Stanford Riding High as No. 6 Duke Comes to Town
Fresh off a statement win over No. 14/15 North Carolina, Stanford men’s basketball is rolling into Saturday’s showdown with No.
6 Duke with momentum, confidence, and a whole lot of firepower. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
PT at Maples Pavilion, and if recent history is any indication, the Cardinal are more than ready for another ranked challenge.
A Hot Start with Real Bite
At 14-4, Stanford is off to its best start since the 2019-20 season. But this isn’t just about racking up wins-this team is earning them in style. With four quadrant-one NET victories already under their belt, including ACC triumphs over Louisville, Virginia Tech, and most recently, North Carolina, the Cardinal are proving they belong in the national conversation.
And they’re doing it with a dynamic mix of youth and experience. Freshman phenom Ebuka Okorie is putting together a debut season that’s turning heads across the country.
Averaging 22.9 points per game, Okorie ranks fifth nationally in scoring and second among all freshmen. He’s in elite company, joining Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa as the only freshmen averaging over 20 points a night.
Chisom Okpara has been a steady contributor as well, pouring in 13.9 points per game-good for 23rd in the ACC. Together, they’ve helped Stanford become one of the more intriguing teams in the conference.
Maples Pavilion Becoming a Fortress
Saturday’s matchup against Duke marks Stanford’s third straight game against a ranked opponent-and the third straight at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal have already taken down No.
16/13 Louisville and No. 14/15 North Carolina at home to kick off 2026, and they’ve now won four straight home games against ranked teams.
That’s not just a nice stat-it’s a sign that Maples is becoming a tough place for top-tier opponents to play.
The last time Stanford strung together five consecutive home wins over ranked opponents? You’d have to go back to a stretch from March 2003 to January 2006. With Duke coming to town, the Cardinal have a chance to make some serious program history.
Okorie’s Star Keeps Rising
What Ebuka Okorie did against North Carolina was nothing short of electric. The freshman dropped 36 points on 12-of-20 shooting, including three triples and nine free throws. That performance not only broke his own freshman scoring record-set just 26 days earlier-but also tied for the 15th-highest single-game scoring mark in Stanford history.
It was his fourth 30-point game in the last seven contests, and it was the most points scored by a Stanford player since Chris Hernandez dropped 37 on UCLA back in 2005. Okorie isn’t just putting up numbers-he’s doing it when it matters, against elite competition, and with a flair that’s impossible to ignore.
A Balanced Attack
While Okorie was the headliner in the 95-90 win over North Carolina, he wasn’t alone. Ryan Agarwal poured in a career-high 20 points, and Jeremy Dent-Smith added a season-high 20 of his own. The Cardinal hit 16 of 28 from beyond the arc-tied for the second-most made threes in program history.
It marked the first time since 2015 that Stanford had three players score 20 or more points in a single game. That kind of offensive balance makes this team dangerous, especially when the supporting cast is clicking like it did against the Tar Heels.
A Big-Time Test Ahead
Duke comes in as the No. 6 team in the country, and Saturday will be Stanford’s third game in a brutal stretch that features four ranked opponents in five contests. The Cardinal are 2-1 so far in those ranked matchups, including the win over Louisville that gave head coach Kyle Smith his first ranked victory at the helm.
Stanford is 4-8 in its last 12 games against ranked teams, but here’s the kicker-they’re 4-0 at home in that span. That includes a pair of top-five wins over Arizona, and now they’ll try to add Duke to that growing list.
Cardinal in the Pros
Stanford fans have even more reason to keep tabs on the program beyond this season. Maxime Raynaud, who graduated in 2025 after one of the best individual seasons in school history, is now with the Sacramento Kings and making an impact. He’s averaging 10.5 points per game overall, and that number jumps to 12.6 when he starts-19 times so far this season.
Spencer Jones has also carved out a role with the Denver Nuggets, starting in 25 of his 36 appearances. Along with Brook Lopez and Ziaire Williams, that’s four former Cardinal who’ve scored 20 or more in the NBA since December 1.
What’s Next
The Duke game is more than just a marquee matchup-it’s a chance for Stanford to prove that this hot start is no fluke. With a surging freshman star, a deep supporting cast, and a growing sense of belief, the Cardinal are building something real. Saturday’s game is another step in that journey.
If the energy in Maples Pavilion is anything like it was against North Carolina, buckle up. This one could be special.