Fresh off their impressive showing in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season-Tip Off Tournament in which they nearly knocked off No. 5 Syracuse, the Stanford Cardinal (5-1, 0-0 Pac-12) return home to host the Pacific Tigers (2-2, 0-0 Big West) at Maples Pavilion, the start of a three game stretch over the course of the week.
The Cardinal committed 24 turnovers against the Orange at Madison Square Garden, the most since a 69-57 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers back on Nov. 22, 2004, and will be something they will have to improve on against Pacific if they want to get a win. They're also going to need some more production from their big men as Andrew Zimmerman and Josh Owens had a combined eight points against Syracuse. Luckily, Pacific isn't exactly Jim Boeheim's Orangemen.
The Tigers are led by Junior Lorenzo McCloud, currently scoring 10.8 points as well as a team-high eight assists per game thus far, Junior Markus Duran (10.5 ppg, 91.7 percent free throws) and Sophomore Khalil Kelley (5.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Pacific finished the 2010-11 season with a 16-15 record overall and 8-8 record in the Big West.
Stanford has a dominating 31-3 lead in the all-time series against Pacific, dating all the way back to the 1913-14 season. These two will be squaring off for the first time since Dec. 19, 1998, a 71-58 Cardinal victory in Stockton. The Tigers last appeared at Maples Pavilion in 1997 and are searching for their first win in the series since a 22-21 victory back in 1933 (yes, that's was the real score).
Date: Monday, Nov. 28, 2011 • 7 p.m.
Site: Maples Pavilion (7,329) • Stanford, CA
Series History: Stanford leads 31-3
Last Meeting: Stanford 71, Pacific 58 (Dec. 19, 1998 at Stockton, CA)
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM (PBP: John Platz, Analyst: Drew Shiller)
TV: None
Webcast: www.gostanford.com (PBP: Tim Swartz)
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