Liberty (8-4) vs. Stanford (7-4)
Diamond Head Classic
Honolulu, Hawaii – Stan Sheriff Center (Capacity: 10,300)
Thursday, Dec. 23, 4:00 p.m. ET
ESPN2
Last Meeting: First meeting
Series History: N/A
Projected LU Starters:
2 Darius McGhee (Sr., 5-9, 150) – 19.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.7 apg
23 Joseph Venzant (Fr., 6-3, 170) – 4.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.4 apg
20 Keegan McDowell (R-Sr., 6-6, 180) – 11.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg
22 Kyle Rode (Jr., 6-7, 220) – 5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (R-Jr., 6-7, 200) – 8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg
Projected Stanford Starters:
5 Michael O’Connell (So., 6-2, 190) – 7.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.6 apg
14 Spencer Jones (Jr., 6-7, 225) – 7.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 apg
55 Harrison Ingram (Fr., 6-7, 230) – 12.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.2 apg
11 Jaiden Delaire (Sr., 6-9, 215) – 12.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.9 apg
22 James Keefe (Jr., 6-9, 235) – 3.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.5 apg
PREVIEW
Following a win on Wednesday over Northern Iowa to open play in the Diamond Head Classic, the Flames will face Stanford in the first ever meeting between the two programs. A place in the Diamond Head Classic Championship Game on Christmas Day awaits the winner of Thursday’s game between Liberty and the Cardinal.
Stanford was able to outlast Wyoming on Wednesday, 66-63. The Cowboys had two good looks from three in the closing seconds that would have sent the game to overtime. Jaiden Delaire scored 17 points in the win to lead Stanford to go along with his 7 rebounds. Spencer Jones also reached double figures with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
The 6’9″ Delaire was named the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player and honorable mention All-Pac-12 last season. He appeared in 24 games with 21 starts, averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds during the season.
True freshman Harrison Ingram was a consensus five-star recruit, rated in the top 20 by all national recruiting services and named a McDonald’s All-American. He was the Texas State Private School Player of the Year and averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists per game during his junior season. He chose Stanford over North Carolina, Purdue, Michigan, Harvard, and Howard.
Stanford is coached by six-year head coach Jerod Haase. The Cardinal won 20 games in the 2019-20 season and finished last year at 14-13 overall and 10-10 in Pac-12 play. Stanford has not made the NCAA Tournament since the 2014 season when they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. That’s their only appearance in the Big Dance since 2009.
So far this year, the Cardinal are 7-4 on the season. Their wins have come against Tarleton State, San Jose State, Valpo, North Carolina A&T, Oregon, Dartmouth, and Wyoming. Stanford’s losses this year have been against Santa Clara, Baylor, Colorado, and Texas.
KENPOM PREDICTION
Stanford 67, Liberty 64
