Wake Forest Hosts Stanford in High-Stakes ACC Basketball Showdown

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Wake Forest University’s men’s basketball team will face Stanford University in a highly anticipated ACC matchup at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPNews.

The Demon Deacons (12-4, 4-1 ACC) are looking to extend their perfect home record to 9-0 this season, while Stanford (11-5, 3-2 ACC) aims to secure a crucial road victory. This marks only the second meeting between the two programs, with Stanford winning their previous encounter in the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

Wake Forest enters the game fresh off an 88-78 victory over Miami, their first win in Coral Gables since 2007. Senior guard Hunter Sallis led the charge with a season-high 31 points, including six three-pointers, while Cameron Hildreth added 22 points. The Demon Deacons are 0-3 against ranked opponents this season but have shown resilience in conference play.

Stanford, under first-year head coach Kyle Smith, is led by French forward Maxime Reynaud, who averages a double-double with 20.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Reynaud, the ACC’s leading scorer and rebounder, has been a dominant force, including a 32-point, 16-rebound performance against Santa Clara. Guards Brandon Angel and Ryan Agarwal, both transfers, have also been key contributors, averaging 14.5 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.

“Maxime Reynaud has been the best player in the ACC so far,” said Stanford analyst Ben Parker. “His ability to score from anywhere on the court and create opportunities for his teammates makes him a nightmare for defenses.”

For Wake Forest to succeed, they must contain Reynaud and limit Stanford’s second-chance opportunities. The Demon Deacons struggled with defensive rebounding in their last game, a weakness Stanford could exploit. Additionally, Wake Forest will need to minimize turnovers, particularly against Stanford’s aggressive backcourt, which has combined for 61 steals this season.

“If we can stay out of foul trouble and keep Reynaud in check, we’ve got a good chance,” said Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes. “Rebounding and taking care of the ball will be critical.”

Stanford, meanwhile, will focus on disrupting Sallis, Wake Forest’s leading scorer, and maintaining offensive consistency. The Cardinal have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled with prolonged scoring droughts in some games.

The game is expected to be a tightly contested battle, with both teams vying for momentum in the ACC standings. Wake Forest’s home-court advantage could prove decisive, but Stanford’s balanced attack and Reynaud’s dominance make them a formidable opponent.