[skip75]

Hopefully, this will be (with apologies to the great Yogi Berra) "deja vu all over again". Last season on Senior Day, Stanford beat SMU 73-68. Maxime Raynaud capped off a 26-point performance with a thunderous follow slam with less the 10 seconds remaining in the game.

The Mustangs opened as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. The news that B.J. Edwards will not play today (he injured his ankle or foot in the first half of SMU's loss at Cal on Weds.) flipped the spread to Stanford as the 1.5-point favorite with an implied score of 78.5-77.

SMU is 19-9, 8-7 in the ACC, & 3-6 on the road. According to Joe Lunardi's bracketology, they are a 10 seed in the NCAA tourney as of today. With Edwards out (possibly for an extended time) and with games vs. Miami & at Florida State coming up before the ACC tourney, SMU has a lot on the line today. The loss at Cal was a tough one. Edwards played only 16 minutes before being injured toward the end of the 1st half. They shot an uncharacteristically abysmal 11-26 from the free throw line (maybe we have a chance for Shake Shack burgers again??). Yet they were in it until Jermaine O'Neal Jr. missed a 3 that would have tied the game with 4 seconds remaining.

SMU leads the ACC in assists (17.93 per game). They are 2nd in scoring (86.2 ppg), FG% (50.0) and 3s% (37.9). Stanford will need to be at their best on the defensive end of the court. 

Coach Andy Enfield has gone with a set starting line-up all season:
#2 Boopie Miller (6'0/175 Sr G) Pre-season All-ACC 2nd team, leads the ACC in assists (6.9/game) with an assist/TO ratio of 2.8 (#4 in the ACC), leads the team in scoring (18.6 ppg - #7 in the ACC) on 47.3% shooting (#13) and FT%  (86.7 - #3), also has 1.7 steals/game (#7) & 1.8 3s/game (#24)
#5 Jaron Pierre Jr. (6'5/210 Sr G) at his 4th school in 5 years, last season was C-USA PoY at Jacksonville State, 17.6 ppg (#9 in ACC) on 46.8% shooting (#14), 2.1 3s/game (#15)
#24 Samet Yigitoglu (7'1/270 So C) 10.8 ppg, leads team with 7.9 rebounds/game (#8 in ACC) & 1.4 blocks/game (#7)
#3 Corey Washington (6'6/190 Sr F) 2nd team All-AAC last season at Wichita State, 11.4 ppg

The 5th starter has been B.J. Edwards (6'3/200 Sr G) 13.0 ppg, 2.4 steals/game (#1 in ACC), 5.0 assists/game (#7), 6.0 rebounds/game (#21). I presume the tough task of replacing him will fall to Jermaine O'Neal Jr. (6'5/185 Fr F), a 40% shooter from 3, and son of 18-year NBA player (and 6-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal.

Only 2 other players saw action vs. Cal: #10 Jaden Toombs (6'10/230 Fr C) a HS teammate of O'Neal's at Dynamic Prep (not suprisingly the #1 ranked HS team nationally); and #4 Sam Walters (6'9/230 Jr F) a transfer by way of Alabama & Michigan (needs to find a Big-12 team to transfer to next season to complete the Power 4 circuit).

Edwards, Miller, & Yigitoglu were all starters last season when SMU split with Stanford (winning 85-61 in Dallas before the loss at Maples). on interesting thing I learned from the SMU game preview is that the Mustangs "lead" the all-time series vs. Stanford 3-3. Not sure if they ran that one by the SMU Math Dept.

With Edwards, SMU had 5 double figure scorers and 3 of the top 12 ACC players in minutes/game (Miller, Pierre, & Edwards). Even without him they almost beat Cal (outscored Cal 36-35 in the 2nd half without him). So they are still a formidable opponent.

SMU is currently #31 in the NET - one spot away from giving Stanford another shot at a Quad 1 win. It would be nice if Stanford had as much on the line as SMU does today. But a win in the final home game is always big. Senior Day doesn't seem like as big a deal when most of the seniors have been here for a season or two. But I'll be rooting hard for Benny today - a 4-year Stanford man and one of my favorites.

[skip75]

Hopefully, this will be (with apologies to the great Yogi Berra) "deja vu all over again". Last season on Senior Day, Stanford beat SMU 73-68. Maxime Raynaud capped off a 26-point performance with a thunderous follow slam with less the 10 seconds remaining in the game.

The Mustangs opened as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. The news that B.J. Edwards will not play today (he injured his ankle or foot in the first half of SMU's loss at Cal on Weds.) flipped the spread to Stanford as the 1.5-point favorite with an implied score of 78.5-77.

SMU is 19-9, 8-7 in the ACC, & 3-6 on the road. According to Joe Lunardi's bracketology, they are a 10 seed in the NCAA tourney as of today. With Edwards out (possibly for an extended time) and with games vs. Miami & at Florida State coming up before the ACC tourney, SMU has a lot on the line today. The loss at Cal was a tough one. Edwards played only 16 minutes before being injured toward the end of the 1st half. They shot an uncharacteristically abysmal 11-26 from the free throw line (maybe we have a chance for Shake Shack burgers again??). Yet they were in it until Jermaine O'Neal Jr. missed a 3 that would have tied the game with 4 seconds remaining.

SMU leads the ACC in assists (17.93 per game). They are 2nd in scoring (86.2 ppg), FG% (50.0) and 3s% (37.9). Stanford will need to be at their best on the defensive end of the court. 

Coach Andy Enfield has gone with a set starting line-up all season:
#2 Boopie Miller (6'0/175 Sr G) Pre-season All-ACC 2nd team, leads the ACC in assists (6.9/game) with an assist/TO ratio of 2.8 (#4 in the ACC), leads the team in scoring (18.6 ppg - #7 in the ACC) on 47.3% shooting (#13) and FT%  (86.7 - #3), also has 1.7 steals/game (#7) & 1.8 3s/game (#24)
#5 Jaron Pierre Jr. (6'5/210 Sr G) at his 4th school in 5 years, last season was C-USA PoY at Jacksonville State, 17.6 ppg (#9 in ACC) on 46.8% shooting (#14), 2.1 3s/game (#15)
#24 Samet Yigitoglu (7'1/270 So C) 10.8 ppg, leads team with 7.9 rebounds/game (#8 in ACC) & 1.4 blocks/game (#7)
#3 Corey Washington (6'6/190 Sr F) 2nd team All-AAC last season at Wichita State, 11.4 ppg

The 5th starter has been B.J. Edwards (6'3/200 Sr G) 13.0 ppg, 2.4 steals/game (#1 in ACC), 5.0 assists/game (#7), 6.0 rebounds/game (#21). I presume the tough task of replacing him will fall to Jermaine O'Neal Jr. (6'5/185 Fr F), a 40% shooter from 3, and son of 18-year NBA player (and 6-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal.

Only 2 other players saw action vs. Cal: #10 Jaden Toombs (6'10/230 Fr C) a HS teammate of O'Neal's at Dynamic Prep (not suprisingly the #1 ranked HS team nationally); and #4 Sam Walters (6'9/230 Jr F) a transfer by way of Alabama & Michigan (needs to find a Big-12 team to transfer to next season to complete the Power 4 circuit).

Edwards, Miller, & Yigitoglu were all starters last season when SMU split with Stanford (winning 85-61 in Dallas before the loss at Maples). on interesting thing I learned from the SMU game preview is that the Mustangs "lead" the all-time series vs. Stanford 3-3. Not sure if they ran that one by the SMU Math Dept.

With Edwards, SMU had 5 double figure scorers and 3 of the top 12 ACC players in minutes/game (Miller, Pierre, & Edwards). Even without him they almost beat Cal (outscored Cal 36-35 in the 2nd half without him). So they are still a formidable opponent.

SMU is currently #31 in the NET - one spot away from giving Stanford another shot at a Quad 1 win. It would be nice if Stanford had as much on the line as SMU does today. But a win in the final home game is always big. Senior Day doesn't seem like as big a deal when most of the seniors have been here for a season or two. But I'll be rooting hard for Benny today - a 4-year Stanford man and one of my favorites.

[chrisk]

Haase will be the color commenter on the Cal-Pitt game at 1pm.

[chrisk]

Haase will be the color commenter on the Cal-Pitt game at 1pm.

[BostonCard]

SMU leads the ACC in scoring (86.8 ppg) and assists (17.93 per game). They are 2nd in scoring (86.2 ppg), FG% (50.0) and 3s% (37.9). Stanford will need to be at their best on the defensive end of the court.

Thanks as always for your previews.  Something didn’t quite make sense in the above quoted: are they first in scoring at (86.8) or second at (86.2) or was one of the stats the in conference stat?

BC

[BostonCard]

SMU leads the ACC in scoring (86.8 ppg) and assists (17.93 per game). They are 2nd in scoring (86.2 ppg), FG% (50.0) and 3s% (37.9). Stanford will need to be at their best on the defensive end of the court.

Thanks as always for your previews.  Something didn’t quite make sense in the above quoted: are they first in scoring at (86.8) or second at (86.2) or was one of the stats the in conference stat?

BC

[skip75]

SMU leads the ACC in scoring (86.8 ppg) and assists (17.93 per game). They are 2nd in scoring (86.2 ppg), FG% (50.0) and 3s% (37.9). Stanford will need to be at their best on the defensive end of the court.

Thanks as always for your previews.  Something didn’t quite make sense in the above quoted: are they first in scoring at (86.8) or second at (86.2) or was one of the stats the in conference stat?

BC

Sorry - they had been first, but dropped to second after the Cal game and I didn't edit my first draft correctly. Now corrected above. Thanks.

[skip75]

SMU leads the ACC in scoring (86.8 ppg) and assists (17.93 per game). They are 2nd in scoring (86.2 ppg), FG% (50.0) and 3s% (37.9). Stanford will need to be at their best on the defensive end of the court.

Thanks as always for your previews.  Something didn’t quite make sense in the above quoted: are they first in scoring at (86.8) or second at (86.2) or was one of the stats the in conference stat?

BC

Sorry - they had been first, but dropped to second after the Cal game and I didn't edit my first draft correctly. Now corrected above. Thanks.

[needle]

Stanford up by 7 at the half, and it's honestly a bit of a disappointment as the Cardinal had a 12-point lead late in the first half.

SMU looks out of sorts offensively but Stanford has done a great job of getting turnovers. It still feels to me like Stanford is going to need 70 points at a minimum to win, as SMU's best player, Boopie Miller, is capable of pullng an Okorie and putting the team on his back.

Agarwal made a three (!) but followed it up with what I thought was an ill advised launch of a three very early in the shot clock. He's a capable passer and decent rebounder who can handle the ball OK. He just doesn't need to force shots when he's clearly shooting a low percentage. Frustrating as a fan.

[needle]

Stanford up by 7 at the half, and it's honestly a bit of a disappointment as the Cardinal had a 12-point lead late in the first half.

SMU looks out of sorts offensively but Stanford has done a great job of getting turnovers. It still feels to me like Stanford is going to need 70 points at a minimum to win, as SMU's best player, Boopie Miller, is capable of pullng an Okorie and putting the team on his back.

Agarwal made a three (!) but followed it up with what I thought was an ill advised launch of a three very early in the shot clock. He's a capable passer and decent rebounder who can handle the ball OK. He just doesn't need to force shots when he's clearly shooting a low percentage. Frustrating as a fan.

[Sam Leopold]

KoRn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sam Leopold]

KoRn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BostonCard]

SMU is currently #31 in the NET - one spot away from giving Stanford another shot at a Quad 1 win. It would be nice if Stanford had as much on the line as SMU does today. But a win in the final home game is always big. Senior Day doesn't seem like as big a deal when most of the seniors have been here for a season or two. But I'll be rooting hard for Benny today - a 4-year Stanford man and one of my favorites.

Ask and ye shall receive.  Gealer has 19 points, midway through the third, and Stanford has a 19 point lead.  5/9 from 3.

BC

[BostonCard]

SMU is currently #31 in the NET - one spot away from giving Stanford another shot at a Quad 1 win. It would be nice if Stanford had as much on the line as SMU does today. But a win in the final home game is always big. Senior Day doesn't seem like as big a deal when most of the seniors have been here for a season or two. But I'll be rooting hard for Benny today - a 4-year Stanford man and one of my favorites.

Ask and ye shall receive.  Gealer has 19 points, midway through the third, and Stanford has a 19 point lead.  5/9 from 3.

BC

[ADPinWDC]

SMU has not adapted well to the Zone, as Smith mixes it in.  
Mustangs well below their season average on points.  
Making threes is winning the game for us:  11 for 24, vs just 3 of 13 for the Stangs.  
So. 33 to 9 on treys.  Up by 16 with 7min to play, and making more FTs also.

[ADPinWDC]

SMU has not adapted well to the Zone, as Smith mixes it in.  
Mustangs well below their season average on points.  
Making threes is winning the game for us:  11 for 24, vs just 3 of 13 for the Stangs.  
So. 33 to 9 on treys.  Up by 16 with 7min to play, and making more FTs also.

[Sam Leopold]

And now BFG-05 has a career high in points

[Sam Leopold]

And now BFG-05 has a career high in points

[BostonCard]

Gealer now up to 30 points, 7/11 from 3, including one where he was so open he could have ordered room service and still taken the shot (I think the defender slipped).

BC

[BostonCard]

Gealer now up to 30 points, 7/11 from 3, including one where he was so open he could have ordered room service and still taken the shot (I think the defender slipped).

BC

[76lsjumb]

A steakburger, a win, and Rohosy sinking 2 FTs at the end of the game.
Triple Crown!!

[76lsjumb]

A steakburger, a win, and Rohosy sinking 2 FTs at the end of the game.
Triple Crown!!

[BostonCard]

SMU looks out of sorts offensively but Stanford has done a great job of getting turnovers. It still feels to me like Stanford is going to need 70 points at a minimum to win, as SMU's best player, Boopie Miller, is capable of pullng an Okorie and putting the team on his back.

Good call; we actually needed 76 to win, but fortunately we scored 95(!). Shooting 52% (14/27) from 3 will do that.  We were also really good from the line, going 29/32 (and finally drawing more free throws than our opponents).  BTW, Okorie’s 85.3% free throw shooting percentage is within spitting distance of Art Lee’s career 86.6%.

BC

[BostonCard]

SMU looks out of sorts offensively but Stanford has done a great job of getting turnovers. It still feels to me like Stanford is going to need 70 points at a minimum to win, as SMU's best player, Boopie Miller, is capable of pullng an Okorie and putting the team on his back.

Good call; we actually needed 76 to win, but fortunately we scored 95(!). Shooting 52% (14/27) from 3 will do that.  We were also really good from the line, going 29/32 (and finally drawing more free throws than our opponents).  BTW, Okorie’s 85.3% free throw shooting percentage is within spitting distance of Art Lee’s career 86.6%.

BC

[needle]

Wow, what a second half! I'm a little stunned, actually. When was the last time Stanford scored 61 points in a half in a conference game?

Benny G's day, for sure, but I thought literally everyone played pretty well. The dream of 20 wins (and the NCAA bubble) remains alive.

[needle]

Wow, what a second half! I'm a little stunned, actually. When was the last time Stanford scored 61 points in a half in a conference game?

Benny G's day, for sure, but I thought literally everyone played pretty well. The dream of 20 wins (and the NCAA bubble) remains alive.

[BobK]

Thank you Benny. What a game. Congrats

[BobK]

Thank you Benny. What a game. Congrats

[stanford22]

Thank you Benny. What a game. Congrats

Is Ryan Agarwal not using his redshirt year?

[stanford22]

Thank you Benny. What a game. Congrats

Is Ryan Agarwal not using his redshirt year?

[old spanish trail]

Thank you Benny. What a game. Congrats

Is Ryan Agarwal not using his redshirt year?

Doesn't look like it. He wants to star in the world of finance.

---

Wow, what a second half! I'm a little stunned, actually. When was the last time Stanford scored 61 points in a half in a conference game?

Benny G's day, for sure, but I thought literally everyone played pretty well. The dream of 20 wins (and the NCAA bubble) remains alive.

That was fun. For the complainers, I'd say Stanford was heavily favored by the refs today
.

[old spanish trail]

Thank you Benny. What a game. Congrats

Is Ryan Agarwal not using his redshirt year?

Doesn't look like it. He wants to star in the world of finance.

---

Wow, what a second half! I'm a little stunned, actually. When was the last time Stanford scored 61 points in a half in a conference game?

Benny G's day, for sure, but I thought literally everyone played pretty well. The dream of 20 wins (and the NCAA bubble) remains alive.

That was fun. For the complainers, I'd say Stanford was heavily favored by the refs today
.

[PVTree]

6 seniors honored...Okpara, Rohosy, Dent-Smith, Agarwal, Thompson, and Gealer. Ryan and Jaylen with eligibility left.

That would give us 2 spots for summer transfers.

[PVTree]

6 seniors honored...Okpara, Rohosy, Dent-Smith, Agarwal, Thompson, and Gealer. Ryan and Jaylen with eligibility left.

That would give us 2 spots for summer transfers.

[fullmetal]

That is a *lot* of potentially departing talent.  I wonder how Okorie feels about his chances in the draft.

[fullmetal]

That is a *lot* of potentially departing talent.  I wonder how Okorie feels about his chances in the draft.

[skip75]

That is a *lot* of potentially departing talent.  I wonder how Okorie feels about his chances in the draft.

I am cautiously optimistic that Ebuka feels good about the incoming talent and his Stanford experience. If he goes to the NBA, I will wish him all the success he deserves and appreciate the season of entertainment he gave us. But I sure would love to see him back!

As for yesterday - what a game! So happy for Benny & his entourage - all wearing their "Benny Buckets" t-shirts. With all that's wrong with college sports, true student-athletes like Benny keep me coming back for more.

[skip75]

That is a *lot* of potentially departing talent.  I wonder how Okorie feels about his chances in the draft.

I am cautiously optimistic that Ebuka feels good about the incoming talent and his Stanford experience. If he goes to the NBA, I will wish him all the success he deserves and appreciate the season of entertainment he gave us. But I sure would love to see him back!

As for yesterday - what a game! So happy for Benny & his entourage - all wearing their "Benny Buckets" t-shirts. With all that's wrong with college sports, true student-athletes like Benny keep me coming back for more.

[TonyLima]

That is a *lot* of potentially departing talent.  I wonder how Okorie feels about his chances in the draft.

I am cautiously optimistic that Ebuka feels good about the incoming talent and his Stanford experience. If he goes to the NBA, I will wish him all the success he deserves and appreciate the season of entertainment he gave us. But I sure would love to see him back!

As for yesterday - what a game! So happy for Benny & his entourage - all wearing their "Benny Buckets" t-shirts. With all that's wrong with college sports, true student-athletes like Benny keep me coming back for more.

One additional point. Ebuka had one post-game interview. He almost went to Harvard. His dad urged him to take a look at Stanford. He’s very much into education. My (optimistic) prediction: he’ll be around for two more years.

[TonyLima]

That is a *lot* of potentially departing talent.  I wonder how Okorie feels about his chances in the draft.

I am cautiously optimistic that Ebuka feels good about the incoming talent and his Stanford experience. If he goes to the NBA, I will wish him all the success he deserves and appreciate the season of entertainment he gave us. But I sure would love to see him back!

As for yesterday - what a game! So happy for Benny & his entourage - all wearing their "Benny Buckets" t-shirts. With all that's wrong with college sports, true student-athletes like Benny keep me coming back for more.

One additional point. Ebuka had one post-game interview. He almost went to Harvard. His dad urged him to take a look at Stanford. He’s very much into education. My (optimistic) prediction: he’ll be around for two more years.