ACC Hoops: Stanford, Cal Prepping for Closing Arguments > Our Stephen Vilardo's weekly column on the 2024-25 conference men's basketball season

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Stanford Seeking Strong Finish for Chance at Big Dance

Following a nice winning streak, Stanford has now lost two in a row.

The most recent loss came at home to Wake Forest, a team that was one game ahead of the Cardinal in the ACC standings, so the loss is a big one in the Conference picture.

But what makes the defeat sting a bit more is that the Demon Deacons are firmly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. Stanford is not quite to the bubble level yet, but if they get there the six-point loss at home on Wednesday night could loom large.

However, the Cardinal need to get some work done in the final month of the season to get in that conversation to begin with.

Stanford currently sits 77th in the most recent NET Rankings.  The Cardinal have done well in the games they should win going 12-1 in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games.

What will buoy them is winning some of the games in which they are not favored. This season Stanford is 2-5 in Quad 1 games and 1-2 in Quad 2 contests.

The final eight games will offer chances to pick up big wins with trips remaining in the regular season to Duke and Louisville as well as a visit from SMU.

The next game up will not be one of those chances to improve, but a loss to NC State at Maples would certainly derail things. The Wolfpack are now 2-9 in conference play entering this one on a seven-game losing streak.

Stanford certainly has plenty of opportunities and time left to get into the NCAA conversation, but it does not start without a 2-0 week with a win at home against NC State and at Georgia Tech.

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Cal Hoping to Build on 4-2 Run with Upset of Wake Forest

Cal handed the Wolfpack their most recent of the seven straight losses at Haas Pavilion on Wednesday night, improving to 4-3 at home in ACC games with the eight-point win.

Jovan Blacksher remained scorching hot for the Golden Bears as he reached double figures in scoring for the fourth straight game.

In the last six games, the senior from Oakland has averaged 13.2 points per outing—this follows a six-game stretch in which he had averaged just 5.2 points per game.

The Bears have gone 4-2 during the most recent six-game run of play.

They’ll take on Wake Forest this weekend, having struggled this season against teams well above them in the standings.

The midweek game for California is not going to be any easier as they will head to Durham and meet Duke inside Cameron Indoor Arena.

Duke’s current 16-game win streak is the longest in the nation and will most likely be a 17-gamer when they welcome the Bears to town.