically this is only one of two games the rest of the year where the Huskies have the chance to be seriously favored so remind yourself what that feels like in person. Or just skip out midway through the 2nd half when UW is up by 10 and don’t check your phone and assume things worked out. If you’ve been adopting that strategy for the last several months then the Husky season is going swimmingly.

So if you’re in need of tickets check out Stubhub for the best deals on seats.

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Keep up with the game in the comments below. You can also follow me for all your UW Men’s Basketball News and Game Updates @UWDP_maxvroom