As the calendar flips to conference play, Stanford is looking to keep its momentum rolling when it hosts Notre Dame on Tuesday in what marks the ACC opener for both programs. The Cardinal, winners of four straight, have been clicking offensively-and at the center of it all is sophomore guard Ebuka Okorie, who’s emerging as one of the most dynamic scorers in the country.
Stanford enters the matchup at 11-2 overall and 7-2 on its home floor, where they've been tough to beat all season. Okorie has been nothing short of electric in recent outings.
He dropped 32 points in a statement win over Colorado on Dec. 20, then followed it up with another 30-piece in an 88-80 comeback victory over Cal State Northridge. That kind of back-to-back production isn’t just impressive-it’s the kind of stuff that turns heads across the conference.
And it’s not just Okorie doing the heavy lifting. Chisom Okpara added 20 points in the win over the Matadors, while Benny Gealer chipped in 13 of his own. Stanford’s ability to get contributions across the board, even when Okorie is carrying the scoring load, bodes well as they dive into the heart of their ACC schedule.
But make no mistake-Okorie is the engine. Head coach Kyle Smith had high praise for his rising star, not just for his scoring, but for the way he’s embracing coaching and growth.
“He’s just getting better,” Smith said. “These are all good opportunities for him.
I was actually able to get mad at him-I have to find things to get mad at him about-but he takes it. He wants to be coached, wants to be great.
Let’s get great in all areas of the game and just appreciate everything he’s doing.”
That mindset is the kind of thing that separates good players from great ones. Okorie isn’t just putting up numbers-he’s chasing the full package, and Stanford’s success is following suit.
On the other side, Notre Dame comes in at 9-4 but is looking to bounce back after a frustrating 72-69 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne. The Irish had their chances-tying the game twice in the second half-but never managed to grab the lead down the stretch. Jalen Haralson led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds, but the team’s overall execution left plenty to be desired.
Head coach Micah Shrewsberry didn’t sugarcoat it postgame.
“Every bit of criticism is justified today,” Shrewsberry said. “Total lack of leadership, and maybe that starts with me. Maybe I didn’t talk about it enough, so that’s on me that we came out and played that way.”
Notre Dame had been riding a four-game win streak before the loss, and they managed much of that stretch without star guard Markus Burton, who’s been sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this month. His absence has forced others to step up-and while Haralson has shown flashes, the Irish are still searching for consistency as they try to find their identity in ACC play.
This will be just the second conference meeting between Stanford and Notre Dame since the Cardinal joined the ACC in 2024. The Irish won the first one in a defensive battle, 56-54. But with Okorie playing at a different level and Stanford clicking offensively, this rematch has a much different feel.
For both teams, it’s not just about starting ACC play with a win-it’s about setting a tone. Stanford wants to prove it's a real threat in its new conference home. Notre Dame wants to show it can respond to adversity and compete at a high level without its top scorer.
Tuesday night in Palo Alto should give us some answers.