Preview: Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — Two teams heading in opposite directions will meet Wednesday when the Stanford Cardinal visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball matchup at Joyce Athletic Center.

Stanford (18-11) arrives with momentum, having won three of its last four games, including a dominant 95-75 victory over SMU on Saturday. The Cardinal’s offense has found its rhythm, averaging 81 points over that four-game stretch.

Notre Dame (13-16) seeks consistency after a rollercoaster week that featured a 96-90 overtime win against North Carolina State followed by a 100-56 home loss to Duke. The Fighting Irish have lost six of their last nine.

The game features a compelling backcourt duel between two of the conference’s hottest scorers. Stanford’s Benny Gealer is averaging 18.1 points over his last seven games, coming off a career-high 30-point performance against SMU. Notre Dame will counter with Cole Certa, who has been a volume scorer, dropping 32 points against NC State and 37 against Georgia Tech in the past month.

In their most recent meeting, defense prevailed as Notre Dame edged Stanford 47-40 on Dec. 30, 2025. The Cardinal will look for a higher-scoring affair this time, leveraging their recent offensive surge.

For Stanford, a victory would bolster its postseason resume as it aims for 19 wins. Notre Dame, sitting three games below .500, needs a strong finish to salvage its season, making this a critical home opportunity.

The Cardinal continue their road trip at North Carolina State on Saturday. Notre Dame hits the road to face Boston College the same day.

Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. EST Wednesday.