SETTING THE SCENE
6-0 for the first time since 2019, Stanford men's basketball heads to Palm Desert for the Acrisure Holiday Classic to face Grand Canyon at Acrisure Arena. The 4 p.m. tip will air on TruTV and Max.
THE STARTING FIVE
• The Cardinal is off to a 6-0 start with wins over Denver, Cal State Fullerton, Northern Arizona, UC Davis, Norfolk State and Santa Clara. The first three wins each had a margin over 20 points, marking a first for the program in a three-game winning streak since 2007. Stanford is 6-0 for the first time since 2019.
• Stanford’s roster holds an exciting mix of returning players, transfers and freshmen, led by All-Pac-12 standout, and one of the best centers in the country, Maxime Raynaud.
• The Pac-12 Most Improved Player last season, Raynaud is first in the ACC in scoring at 22.8 points per game and rebounding with 12.8 per night. He also ranks first nationally in rebounds per game and is the only player in the country with six double-doubles this season (no other player has more than four).
• Three players are averaging double figures, paced by Raynaud but also including Oziyah Sellers (14.8) and Jaylen Blakes (14.3). Blakes is 19th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.3:1).
• Kyle Smith joined the Cardinal from Washington State as the reigning Pac-12 Coach of the Year, where he led the Cougars to 25 wins and the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. Smith brought his entire staff from Washington State to the Farm along with program icon Eric Reveno, who was at Oregon State from 2022-24 and was previously on the Cardinal bench from 1997-2006.
BAY AREA'S FINEST
On the road for the first time this season, Stanford rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final four minutes to defeat Santa Clara, 71-69. Jaylen Blakes scored the game-winning basket from 18 feet with two seconds to go, fading away from the elbow and sinking a jump shot. Blakes scored eight points and dished a career-high 10 assists in the win. Maxime Raynaud continued his early season dominance, tallying eye-popping numbers of 32 points and 16 rebounds. The game marked the second time in the last three games he scored more than 30. Oziyah Sellers scored 23 points, with 21 in the second half.
GRAND OPENING
Stanford will face Grand Canyon for the first time in program history in Palm Desert. The Cardinal is 10-0 all-time against current members of the WAC, last facing Tarleton to open the 2021-22 campaign. Stanford will also face Utah Valley later in the non-conference slate on Dec. 3.