SETTING THE SCENE
Taking the court for the final time before it's ACC opener across the Bay, Stanford welcomes Utah Valley to Maples Pavilion on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
THE STARTING FIVE
• The Cardinal is off to a 6-2 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 23.4 points per game and third in rebounding with 11.6 per night. He leads the ACC in both categories, and his seven double-doubles this season pace the nation.
• Three players are averaging double figures, paced by Raynaud but also including Jaylen Blakes (15.6) and Oziyah Sellers (14.0). 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 averages of 23.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, ranking fifth and third 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.
THE NET RESULT
Stanford enters the matchup with the Wolverines at No. 80 in the first NET rankings of the season (Dec. 2). The matchup is currently a quadrant four contest, as Utah Valley slots in at No. 172. 13 of Stanford’s 31 regular season games are currently slated to be in quadrant one or two, including seven in Q1.
vs. Quad 1: 0-0
vs. Quad 2: 1-0 (Win over Santa Clara)
vs. Quad 3: 1-2 (Win over Norfolk State)
vs. Quad 4: 4-0 (Wins over UC Davis, Northern Arizona, Cal State Fullerton and Denver)