Washington State Cougars at Stanford Cardinal
Maples Pavilion – Stanford, California
Wednesday, January 15, 2014, 10:00 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Opening Line: Stanford -11
Current Line: Stanford -12
Opening Total: 130
Current Total: 131
Opening Money Line: Stanford -700 / Washington State +510
Current Money Line: Stanford -810 / Washington State +620
The 10-5 Stanford Cardinal host the 8-8 Washington State Cougars Wednesday night. The Cardinal are in seventh place in the Pac 12 at 1-2 and the Cougars are part of a four way tie for 8th at 1-3. Stanford leads the series 70-59 against Washington State including 40-22 in Stanford. The Cardinal won the only meeting last year 78-67 in Stanford. The two teams will meet again in Pullman February 15.
Washington State is coached by Ken Bone. The Cougars have road losses at Gonzaga, Arizona, and Arizona State, neutral site losses to Butler and St. Joseph’s in a tournament in Orlando, plus home losses to TCU, UTEP, and Colorado. Washington State has key home wins over Idaho, Pepperdine, and Utah Sunday 49-46. Washington State also has a win over Purdue in Orlando. The Utah win snapped a 3 game losing streak to open conference play. The Cougars are 5-6-1 ATS this season and the total is 4-7-1.
Washington State is outscoring teams 65-63 this season. The Cougars are #315 out of 351 teams nationally in scoring but #33 in points allowed. WSU averages 42.3% from the field and 32.3% from 3 point range. The Cougars #340 nationally in free throw shooting at 61.6%. Washington State averages 34.9 rebounds per game and opponents average 29.6 per game. Cougar opponents are shooting 42.2% from the field and 35.3% from 3 point range. Washington State is averaging 11.3 assists, 11.8 turnovers, 5.8 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game. Cougar opponents average 10.2 assists, 11.8 turnovers, 5.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.
Washington State guard DaVonte Lacy is out indefinitely after having his appendix removed earlier in the month. He averages 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Guard Que Johnson averages 9.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Guard Royce Woolridge averages 9.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Forward D.J. Shelton averages 7.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Guard Dexter Kernich-Drew averages 7.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Guard Ike Iroegbu averages 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Forward Junior Longrus and center Jordan Railey will also get significant time in the rotation.
Stanford is coached by Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal have home losses to BYU and California, a road loss to Oregon State, and losses to Pittsburgh and Michigan, both in Brooklyn. Stanford has key home wins over Bucknell, Northwestern, UC-Davis and Cal Poly, along with road wins at Denver, Connecticut, and Oregon Sunday 82-80. The Cardinal also have a neutral site win over Houston in Brooklyn. The Oregon win snapped a two game losing streak for Stanford. The Cardinal are 7-5-1 ATS and the total is 6-7.
Stanford is outscoring teams 77-71 this season. The Cardinal are shooting 48.3% from the field and 40.7% from 3 point range. Stanford is #29 in field goal percentage and #17 in 3 point shooting nationally. The Cardinals make 70.1% of their free throws. Stanford opponents are shooting 40.9% from the field and 36.7% from 3 point range. The Cardinal average 36.1 rebounds per game and opponents average 29.5. Stanford averages 13.3 assists, 11.3 turnovers, 4.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game. Opponents average 14.1 assists, 11.3 turnovers, 5.2 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game.
Guard Chasson Randle averages 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Forward Dwight Powell averages 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Guard-forward Anthony Brown averages 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Forward Josh Huestis averages 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game. Center Stefan Nastic averages 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. Guards Aaron Bright and Christian Sanders are both out for the season, along with forward Andy Brown.
Washington State is 9-3 ATS in Wednesday games, 6-2 in Pac 12 games, 5-2 after scoring less than 50 points, 14-6 after a cover, 1-3-1 after a straight up win, 0-3-1 in road games, and against teams with winning home records. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games in this series.
Stanford is 4-1 ATS against teams with losing road records, 3-1 after a cover, 8-3 in Wednesday games, 5-2-1 overall, and 6-13-1 after a straight up win. The Cardinal are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 against the Cougars, including 6-2 at home.
Washington State struggles to score even without Lacy. However, they play great defense. The Cougars must slow down the game to the 50’s or even the 40’s to have a chance. The Cardinal will run them out of the gym if they try to play in the 70’s where Stanford is comfortable. I like Stanford to win, but WSU stays inside the number.
