5 hours ago
Stanford hosts the Eastern Washington Eagles to open the season tonight. Stanford is favored by 14.5 and the over/under is 153.5. Implied score is 84-69.5.
Stanford was picked to finish 13th in the ACC in the preseason media poll. Preseason national rankings have Stanford at #69/71/72/83 according to KenPom, ESPN BPI, Massey, & Bart Torvick Massey. Not sure what any of that is worth, but expectations seem to be a bit higher going into this season. The Eagles were picked to finish 3rd in the Big Sky Conference (in both the media & coaches preseason polls), behind Montana State & Northern Colorado (who will play at Stanford in December). Their national preseason rankings are #151/145/187/188 according to the ratings services listed above.
Stanford has 16 players on the roster: 8 returnees, 5 freshmen, and 3 transfers. Starters in both the Santa Clara & Oregon exhibitions were:
#5 Julius Price (6'3/195 Fr G) Grew up in Sweden, attended St. Joseph HS in Santa Maria;
#24 Christian Bliss (6'4/200 Jr G) Transfer from Delaware, Conference USA Freshman of the Year & 2nd team All-Conf USA;
#4 Aziz Olajuwon (6'7/220 Fr G/F) Son of Hakeem, attended Clements HS in Houston & IMG Academy in Florida;
#2 Donavin Young (6'8/230 Jr F) Returnee who has hopefully shaken the injuries of his first two seasons.
The fifth starter at Santa Clara was returnee Aidan Cammann (#55 6'10/235 Sr F/C). Then when Yale transfer Nick Townsend (#42 6'7/240 Grad F) was cleared to play, he started at Oregon.
Based on the exhibition box scores, I expect the early season rotation will also include returnee Anthony Batson Jr. (#0 6'3/195 Jr G) and Corona Centennial grad Isaiah Rogers (#21 6'3/190 Fr G).
When match-ups call for more bulk up front, Coach Smith can call on:
#34 Austin Maurer (7'0/230 Jr C) played at Grand Canyon & Seattle his first 2 seasons;
#12 Kristers Skrinda (6'10/230 So F) from Latvia;
#3 Tallis Toure (6'11/240 Jr F/C) returnee who has also had injury issues in the past;
#9 Drew Anderson (6'9/220 Fr F) from Santa Margarita Catholic.
The rest of the Stanford roster is:
#33 Evan Stinson (6'7/205 Jr F);
#8 Elias Obenyah (6'5/205 Fr G) from Ukiah;
#11 Myles Jones (6'3/185 So G);
#13 Ethan Kitch (^'2/185 Jr G).
Based on their 3 exhibition game box scores, I expect Eastern Washington's starting 5 to include:
#4 Alton Hamilton IV (6'9/250 Sr F) led the 2025-6 Eagles in rebounding (5.7/game) and was 2nd in scoring (13.5 ppg).
#6 Jamil Miller (6'6/220 RSo F)
#9 Andrew Cook (6'5/220 Gr G)
#11 Cole Scherer (6'1/190 So G) from Valor Christian - CMac's alma mater;
#33 Emmett Marquardt (6'10/245 RJr F).
Hamilton & Cook were named to the 7-player preseason All-Big Sky team. Eastern Washington is coached by Don Monson, who was previously head coach at Gonzaga, Minnesota, & Long Beach State.
This is the first of three home games vs. teams with 150+ national rankings before the first road game at UNLV. I'm looking forward to how Kyle Smith & Co. can develop this group, how quickly they can mesh together, and who will emerge into leading roles. I've been impressed by the progress the past two seasons and hoping for more in 2026-7.
Stanford was picked to finish 13th in the ACC in the preseason media poll. Preseason national rankings have Stanford at #69/71/72/83 according to KenPom, ESPN BPI, Massey, & Bart Torvick Massey. Not sure what any of that is worth, but expectations seem to be a bit higher going into this season. The Eagles were picked to finish 3rd in the Big Sky Conference (in both the media & coaches preseason polls), behind Montana State & Northern Colorado (who will play at Stanford in December). Their national preseason rankings are #151/145/187/188 according to the ratings services listed above.
Stanford has 16 players on the roster: 8 returnees, 5 freshmen, and 3 transfers. Starters in both the Santa Clara & Oregon exhibitions were:
#5 Julius Price (6'3/195 Fr G) Grew up in Sweden, attended St. Joseph HS in Santa Maria;
#24 Christian Bliss (6'4/200 Jr G) Transfer from Delaware, Conference USA Freshman of the Year & 2nd team All-Conf USA;
#4 Aziz Olajuwon (6'7/220 Fr G/F) Son of Hakeem, attended Clements HS in Houston & IMG Academy in Florida;
#2 Donavin Young (6'8/230 Jr F) Returnee who has hopefully shaken the injuries of his first two seasons.
The fifth starter at Santa Clara was returnee Aidan Cammann (#55 6'10/235 Sr F/C). Then when Yale transfer Nick Townsend (#42 6'7/240 Grad F) was cleared to play, he started at Oregon.
Based on the exhibition box scores, I expect the early season rotation will also include returnee Anthony Batson Jr. (#0 6'3/195 Jr G) and Corona Centennial grad Isaiah Rogers (#21 6'3/190 Fr G).
When match-ups call for more bulk up front, Coach Smith can call on:
#34 Austin Maurer (7'0/230 Jr C) played at Grand Canyon & Seattle his first 2 seasons;
#12 Kristers Skrinda (6'10/230 So F) from Latvia;
#3 Tallis Toure (6'11/240 Jr F/C) returnee who has also had injury issues in the past;
#9 Drew Anderson (6'9/220 Fr F) from Santa Margarita Catholic.
The rest of the Stanford roster is:
#33 Evan Stinson (6'7/205 Jr F);
#8 Elias Obenyah (6'5/205 Fr G) from Ukiah;
#11 Myles Jones (6'3/185 So G);
#13 Ethan Kitch (^'2/185 Jr G).
Based on their 3 exhibition game box scores, I expect Eastern Washington's starting 5 to include:
#4 Alton Hamilton IV (6'9/250 Sr F) led the 2025-6 Eagles in rebounding (5.7/game) and was 2nd in scoring (13.5 ppg).
#6 Jamil Miller (6'6/220 RSo F)
#9 Andrew Cook (6'5/220 Gr G)
#11 Cole Scherer (6'1/190 So G) from Valor Christian - CMac's alma mater;
#33 Emmett Marquardt (6'10/245 RJr F).
Hamilton & Cook were named to the 7-player preseason All-Big Sky team. Eastern Washington is coached by Don Monson, who was previously head coach at Gonzaga, Minnesota, & Long Beach State.
This is the first of three home games vs. teams with 150+ national rankings before the first road game at UNLV. I'm looking forward to how Kyle Smith & Co. can develop this group, how quickly they can mesh together, and who will emerge into leading roles. I've been impressed by the progress the past two seasons and hoping for more in 2026-7.
