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Stanford Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Cardinal

By Joey Loose

Feb 26, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Spencer Jones (14) reacts to being fouled on his made basket against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Spencer Jones (14) reacts to being fouled on his made basket against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stanford Basketball forward Spencer Jones Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Stanford Basketball forward Spencer Jones Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports /

Season Outlook

It’s not a stretch to say that Stanford simply has not been a good basketball program in recent memory. The Cardinal have finished above .500 in conference play in just one of the last nine seasons, and the Pac-12 hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row over the last decade. Coming off a finish under .500, this is certainly a make-or-break type year for Haase in their final season in the Pac-12.

Losing Ingram certainly hurts a lot, but adding Bynum and some of those young recruits shows that Haase wasn’t just sitting on his hands in the offseason. Nobody is content with what happened last season and the Cardinal look like a better team this year even with those changes in the offseason.

Who will be a leader for Stanford this season? Adding a veteran point guard in Bynum was a major move and he certainly has postseason experience, playing in the Sweet Sixteen two seasons ago. Returning both Spencer and Michael Jones gives the Cardinal two dynamic scorers while there are shooters up and down this lineup, but who will really stand out as the star in Palo Alto?

The early expectation is that Spencer Jones leads the team in scoring again and may become the face of the lineup, though contributions from the rest of the starters will be necessary. Among the freshmen, Stojakovic has a chance to establish himself as a major threat, perhaps even working into that starting lineup early in the season. The Cardinal finished 68th in the nation in 3-point shooting last year and have the pieces to be even better this year.

Next. Preseason Pac-12 power rankings for 2023-24. dark

All things considered, Stanford is certainly not at the same level as top programs like Arizona, UCLA, or USC this season. Whether the Cardinal can play consistent basketball may be the difference between a top half finish in the Pac-12 and another disappointing campaign. Stanford faces a major challenge at Atlantis but can really turn heads early with a few wins in the Bahamas. Can a middle of the pack finish in the Pac-12 get Haase that long-awaited trip to the Big Dance?

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