Category: Stanford Cardinal

Arizona guard Allonzo Trier (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Stanford, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

By: Joe Lami

The 2016-17 season hasn’t been a pretty one for the Stanford Cardinal, but on Wednesday night they played one of their best games of the season in a 74-67 loss to ninth-ranked Arizona.

The Cardinal led early, but Arizona took the lead going into the half 35-32. Stanford hung around the rest of the way, as they wouldn’t let U of A out of their grasp.

Closing into the final minutes, the Cardinal tied the game at 67 with just two minutes to go, but a huge bucket from Lauri Markkanen gave the Wildcats the emotional advantage to close the win out.

Allonzo Trier made his first start of the season and was Arizona’s leading scorer. In just his sixth game back from injury, Trier put up 22 points, 12 of which came from the free-throw line to secure the win.

Reid Travis once again carried the Cardinal, leading all scorers with 26 points. The senior forward also brought down 11 rebounds for another double-double.

Marcus Allen and Dorian Pickens also reached double figures for Stanford with 15 and 12 points respectively.

Though, it’s another loss in the Cardinal’s book, Travis believes that the team can take momentum from hanging in with a top team in the country, “we showed ourselves that we can compete with any team in the country when we play hard. It’s going to fuel us going forward.”

The Cardinal close out their Arizona road trip in Tempe on Saturday against the Arizona State Sundevils.

STANFORD, CA – FEBRUARY 04: Stanford University Cardinal forward Reid Travis shoots the ball near the basket during a college basketball game between the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes and the Stanford University Cardinal on Febraury 4, 2017 at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, CA. The Cardinal beat the Runnin’ Utes, 81-75.(Photo by Tommy LaPorte/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

It’s good for the Stanford Cardinal to be headed back in the win column especially with the stretch that’s ahead of them with Arizona and Arizona State University coming up this week. It’s important that the Cardinal get some confidence going into this road trip in snapping that three game loss streak as they did against the Utah Utes on Saturday night 81-75.

One big blessing for the Cardinal was getting Reid Travis back in the line up and on Saturday he lit up the Utes with a 26 point performance and 19 of those points came in the second half of play. Those points were crucial as the Utes cut the Stanford lead to four points with the last 31 second left in the game. The Cardinal held on for dear life playing the foul game, protecting the three point line and won it by six points.

Matt Harrington does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Stanford University Cardinal forward Reid Travis grabs the offensive rebound and looks to go up for a shot nearthe basket during a college basketball game between the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes and the Stanford University Cardinal on Febraury 4, 2017 at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, CA. The Cardinal beat the Runnin’ Utes, 81-75.(Photo by Tommy LaPorte/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Jeremy Harness

STANFORD – A day after women’s coach Tara VanDerveer collected her 1,000^th-career victory, the Stanford men’s basketball team followed suit.

While gutting out an 81-75 win over Utah Saturday afternoon at Maples Pavilion, the Cardinal snapped a three-game losing streak.

The two schools went back and forth for the better part of the first 30 minutes of the game. But that’s when Reid Travis began to impose his will on the Utes.

After a relatively-quiet first half, Travis, wearing a protective sleeve for his right shoulder, really started to assert himself midway through the second half, out-muscling Utah’s frontcourt while also using his superior footwork to maneuver for shots around the basket.

Because of his second-half dominance, Utah (15-8 overall, 6-5 Pac-12) had to pay more attention to him in the low post, allowing the Cardinal to have more open looks on the perimeter, which Stanford used to its full advantage to take the lead for good.

Travis finished with 26 points – 19 of those coming in the second half – while making 11 of his 15 shots, to go along with five rebounds and four assists. He has continued to show a much-better touch at the free-throw line as well, knocking down four of his six foul shots.

The Utes, however, made things interesting in the final minute. After a free throw by Marcus Allen – who scored 13 points while converting on five of his eight field-goal attempts – the Cardinal led by nine, but Utah knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to cut the lead to four with 31 seconds left.

By that time, however, the Utes had to play the foul game, and guard Robert Cartwright then stepped down and hit a pair of crucial free throws. Stanford then guarded the 3-poiunt line more closely, and as a result, the Cardinal came away with the win.

Cartwright finished the game with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including knockingin three of his four 3-point attempts. Dorian Pickens also added 14 points.

The Cardinal (12-11 overall, 4-7 Pac-12 led 32-31 at the half, despite being outrebounded 20-13 in the first 20 minutes. Stanford, however, committed two fewer turnovers than Utah in that timeframe.

Other than that, the game was split right down the middle. Both teams made 12 field goals in the first half, with each school making a pair of 3-point attempts in the process.

To start the second half, Stanford was even steadier with the ball while forcing the Utes into even more turnovers. However, Utah was able to use the 3-ball to take the lead right back, opening up a four-point lead at the 8:41 mark.

On the ensuing possession, Travis worked himself inside for a layup to cut Utah’s lead to two, and after Utah standout forward Kyle Kuzma missed an inside basket, the Cardinal got it in to Travis again, and he converted to tie the game.

Sedrick Barefield hit a jumper at the 7:29 mark to give the Utes a two-point lead. That would be the last time Stanford trailed in this game.

Tyler Rawson led the Utes with 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Kuzma was right behind him with 18 to go along with 11 rebounds.

 

Stanford guard Marcus Allen (15) drives past Colorado guard Bryce Peters (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by London Marq

PALO ALTO–The Stanford Cardinal (11-11) returned home to Maples Pavilion from a tough three game road trip to host Colorado Buffaloes (13-10). After losing two straight, Stanford is looking to get back in the win column and stay above .500. The Cardinal were 11-10 entering play.

From the opening whistle, however, the Colorado Buffaloes were unwilling to give The Cardinal any space to operate. They played a half court press early in the first period, and Stanford struggled to advance the ball and create efficient ball movement as the Colorado Buffaloes take a seven point victory from their hosts 81-74. In the first half, guard Marcus Sheffield was Stanford’s standout. Stanford head coach said the flow was not consistent and that the Cardinal couldn’t pull ahead of the Buffaloes, ”It was a herky-jerky kind of game,” Haase said. ”I didn’t really feel there was a flow to our offense.”

Sheffield kept Stanford in the game with his three point shots (3-5) and free throw shooting (4-4). Star forward Reid Travis was lackluster, grabbing only three rebounds in the first period. Stanford would end the first period having shot 50% from the floor, while their opponents shot 57%. At the half the teams went into the tunnels with Colorado leading 41-31

The Cardinal came out fast in the second period, narrowing the deficit to four, by the middle of the period. Stanford was able to capitalize scoring 23 points on Colorado’s 23 turnovers. But Colorado’s dominance on the boards, and ability to get to the charity stripe would prove too much for The Cardinal. Colorado was plus nine in the rebounding category. Add that to the dismal 58% free throw shooting from Stanford and it’s easy to see why Colorado walked away with a road win in their pockets.

Final – Colorado def. Stanford 81-74

 

Oregon State’s Stephen Thompson Jr. (1) is closely guarded by California’s Sam Singer (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. California won 69-58. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)

For the Cal Bears you look at Ivan Rabb he’s gong to lead the Bears in their attack against the Stanford Cardinal. Their other former star was Jaylen Brown who after a short tenure with Cal is playing for the Boston Celtics. Cal is a mentally talented team and they might be a little bit better than they were last year. The Bears have a player Sam Singer who was one of the starting players years ago that the recruits brought in and he was a reserve player he would easily be starting for Stanford today.

You look at the talent and the depth the Bears have with the sure play making of Rabb and Jabari Bird and you begin to see how Stanford is outgunned. The other factor is the game is going to be played  at Haas Pavilion. Its going to happen on Sunday and the interest is going to be high. It’s going to be a tough place to play and with football the way things are going on the basketball program it might be a little more important for Cal.

Matt Harrington does the Stanford Cardinal podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Stanford’s Robert Cartwright (2) and Oregon State’s JaQuori McLaughlin (0) during an NCAA college basketball game in Corvallis, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)

If you look at Stanford Cardinal (11-9) guard Robby Cartwright he has moved up to starting guard Cartwright has been averaging 7.1 per game. He scored 18 in the game against Oregon State University and 21 against UCLA. In the game against Oregon only four points. The Ducks just simply shutdown the Cardinal offense. Another scorer that was shut down that did very well was Michael Humphrey. Humphrey picked up the pace when Reid Travis suffered a shoulder injury. In retrospect Humphrey delivered when he got those 21 points against USC.

The Ducks held Humphrey like they did Cartwright to only four points. So the Ducks shut down the Cardinal offense effectively. Travis still out with a shoulder injury came in very briefly since he reinjured it. If Travis can’t play the Cardinal will have to do their best without him. The Cardinal have some pretty tough games coming up their going up to Berkeley to Haas Pavilion to play the Bears on Sunday. The Bears are 14-5 overall and their 5-3 in the Pac 12.  It’s a very difficult place for the Cardinal to play.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Cardinal podcasts each Thursday on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oregon’s Chris Boucher, center, dunks the ball between Stanford’s Josh Sharma, left, and Christian Sanders, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)

Too much Oregon Ducks for the Stanford Cardinal the Cardinal started off the game with a 5-0 lead and then the Ducks poured it on and they hit four straight three pointers pulling away with 16-7. The Cardinal snapped their three game win streak with a 69-52 loss going to Oregon was going to be no easy task. The Ducks Chris Boucher led the Ducks with 16 points and ten rebounds. Oregon is rolling now and improved their record to (18-2, 7-0).

Matt Harrington does the Stanford Cardinal podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Stanford’s Trevor Stanback, left, battles Oregon’s Kavell Bigby-Williams for a rebound with Stanford’s Grant Verhoeven and Oregon’s Chris Boucher, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, January 21, 2017

The 11th-ranked Oregon Ducks cruised to a 69-52 Pac-12 men’s basketball triumph over visiting Stanford Saturday at Eugene, Ore., snapping the Cardinal’s three-game winning streak.

A balanced attack helped the Ducks. Chris Boucher led Oregon with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Dylan Ennis was next with 15 points, followed by Jordan Bell and Tyler Dorsey with 11 points each.

Getting it done in the Ducks backcourt was Payton Pritchard, with seven assists and eight points.

Marcus Allen was the only Cardinal to score in double figures, leading Stanford with 13 points. Allen and Robert Cartwright had three assists each, while Michael Humphrey and Grant Verhoeven grabbed six and five rebounds, respectively.

Though the Ducks committed 19 turnovers, they also hit 47 percent from the field (24 of 51 2-point, 11 of 25 3-point) and outrebounded Stanford 40-29.

Stanford (11-9 overall, 3-5 Pac-12) was 20 of 62 (32 percent) for total field goal shooting – 6 of 20 behind the 3-point arc. The Cardinal also went more than eight minutes without a field goal in the second half.

Oregon (18-2 overall, 7-0 Pac-12) prevailed despite the absence of preseason All-American Dillon Brooks, who was an injury scratch (sprained foot). The Ducks proceeded to break a 104-year-old school record with their 16th consecutive win and 38th in a row at home.

After Stanford jumped to a 5-0 lead, the Ducks hit four straight 3’s to take a permanent lead at 16-7. Oregon built a 20-point lead late in the first half, and, after the Cardinal went five minutes without a field goal, the Ducks took a 40-22 halftime lead.

Oregon led by as many as 25 points late in the game. The Ducks have won their last six games by an average lead of 24.3 points.

With the loss, Stanford is still seeking its first win this season over a Top 25 team after six such defeats. In addition, the Cardinal have not swept a league road trip since 2010.

There is some good news for the Cardinal – leading scorer and rebounder Reid Travis is expected to return from a right shoulder injury in time to face California in eight days.

Oregon State’s Ronnie Stacy, center, shoots past Stanford’s Michael Humphrey (10) and Josh Sharma (20) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Corvallis, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Stanford won 62-46. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, January 19, 2017

Stanford won its third consecutive men’s basketball game Thursday in Corvalis, Ore., defeating Oregon State 62-46 in Pac-12 conference action.

Michael Humphrey paced the Cardinal with 21 points, while Marcus Allen added 12 points. Dorian Pickens pulled down seven of the Cardinal’s 29 rebounds, while Humphrey and Grant Verhoeven each had six boards. Josh Sharma blocked three shots.

Stanford played without Reid Travis, the Cardinal’s top scorer (16.6 ppg) and rebounder (8.9 rpg) due to a right shoulder injury. The Beavers were also shorthanded, missing Tres Tinkle, their top scorer (20.2 ppg), who has missed 13 games after breaking his right wrist on Nov. 25 against Fresno State.

Stephen Thompson Jr. was the Beavers’ top scorer with 15 points. OSU (4-15 overall, 0-6 Pac-12), which has lost six straight games, jumped to an early nine-point lead, but later trailed by 17 points.

The Cardinal (11-8 overall, 3-4 Pac-12) pulled to within 20-17 on a Marcus Sheffield jumper nearly five minutes before halftime. A dunk by Humphrey closed Stanford’s deficit to 25-23 and a layup by Allen tied the game.

Stanford surged ahead 27-25 at the break on a pair of Humphrey free throws. The Cardinal began to pull away in the second half when Sheffield’s 3-pointer put Stanford up 37-32 with 12:35 to play.

The Cardinal hit 45 percent (18 of 40) from the field, including 3 of 12 from 3-point range.

Defensively, Stanford forced the Beavers into 17 turnovers. Oregon State was held to 35 percent shooting (14 of 40), though Thompson Jr. hit 4 of 8 3-pointers. The Beavers had 26 rebounds. Thompson Jr. and Kendal Manuel each had two steals.

The Cardinal’s road trip continues Saturday when they visit No. 11 Oregon.