Stanford Basketball Starts Fresh Under Coach Kyle Smith in ACC

Stanford University's basketball program has entered a transformative phase as Kyle Smith steps in as the new head coach for the 2024 season. Previously, the team struggled under Jerod Haase, who failed to lead them to the NCAA Tournament in eight seasons. In contrast, Smith achieved significant success at Washington State, earning Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008. Smith's task now is to revitalize a Stanford roster that returns only one starter, Maxime Raynaud, after losing several key players. Raynaud's decision to remain with the team following the coaching change is pivotal, as he was a significant contributor last season, averaging 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Cardinal also bolstered their lineup through the transfer portal, acquiring players such as Chisom Okpara from Harvard and Derin Saran from UC Irvine. These additions are crucial for the team as they adapt to a new competitive landscape in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The upcoming season includes challenging matchups against prestigious programs like North Carolina, Duke, and Notre Dame, along with key home games against Virginia and Syracuse. Despite the hurdles of the current roster changes and the new ACC alignment, Smith's proven track record suggests that the program has the potential for success. The Cardinal hope to reverse their long tournament drought, having last made the NCAA Tournament in 2014. As they navigate this critical rebuilding phase, the contributions from both returning players and newcomers will be essential.