Utah @ Stanford preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 6, 2020 ) Stanford 56, Utah 64

Stanford looks to avenge an earlier loss to Utah and keep its hopes for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth alive when the teams meet on Wednesday in Palo Alto. The Cardinal have won two straight following a four-game losing streak but have dropped their last four meetings against Utah – including falling 64-56 in overtime on Feb. 6.

Coach Jerod Haase’s squad completed a road sweep of the Washington schools with last Sunday’s impressive 75-57 win over Washington State, which was held to 32 percent shooting, including 7-of-30 from 3-point range. “I think this shows we have got a lot of fight left in us,” Haase told reporters. “We are eager and anxious to keep playing and see what it can turn into. Our whole body of work right now has been pretty darn good and I think we will be confident going into every game.” Forward Oscar da Silva averages 16 points and 6.5 rebounds to lead the Cardinal but was held to eight points on 4-of-12 shooting in the earlier matchup against the Utes. Stanford is 12-4 at home but can ill afford a setback against the Utes, who are winless in seven Pac-12 road games.

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: Pac-12 Network

ABOUT UTAH (15-12, 6-9 Pac-12): The Utes snapped a three-game losing streak with last Sunday’s 79-65 win over USC behind another strong outing from junior guard Alfonso Plummer, who matched his career high with 18 points on five 3-pointers. Coach Larry Krystkowiak has also been pleased by the development of 6-8 freshman Mikael Jantunen, who is averaging 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his last three games while shooting 75 percent from the field. The young squad includes sophomore Timmy Allen (17.4 points per game) and freshman Rylan Jones (10.2), who is listed as questionable after leaving the USC contest with a leg injury.

ABOUT STANFORD (18-9, 7-7): Freshman point guard Tyrell Terry averages 15 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Cardinal, who have won back-to-back games for the first time since opening conference play with four straight wins. Senior guard Daejon Davis was averaging 8.2 points before scoring 17 on 6-of-12 shooting in the win over Washington State. Haase’s nine-man rotation includes key reserves Bryce Wills (7.1 points per game) and Jaiden Delaire, who is averaging 10.2 points over his last five games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Utah owns a 22-13 lead in the all-time series, but Stanford has won nine of the 12 meetings at Maples Pavilion.

2. Stanford leads the Pac-12 in scoring defense at 61.6 points per game.

3. Utah freshman C Branden Carlson is averaging 10 points and five rebounds in his last five games.

PREDICTION: Stanford 71, Utah 64