NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Butler, Villanova rising for the Big East

Stanford has not played the most difficult schedule in the country but still warrants a spot in the top-25, in my opinion. The Cardinal have performed admirably through the first month and a half of this season while relying on an elite freshmen duo to launch out to an 11-1 record. It is also important to mention that their lone loss so far this season came by one point to a nationally-ranked opponent in Butler.

Head coach Jerod Haase has to be happy with how his team is performing so far this season, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.

The Cardinal currently hold the 23rd-best adjusted defensive efficiency rating in the country as they boast superb numbers across the board. To put it simply, Stanford ranks in the top-70 in each of the following defensive categories: eFG%, turnover rate, defensive rebounding rate, FTA/FGA, block rate, and steal rate.

By virtue of their superb defensive play, I think it is reasonable to believe that the Cardinal will be one of the best teams in the Pac-12 this season. They might not compete for the league title considering Oregon’s presence at the top, but they could be closer than most think.

While many players are responsible for pushing Stanford to its hot start so far this season, the team’s freshmen duo of Tyrell Terry and Spencer Jones continues to be spectacular. These two both fill secondary scoring roles behind Oscar Da Silva and are excelling from beyond the arc. Through the first month and a half of their collegiate careers, Terry/Jones are combining to shoot 55-for-124 (44.4%) from 3-point range and their floor-spacing is paramount to success.