Setting The Stage
Stanford Cardinal (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
vs.
No. 4/3 Duke Blue Devils (4-0, 0-0 ACC)
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 • 6:30 p.m. PT
Brooklyn, NY • Barclays Center
Series History: Stanford leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Stanford 84, Duke 83 (Dec. 21, 2000 – Pete Newell Challenge in Oakland, Calif.)
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM (PBP: John Platz)
TV: truTV (PBP: Brian Anderson, Analysts: Greg Anthony, Steve Smith, Sideline: Seth Davis)
NEW YORK- Stanford has an opportunity for an early-season signature victory, squaring off against No. 4/3 Duke on Saturday night in the championship game of the Northwestern Mutual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Barclays Center.
The Cardinal is coming off a convincing 89-60 win over UNLV on Friday night. Chasson Randle scored 18 points (6-10 3FG), leading four players in double figures. Stanford knocked down nine of its 14 three-pointers in the first half and held a 47-29 rebounding advantage. Anthony Brown grabbed nine rebounds as four Stanford players tallied at least six boards. The Cardinal also dished out 19 assists on 31 buckets.
Stanford is participating in its sixth preseason tournament under head coach Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal has compiled a 13-8 record in such games, with its best performances coming in the form of runner-up finishes at the 2013 Progressive Legends Classic (lost to Pittsburgh), 2011 Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off (lost to Syracuse) and 2009 Cancun Challenge (lost to Kentucky). Stanford is searching for its first preseason tournament title since capturing the 2007 Basketball Travelers Classic with a 67-48 victory over UC Santa Barbara at Maples Pavilion.
Saturday’s game marks the first matchup between Johnny Dawkins and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Dawkins, who is 120-87 entering his seventh season, became Stanford’s 17th head coach on April 28, 2008, after 11 years as an assistant to Krzyzewski at Duke. One of the most decorated players in Blue Devil history, Dawkins finished his career in 1986 as the school's all-time leading scorer and was part of three NCAA Tournament squads, leading Duke to a runner-up finish in the 1986 NCAA title game. A two-time consensus All-American, Dawkins was named the 1986 Naismith National Player of the Year.
“We are in a tournament and just preparing as best we can,” said Dawkins. “I don’t think any of us (coaches) look forward to playing each other. Coach Krzyzewski and I have always been so close that typically we do not play each other during the season. It just so happens that this is a tournament setting and you play the teams in front of you if they win.”
“First of all, I’m proud of Johnny,” said Krzyzewski, after Duke defeated Temple 74-54 on Friday night in the other semifinal. “Johnny was the first great player to commit to me. Johnny is as good a player as we have ever had at Duke. And he's a great man. He's got the whole package. I’d rather not play him. He’s part of our family. It’s too bad we have to play one another, but that’s the way it is. Stanford is an outstanding team. They’re big, they’re huge. Johnny has a really good system, how he uses them."
Stanford has won both previous meetings against Duke, most recently 84-83 back on Dec. 21, 2000 at the Pete Newell Challenge when the Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 in both polls. The Cardinal’s other win was an 80-79 overtime triumph on Nov. 11, 1999 in the season opener as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York.
Stanford finished 5-2 against top-25 opponents last season, defeating No. 23/25 UCLA at home while winning road games at No. 10/10 Connecticut and No. 17/13 Oregon. In the NCAA Tournament, Stanford knocked off No. 17/17 New Mexico and No. 10/10 Kansas. The five top-25 victories were the most since the 2007-08 campaign, when Stanford beat six top-25 clubs. Stanford is 9-15 all-time versus top-25 teams under head coach Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal’s most recent win over a top-5 opponent came back on Jan. 28, 2007, defeating No. 3/2 UCLA 75-68 at Maples Pavilion.
Only the Brooklyn Nets might be more familiar with the Barclays Center than Stanford, which last year visited the arena twice in a one-month span. While competing in the Progressive Legends Classic (Nov. 25-26), Stanford defeated Houston 86-76 before falling 88-67 to Pittsburgh in the championship game. The Cardinal then returned for the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational (Dec. 21), dropping a 68-65 decision to Michigan.