Game Preview: UW WBB Huskies Host Stanford, Sunday 2/5 at 12pm

TheWashington Huskies (12-9 overall; 4-7 PAC) host the #2-ranked Stanford Cardinal (22-2 overall, 10-1 PAC) — at 12pm PST, on Sunday, February 5th.

Stanford Defense
Stanford holds conference opponents to an average of 57.1 points per game, which ranks 2nd in the Pac-12 — UW’s defense allows 61.0 points per Pac-12 game (3rd best).

Per Synergy, the Cardinal rank in the Top 30% nationally in defending these play types:
(1) put-backs from offensive rebounds (Top1%);
(2) post-ups(Top 7%) ;
(3)players cutting (Top 11%);
(4)players coming off screens (Top 15%);
(5)isolation plays(Top 17%);
(6) handoffs (Top 19%); and
(7)spot-up jumpers (Top 28%).

Unfortunately, the Huskies’ standard offense relies heavily on handoffs, screens and cuts at the elbow of the free throw line. Stanford is excellent defensively as a team against these plays, so expect Washington to have much difficulty running their regular offense against Stanford.

Also, expect the Cardinal defense to be highly aware of Washington’s most efficient spot-up shooters to take away their open opportunities. — i.e., Lauren Schwartz (Top 8% nationwide); Emma Grothaus (Top 12% on limited shots); and Hannah Stines (Top 38%).

Washington’s Dalayah Daniels ranks in the Top 36% of all isolation players nationwide for efficiency.

However, Daniels is the only Husky highly rated as an isolation offensive player, so expect the Stanford defense to be prepared to make it difficult for Daniels to dribble-drive to the rim from the free throw line.

As for post-up offense, the Huskies’ most efficient post-up scorer is Darcy Rees (1.00 points per possession) but she has had very limited opportunities to demonstrate this skill set this season.

It will be interesting to see if Rees is given an opportunity to take on Stanford’s bigs in the post.

Stanford is good (but not great) at defending the pick-and-roll, i.e., ranking in the Top 41% in defending the pick-and-roll rollman (roller); and ranking in the Top 45% in defending pick-and-roll ballhandlers.

The Huskies only have one player that is an efficient scorer as a pick and roll ballhandler — Trinity Oliver ranks in the Top 48% of pick-and-roll ballhandlers nationwide.

Likewise, Dalayah Daniels is the only highly-ranked Husky as the pick-and-roll rollman (roller) — Daniels ranks in the Top 23% nationwide in points per possession (ppp) efficiency

Per Synergy, the Cardinal rank in the Bottom 21% of all Division teams in defending one play type only: transition offense

Washington should look for fastbreak opportunities against the Cardinal to take advantage of Stanford’s biggest weaknesses.

Stanford Players Overview

Cameron Brink #22, a 6’4″ junior big, averages a team-leading 15.8 points in Pac-12 play, along with 10.7 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.0 assists in 27.7 minutes.

#Pac12WBB Player of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Cameron Brink 🌲

Full release ➡️ https://t.co/OYwLCCLBS9#GoStanford | @StanfordWBB pic.twitter.com/wZpoeFTsxl

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) January 30, 2023

Stanford’s 6’1″ senior “do-everything” guard Haley Jones #30 averages 15 points in Pac-12 play, along with 11.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 35.1 minutes.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗡𝗘 🗣

Haley's up to 11!

📺 » @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/7VODxH7oUf

— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) February 4, 2023

Hannah Jump #33, a 6’0″ senior guard and three-point specialist, averages 11.4 points in Pac-12 play, on 38.8% shooting from three-point range; along with 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 35.1 minutes.

YUP 💥@hannah_jump drains it!

📺 » @Pac12Network#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/Ml6TWRWWKY

— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) January 21, 2023

Talana Lepolo #10, a 5’7″ freshman point guard, averages 5.1 points per game in PAc-12 play but shoots 38.1% from three-point range; along with 2.6 assists per game in 24.8 minutes.

BANG 💥@LepoloTalana makes em pay!

📺 » @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/hov481TUq0

— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) January 15, 2023

Other Stanford Players to Watch

6’1 big Frances Belibi #5

OH MYYYYY 😳

FRAN BELIBI THROWS IT DOWN‼️ pic.twitter.com/wZR4x6W33z

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 19, 2022

6’5″ big Ashten Prechtel #11

ASHTEN PRECHTEL FOR 3️⃣

📺 » @Pac12Network#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/FjeUUBUo1c

— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) January 15, 2022

6’3″ Sophomore big Kiki Irafen #44

Kiki ‼️

Sophomore caps an 8-0 run for the Card!

📺 » @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/hYkocqYH9t

— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) February 4, 2023

6’7″ Freshman Lauren Betts #51

8 points in 7 minutes? Bet(ts).

Freshman @laurenbetts12 is on 🔥🔥🔥#NCAAWBB x 🎥 @StanfordWBBpic.twitter.com/Yss75UAkWU

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 4, 2023

Stanford Offense

Stanford runs an advanced version of the Princeton offense, not to be confused with the few Princeton elements that UW runs on offense — Stanford can score efficiently from everywhere on the court (except the rightside baseline).

Stanford’s top five scoring combinations are as follows:|
(1) Haley Jones (assister) to Hannah Jump (scorer);
(2) Cameron Brink (assister) to Hannah Jump (scorer);
(3) Haley Jones (assister) to Cameron Brink (scorer);
(4) Talana Lepolo (assister) to Hannah Jump (scorer); and
(5) Talana Lepolo (assister) to Cameron Brink (scorer).

In order to secure an (historic) upset, the Washington Huskies must:

(1) take advantage of Washington’s transition offensive opportunities because that is Stanford’s lone weakness on defense;

(2) the Huskies must generate offense inside the lane with Dalayah Daniels, preferably around 30 points in-the-paint as a team total — including using Darcy Rees for post-up offense in the low post;

(3) attack the offensive boards to get Washington put-backs and second chance opportunities;

(4) limit UW’s turnovers to 10 or less to maximize offensive efficiency and avoid sparking
Stanford’s transition offense; and

(5) the Huskies take limited three-pointers but convert the three-point shots they do take at a 30% or better rate.

Huskies Win Probability: 5%