Stanford might be starting to get a good feel for playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cardinal will get a full taste of their new conference by venturing into the heart of traditional ACC territory this week.
The first stop comes against Wake Forest on Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Stanford (11-5, 3-2 ACC) won two home games last week, beating Virginia Tech and Virginia.
“It kind of sets us up for a good start to the rest of the ACC season,” Stanford forward Aidan Cammann said.
Fellow Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud is the ACC leader in scoring (20.9 points per game) and rebounding (11.5 per game). He also leads the country with 13 double-doubles.
“I think the rest of our team has kind of learned to play around him and utilizing him,” Cammann said.
Stanford’s 88-65 victory against Virginia on Saturday marked the most points allowed by the Cavaliers this season. The Cardinal hope it’s a sign that the offense is hitting a new gear.
Raynaud said the Cardinal know the importance of rebounding and they’ve been rewarded when they’ve excelled in that area.
“Boxing out and crashing the boards is something that helps us,” Raynaud said. “It’s an emphasis every time. Hopefully we can keep that (going).”
Wake Forest (12-4, 4-1) carries a three-game winning streak into the matchup.
“Figuring out a package of sets that work for this team,” Demon Deacons coach Steve Forbes said of recent improvements. “Every team is different.”
Wake Forest has players near the top of some ACC lists, with Hunter Sallis fourth in scoring at 18.6 points and Tre’Von Spillers slotting in at third with 8.8 rebounds per game.
Sallis has reached the 20-point mark in five consecutive games.
“He has just gained more and more confidence from his past success,” Forbes said. “I know he plays with a group of players who look for him in that role.”
Teammate Cameron Hildreth (31 points) was the top scorer in Saturday’s 88-78 victory at Miami. It marked the senior’s second career 30-point game.
Wake Forest’s 54.7 percent shooting from the field on Saturday was its second-best rate of the season.
Stanford will be on a two-game visit to the region, with Saturday’s assignment about a 90-minute drive away at North Carolina.
–Field Level Media
