Stanford Cardinal vs California Golden Bears Picks and Predictions March 12th 2025

After 6 OTs in 2 Games, Cal Aims to Maintain ‘Rhythm’ vs. Stanford

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The California Golden Bears have played more basketball than anyone could have imagined heading into the ACC Tournament, and their resilience will be put to the test against a familiar foe—Stanford.

After a grueling double-overtime victory over Virginia Tech (82-73) on Tuesday, Cal advances to the second round to face seventh-seeded Stanford (19-12) on Wednesday night. This follows a four-overtime loss at Notre Dame in their regular-season finale, marking six overtimes in just two games.

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Cal’s Endurance and Rhythm: A Double-Edged Sword?

With all the extra basketball, fatigue could be a concern, but head coach Mark Madsen believes it may also serve as an advantage.

“That’s six overtimes in the last two games, and our guys, they just never stopped fighting,” Madsen said.
“Our guys are in rhythm. They might be a little tired, but our guys are in basketball rhythm,” he added. “So we’re in a great place to continue to make every effort to have great momentum going forward.”

The Bears will have to summon all their energy to avoid a third straight loss to Stanford this season, after falling 89-81 in December and 66-61 in February.

Stanford’s Edge: Maxime Raynaud and a Strong Finish

Stanford enters the game riding high with a first-team All-ACC selection in Maxime Raynaud, who is averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. His 23 double-doubles lead the country, and he will be a major factor against Cal.

The Cardinal have exceeded expectations this season, especially considering they were ranked 17th out of 18 teams in the ACC preseason poll.

“We just talked about the process and just (doing) your best every day,” Stanford head coach Kyle Smith said. “They did a really good job of staying present and trying to improve.”

Stanford guard Jaylen Blakes brings ACC Tournament experience from his time at Duke and could be a key contributor against a fatigued Cal team.

Can Cal Push Through Fatigue?

Despite their exhausting schedule, Cal remains confident, especially after Andrej Stojakovic’s 29-point explosion against Virginia Tech—his third-highest scoring output of the season.

“We’ve been on the road for 10 days, and I wouldn’t change it for anything else,” Stojakovic said. “We get to play basketball. It’s a win-or-go-home scenario. Just got to be out there and stay aggressive and have fun with the guys.”

Stojakovic also found his outside stroke, hitting three 3-pointers, something he had done just once since mid-December.

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Matchup Outlook: Will Cal’s Momentum Outlast Stanford’s Stability?

The Bears are battle-tested but could be worn down from their recent marathon games. Meanwhile, Stanford is well-rested and has already beaten Cal twice this season.

Cal will need to contain Raynaud in the paint, while leaning on Stojakovic’s scoring and the team’s newfound rhythm to keep their tournament hopes alive.

With a spot in the ACC quarterfinals on the line, this rivalry matchup promises to be another intense battle. Will Cal’s endurance push them through, or will Stanford’s efficiency prevail? Fans won’t want to miss this high-stakes showdown.