SETTING THE SCENE
Returning to Maples Pavilion, where it sports a 5-0 record, Stanford men's basketball is set to host Cal Poly on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. The action will air on ACC Network Extra.
THE STARTING FIVE
• The Cardinal is off to a 6-1 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 started 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 fifth nationally in scoring at 23.7 points per game and first in rebounding with 12.6 per night. He leads the ACC in both categories, and his seven double-doubles this season (in seven games) pace the nation.
• Three players are averaging double figures, paced by Raynaud but also including Jaylen Blakes (15.4) and Oziyah Sellers (14.4). Blakes is coming off of a career-best 22 points against Grand Canyon (Nov. 26).
• 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.
TO THE MAX
Maxime Raynaud has been the nation's premier center over the first month of the season, putting together average of 23.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, ranking fifth and first nationally, while also leading the country in double-doubles (7). Stanford has never had a player finish higher than third on the national rebounding leaderboard (Curtis Borchardt, 2001-02), while his scoring average is on pace to be a top-two average in program history. Adam Keefe ranked 11th in scoring (25.3) and fourth in rebounds (12.2) in 1991-92.
CAL POLY IN TOWN
Stanford is 8-1 all-time against Cal Poly, dropping the first meeting on Nov. 27, 1977 but winning the last eight, including by 37 in the last meeting on Nov. 18, 2022. Stanford also welcomes back Cal Poly assistant coach Jesse Pruitt, who spent eight years on the Stanford bench.