Pac-12 Basketball: Strengths and weaknesses of each team for 2020-21 season
4. Stanford Cardinal
Projected Starters:
G: Daejon Davis, 6’3 Sr. (8.8 ppg, 3.7 apg)
G: Bryce Wills, 6’6 Jr. (7.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
G: Ziaire Williams, 6’8 Fr.
F: Spencer Jones, 6’7 So. (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
F: Oscar da Silva, 6’9 Sr. (15.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
The 20-12 Cardinal from a year ago returns most of their key pieces, including first-team all-conference forward Oscar da Silva. Jerod Haase has things really trending in the right direction and also added the highest recruit in program history this offseason in Ziaire Williams. However, they have a lot of work to do to claim a spot in the top three of the conference.
Strengths: Only Oregon could compete with Stanford as far as offensive efficiency a year ago, as Stanford finished top 30 nationally in shooting percentage and 3-point percentage. They also boasted the best scoring defense in the conference (62.5 ppg).
Stanford returns four starters, headed by star senior guard Daejon Davis and the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, Oscar da Silva. Davis led the team with 117 assists and will have no shortage of people to pass to this year. His backcourt companion, Bryce Wills, brings elite defense and has the capability to run point as well.
Ziaire Williams, who chose Stanford over the likes of UCLA and Duke, should transfer to the college game quite nicely. He was a standout at Sierra Canyon and a teammate of Bronny James. Spencer Jones pairs nicely with da Silva down low and both should be in double digits more games than not for the Cardinal.
Weaknesses: The defense was really good, the shooting percentage was well above average, the turnover margin actually wasn’t too bad either this past year. Yet, the Cardinal finished conference play at 9-9. It just seemed as if they didn’t know how to close out games. They lost twice in OT and a whole number of games by five points or less. Haase has to figure out the formula to turn this program into a winning culture.
A year ago, they had one of the worst rebounding margins in the country, that will need to change if Stanford wants a seat in the top three. Beyond Wills and Davis, the backcourt will count on a few different freshmen, notably Mike O’Connell and Noah Taitz to provide depth. Behind Lukas Kisunis and Jaiden Delaire, there isn’t too much depth in the frontcourt either for Stanford.
The Call: This is an uber-talented group, and things seem to be churning in the right direction for the Cardinal. However, they need to find a way to close out some close games. Williams will be a star, and Oscar da Silva will regain his spot on the all-conference team. Stanford hasn’t been to the dance since 2014, and this year that will be snapped. Stanford will continue to be a formidable defense and will prove to be a real threat to the three big dogs in the conference.