Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (left) throws down against UNC Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) in the first half at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Jan 17, 2026. The Bears hit the road Sat Jan 23, 2026 against cross bay rival Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Can John Camden set the tone offensively for Cal on the road, especially if Stanford pressures the Bears on the perimeter early?

#2 How important will Justin Pippin’s pace and decision-making be in keeping Cal composed against Stanford’s half-court defense?

#3 Will Cal look to establish Dai Dai Ames inside to counter Stanford’s frontcourt size, or lean more heavily on spacing and outside shooting?

#4 Can Camden and Pippin win the backcourt battle against Stanford’s guards and limit turnovers in what’s always a high-energy rivalry game?

#5 Which Cal role player could be the X-factor if Stanford sells out to stop Camden — and does Mark Madsen shorten the rotation in a tight road matchup?

Michael Villanueva does the Cal Bears podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com