Can new faces change outdated fortunes?

Issues would possibly lastly be trying up for Stanford males’s basketball.

Coming off a disappointing 14-19 (7-13 Pac 12, tenth) season — the place Stanford missed the NCAA Match for the eighth 12 months in a row — the Cardinal had been in search of any spark which may change their fortunes. 

And so they might have discovered simply that. 

Regardless of the underwhelming season, head coach Jerod Haase secured a large recruiting class, signing McDonald’s All-American Andrej Stojaković and four-star recruit and former USA Basketball youth workforce participant Kanaan Carlyle. This was the primary time Stanford landed two top-25 recruits for the reason that Lopez brothers in 2006. 

However the Pac-12 is as aggressive because it’s ever been, with outdated powerhouses retooling their rosters and a brand new slate of up-and-coming challengers. The Cardinal should dig out some big-time wins in the event that they wish to rise to the highest of the ultimate Pac-12 basketball season. 

Roster

Essentially the most thrilling modifications to the Cardinal’s roster are the additions of Stojaković and Carlyle.

Stojaković, the son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojaković, is a consensus four-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American. The 6’7″ shot-maker is the third-ranked participant in California and the fourth-ranked small ahead within the nation. Like his father, Stojaković is a multi-level scorer and comfy each within the mid-range and past the arc. He’s additionally huge for his place and extremely expert, making him an ideal asset for explosive scoring and defensive versatility. 

Carlyle can also be a four-star recruit and the fifth-ranked combo guard within the nation. Taking part in his senior season at Extra time Elite, the 6’3″ two-way guard impressed scouts together with his three-level scoring and competitiveness, which is able to permit him to make a direct affect on each ends of the ground. 

Haase was additionally in a position to rating within the switch portal, touchdown graduate level guard Jared Bynum from Windfall. Bynum averaged 10.3 factors, 2.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his profession at Windfall, incomes All-Massive East second workforce and Massive East Sixth Man of the Yr honors in 2022. The switch provides a confirmed veteran at a place that Stanford has lacked consistency in over latest years. 

Nevertheless, the large query is whether or not these additions can fill the footwear vacated by star ahead Harrison Ingram, who transferred to UNC within the offseason. The previous five-star recruit and Pac-12 Freshman of the Yr had been one of many Cardinal’s finest gamers, beginning virtually each recreation final season and main the workforce in common assists (3.7) and coming in second in factors (10.5) and rebounds (5.8). Changing his manufacturing might be robust, however Stanford should discover a approach in the event that they wish to enhance on final season’s outcomes.

Regardless of these modifications, a lot of Stanford’s core stays intact. Fifth-year ahead Spencer Jones returns off of a Second Crew All-Pac-12 marketing campaign final season, the place he averaged 14.1 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists on an environment friendly 43.3% from the sphere and 38.9% from three. Jones additionally led the workforce in minutes performed (29) in addition to steals (1.2) and blocks (0.9). In his remaining season of eligibility, Jones is predicted to be the face of the workforce and carry a lot of the load once more for the Cardinal. 

Different vital returners embody Tutorial All-American senior ahead Brandon Angel and sharpshooting graduate guard Michael Jones. Angel began virtually each recreation final 12 months, averaging 9.5 factors and 4.5 rebounds on a powerful 51.6% from the sphere, 39% from three and 79.2% from the stripe. Jones was a spark plug off the bench — he was second on the workforce in 3-point makes an attempt with 4.1 per recreation. 

Junior middle Maxime Raynaud can also be a participant to observe. The 7’1″ stretch huge confirmed his nice potential final season, averaging 8.8 factors and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds whereas taking pictures 54% from the sphere. Stanford followers expect Raynaud to take one other step ahead this season, which may see him dominating the paint for the Cardinal whereas additionally being a risk from three. 

Schedule

Stanford will begin the season at house with 4 matchups towards mid-major groups earlier than touring to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis. There, they’ll have their first huge check of the season towards No. 14 Arkansas earlier than going through both Memphis or Michigan of their second recreation and doubtlessly No. 19 UNC, No. 22 Villanova or Texas Tech of their third. This might be an enormous problem for the Cardinal, however huge wins towards ranked opponents early on can be large in setting the tone for the remainder of the season, and it will give the Cardinal a lift when pushing for the event. 

After returning house, the Cardinal will face two extra mid-major opponents earlier than ending the non-conference schedule away towards No. 17 San Diego State. Taking part in final 12 months’s nationwide championship runner-up is one other large alternative for a Q1 win and would assist the Cardinal with remaining tweaks earlier than heading into Pac-12 play. 

Even when the Cardinal could make it out of the non-conference schedule comparatively unscathed, their convention schedule might be much more troublesome. A number of groups within the Pac-12 are anticipated to make deep event runs. No. 12 Arizona is projected to be one of the best workforce within the convention once more; they’ll see the Cardinal twice this 12 months. Regardless of dropping 4 starters from their Pac-12 championship squad from final 12 months, the Wildcats had been in a position to preserve guard Kylan Boswell and middle Oumar Ballo, whereas additionally including guard Caleb Love from UNC, who was a pivotal piece of the Tar Heels’ run to the 2022 nationwide championship recreation. 

Stanford may even face each Los Angeles groups twice. No. 21 USC fields arguably one of the best beginning backcourt duo within the nation with freshman guard (and No. 2 general recruit) Isaiah Collier and guard Boogie Ellis. In the meantime, UCLA introduced in seven freshmen and returned sophomore ahead Adem Bona, final 12 months’s Pac-12 Freshman of the Yr. 

Add to {that a} Colorado workforce with one in every of its finest rosters in latest historical past and an Oregon workforce trending upwards with a number of highly-rated recruits, and the Pac-12 may simply see three-to-four groups nonetheless dancing late in March. 

Having such a robust convention could be each a blessing and a curse. Whereas every recreation is that rather more troublesome, a couple of huge convention wins and a Pac-12 event run may see the Cardinal sneaking into the NCAA event. That’s undoubtedly simpler stated than carried out, however Stanford could have loads of alternatives to show itself all through the season. 

Keys to success

If Stanford is to flee its latest woes and break its NCAA event drought, it is going to be due to a couple of key components.

Elite taking pictures

Stanford’s best power, by far, is its taking pictures. The Cardinal returned three certified gamers who shot over 40% from three within the convention: senior ahead Max Murrell, Spencer Jones and Michael Jones. Angel and sophomore guard Ryan Agarwal additionally did the identical on fewer makes an attempt. Add a sharpshooting ahead Stojaković and three-level scoring Carlyle to the listing, and Stanford has the capability to be probably the greatest taking pictures groups within the nation. 

Whereas this does make the Cardinal prone to the inevitable poor taking pictures recreation, having an abundance of expert shooters makes it much less seemingly that the entire workforce is chilly on any given evening. However on a very good evening, when a number of gamers are sizzling, it is going to be almost unimaginable for opponents to cowl all of them. 

Improved guard play

To make the most of its weapons, Stanford’s guards should do a greater job at facilitating the offense. Latest Cardinal groups have struggled at this place, with inconsistent guard play hindering offensive effectivity. Nevertheless, the addition of Bynum and Carlyle purpose to alter that. Bynum’s veteran presence and confirmed expertise will permit him to manage the offense and distribute the ball, whereas the fixed risk of Carlyle’s scoring can open up the sport for his teammates. Stanford might be counting on these two to create open seems to be for its knockdown shooters, particularly after Ingram’s departure. 

Participant improvement

On prime of the brand new additions, Stanford might be hoping to see important improvement in a few of its returning gamers, together with Agarwal and Raynaud. Agarwal confirmed flashes of outstanding taking pictures final season and can hope to keep up his effectivity with extra seems to be this season. Raynaud may even see an expanded position, given Stanford’s poor depth at middle. The Cardinal might be in search of him to take one other huge leap this season and anchor the workforce on each side of the ball. 

Changing Ingram’s manufacturing

It was a large blow to this system when Ingram left. Whereas the Cardinal added new items, it’s by no means straightforward to switch one in every of your stars. Ingram’s affect, not simply on scoring but in addition on the glass, as a ball-handler and as a playmaker can’t be overstated. Stanford’s success this season is extremely depending on whether or not the additions, in addition to progress within the returners, can exchange the position Ingram performed. 

Verdict

This 12 months’s Stanford workforce pairs youth and creating gamers with veteran expertise, a mixture that would make some noise this season. If they will enhance on their consistency and play as much as their potential, the Cardinal can compete with one of the best within the convention. Nevertheless it stays to be seen if it is sufficient to see the Cardinal within the NCAA event for the primary time since 2014.

Stanford opens up the 2023-24 season on Monday towards CSUN. Tip-off is about for 8 p.m. PT at Maples Pavilion.