Stanford men’s basketball is facing a major test-not just from the tough ACC schedule, but now from within its own rotation. The Cardinal (14-5, 3-3 ACC), fresh off a split week that saw them take down No.
22 North Carolina and fall to No. 5 Duke, will have to navigate the rest of the season without one of their most impactful players.
Senior forward Chisom Okpara is out for the year after suffering a lower-body injury in Stanford’s Jan. 10 road loss to Virginia.
That’s a big blow-no way around it. Okpara has been the Cardinal’s second-leading scorer, averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 17 games.
But those numbers only tell part of the story. When Okpara gets going, Stanford usually follows.
The team is a perfect 9-0 when he scores 15 or more, and he’s one of only two players on the roster-alongside standout freshman guard Ebuka Okorie-with multiple 20-point games this season. He’s also been a surprising playmaker, leading the team in assists in five games, second only to Okorie’s eight.
But it’s not just the scoring or passing that Stanford will miss-it’s the physicality. Okpara is the guy who sets the tone in the paint.
He draws contact, gets to the line, and forces opposing defenses to adjust. In fact, he ranks in the top 40 nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes.
That kind of presence is hard to replace, and it was clear how much the Cardinal missed it in the Duke game. Without Okpara, Stanford struggled to get inside consistently and ended up on the wrong side of a 28-to-10 free-throw disparity.
That’s the kind of margin that can swing a game, especially against a top-five opponent.
Stanford did manage to pull out a gritty win over UNC without Okpara, showing they can still compete with elite teams. But the margin for error just got a lot thinner.
Sophomore forward Donavin Young has stepped into the starting lineup in Okpara’s absence, but it’s been graduate guard Jeremy Dent-Smith who’s really stepped up. Dent-Smith has found a groove during this homestand, averaging 19 points and leading the team in scoring against Duke. His veteran presence and scoring punch will be key as the Cardinal look to fill the void left by Okpara.
Looking ahead, Stanford’s next challenge comes Saturday when Cal (14-5, 2-4 ACC) visits Maples Pavilion. It’s a rivalry game, and it’s going to be physical-just the kind of matchup where Okpara’s presence would’ve made a difference. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m., and Stanford will need someone-maybe Dent-Smith, maybe Young, maybe a surprise contributor-to bring the edge Okpara brought night in and night out.
The road forward won’t be easy, but if Stanford can find a way to replicate Okpara’s toughness by committee, they’ve still got the pieces to make some noise in the ACC.