As the Stanford Cardinal prepare to face off against the Washington State Cougars at Beasley Coliseum, fans are looking forward to what promises to be an electrifying encounter. The upcoming game, scheduled for February 17, will test the mettle of a Stanford team that has shown both flashes of brilliance and areas in need of improvement.

Feb 23, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Washington State Cougars guard Justin Powell (24) shoots the basketballl against Stanford Cardinal guard Michael Jones (13) during the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on December 22 against San Diego State Aztecs, STAN struggled with turnovers and three-point shooting accuracy. Despite putting up a respectable 60 points and shooting an impressive 90 percent from the free-throw line, their three-point percentage was a paltry 15 percent. Moreover, they turned over the ball 16 times compared to only 11 assists – a ratio that needs serious attention if they hope to dominate future games.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for STAN fans. Looking back at their December 17 victory over Idaho Vandals with an emphatic scoreline of 82-64 showcases what this team is capable of when firing on all cylinders. They dominated inside the paint with a two-point field goal percentage of 66 percent and outrebounded their opponents by a significant margin (42 rebounds for STAN versus Idaho's 26). Their defensive prowess was also on display as they held Idaho to just under half in two-point attempts.

Feb 23, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Washington State Cougars forward Mouhamed Gueye (35) drives to the net against Stanford Cardinal guard Michael O'Connell (5) during the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinal's performance against San Diego Toreros on December 4 further cements their potential as contenders. An impressive offensive showcase led them to an even more convincing win with an astounding scoreline of 88-64. They excelled in fast break situations scoring fifteen points and were relentless defensively with eleven steals contributing significantly towards seventeen points off turnovers.

What stands out across these performances is STAN’s ability to control games through effective field goal percentages both from two-point range (consistently above fifty percent) and free throws (never dipping below sixty-seven percent). If they can tighten up their perimeter defense against WSU’s shooters while maintaining this offensive efficiency, there’s no reason why they can’t come away from Pullman with a victory.

Feb 23, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Brandon Angel (23) dribbles the ball against Washington State Cougars forward Andrej Jakimovski (23) during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

The Cougars will undoubtedly provide stiff competition; however, based on recent form where STAN has shown resilience after setbacks coupled with moments where they've looked unstoppable offensively – it seems reasonable that Cardinal supporters should feel cautiously optimistic about this matchup.

Fans eager not only for victory but also for witnessing strategic basketball play should mark their calendars for February 17th at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. The game is set for tip-off at around six o'clock local time (PST) and will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Network – ensuring you won't miss any action from what could be one of the season's most intriguing contests.

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