Busting Brackets
Fansided

Stanford Basketball: 2019-20 takeaways from loss to Kansas Jayhawks

By J.D. Caldwell

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Jerod Haase of the Stanford Cardinal watches his team play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 90-72 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Jerod Haase of the Stanford Cardinal watches his team play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 90-72 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – DECEMBER 01: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks grabs a rebound under the basket during the game against the Stanford Cardinal  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – DECEMBER 01: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks grabs a rebound under the basket during the game against the Stanford Cardinal  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Stanford Basketball lost to the Kansas Jayhawks.  What are the takeaways from the Cardinal’s disappointing showing at home?

Stanford Basketball (11-2) lost to Kansas (10-2) 72-56 at Maples Pavilion Sunday.  The Cardinal was ranked #55 by KenPom, while the Jayhawks were #3. The results of this game moved Kansas to #2.  Stanford dropped to #56.  The Jayhawks were ranked #5 in the AP Poll after being ranked #1 the week prior.

Stanford came out cold as ice as it took them almost 12 minutes to score their first field goal that made the score 15-4. The Jayhawks length and quickness up front kept the Cardinal offense out of sync.  Stanford came into the game ranked #9 in effective field goal percentage and their inability to penetrate forced the home team to throw up bricks from beyond the arc.

Fortunately for the Cardinal, their defense was forcing Kansas turnovers.  Stanford utilized their post trap with weak-side help to frustrate 7’0 Udoka Azubuike (14.0 ppg) and 6’10 David McCormack (9.5 ppg), holding them to two and zero points for the game, respectively.

After a 28-18 halftime lead, the Jayhawks’ reserve Isaiah Moss buried three three-pointers early in the second half to break things open.  Stanford’s offense continued to sputter and shots for three continued to fail them, finishing the game shooting 6 for 20 from long range.

Stanford came into the game knocking on the door of the AP Top 25.  That door may be closed for now but the Cardinal should still be optimistic going into Pac-12 play with the following takeaways duly noted.  Stanford should still be considered a bubble team.

Home/Stanford Cardinal