Pacific @ Stanford preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2011 ) Pacific 37, Stanford 79

Stanford may have found the perfect complement to star forward Reid Travis in freshman guard Isaac White, who announced his arrival with 17 points in Friday’s season opener. The Cardinal look to build on the 78-62 win over Cal Poly on Sunday when they face visiting Pacific, which was picked to finish eighth in the West Coast Conference preseason coaches poll.

Stanford struggled with its perimeter shooting last season, but White offered reason for optimism by connecting on all five of his 3-point attempts in 26 minutes against Cal Poly. “He’s the kind of player my gut tells me there’s not going to be a moment that’s too big for him,” Cardinal coach Jerod Haase told reporters. “When he makes those shots, it’s not a surprise to anyone. And he is a tough, tough kid, too. I think our guys feed off that.” Travis added a team-high 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Cardinal, which won their eighth straight season opener. One of the most veteran teams in the nation, Stanford is opening the season with five home games in 11 days, capped by a matchup against defending champion North Carolina on Nov. 20.

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

ABOUT PACIFIC (2016-17: 11-22): Second-year coach Damon Stoudamire’s squad has just 10 eligible players on the roster but should be strong near the glass, where 7-footer Namdi Okonkwo is poised to contribute alongside forwards Anthony Townes and Jack Williams. Okonkwo, a transfer from Portland State, had four points, three bounds and a block in an 84-49 exhibition win over Bethesda University on Nov. 8. Stoudamire is bullish about his backcourt, where guards Miles Reynolds and Kendall Small could make an immediate impact after sitting out last season due to transfer rules.

ABOUT STANFORD (1-0): Forward Dorian Pickens and point guard Robert Cartwright each had 10 points against Cal Poly, while forward Michael Humphrey picked up where he left off last season with nine rebounds. Cartwright averaged 6.7 points and shot 35.4 percent from the field as a sophomore last season but opened the season on a strong note with 4-of-9 shooting and four assists in 32 minutes. Haase also received a boost off the bench from freshman forward Oscar da Silva, who had seven points and four rebounds in his debut.

TIP-INS

1. Stanford is 32-3 all-time against Pacific, including a 79-37 victory in their last meeting on Nov. 28, 2011.

2. Pacific lost its last two season openers to Pac-12 foes Arizona and UCLA by a combined 57 points.

3. Stanford freshman forward Kezie Okpala, a high school All-American from Anaheim, is out indefinitely due to academic reasons.

PREDICTION: Stanford 71, Pacific 52