Category: NCAA

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: How Stanford sizes up against Virginia Tech Wednesday

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Stanford Cardinal bench erupts as the Cardinal defeated the visiting Louisville Cardinals at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Fri Jan 2, 2026 (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Stanford Cardinal (12-3) freshman guard Ebuka Okorie leads the Cardinal in scoring (over 21 points per game) and will be a key offensive focal point against Virginia Tech Hokies (12-3) defense.

#2 With his size and rebounding ability, Chisom Okpara presence in the paint could be crucial in deciding whether Stanford controls the boards.

#3 Which backcourt combo — Okorie and Ryan Agarwal — will have more success penetrating Virginia Tech’s defense?

#4 Can Okpara’s experience help Stanford sustain consistency across four quarters?

#5 Will Stanford’s perimeter shooting under pressure be enough to offset Virginia Tech’s athletic defenders?

Join Daniel Dullum for the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva: Cal’s Ames sinks game winner to edge Notre Dame 72-71

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Cal Bears center Milos llic (8) takes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Logan Imes (2) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Fri Jan 2, 2026 (Cal Bears X photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Dai Dai Ames had a strong offensive season coming in — how would you assess his impact Friday night both in scoring and tempo for Cal he finished with 23 points.

#2 Justin Pippen has been one of the team’s key playmakers — what adjustments did Notre Dame make to limit his effectiveness and how did he respond, Pippen finished with 14 points.

#3 John Camden was one of Cal’s most efficient shooters — what did you think about his shot selection and contribution on both ends tonight?

#4 Lee Dort with four points and 11 rebounds brings rebounding and interior presence — how critical was his work on the boards, and do you feel it set the tone defensively late in the game?

#5 Looking at role players like Semetri Carr with six points, how important was the bench production Friday night, and what can that depth mean moving forward in ACC play?

Michael Villanuevea is a Cal Bears beat writer and podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

1st Game of the 2026, 1st Dub of the 2026. Golden Bears beat the Fighting Irish, 72-71

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California Golden Bear forward Chris Bell #22 shoots a contested mid-range shot over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Braeden Shrewsberry #11 on Friday night at the Haas Pavilion. (Photo Credit to Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – On Friday night, January 2, 2026, the California Golden Bears defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 72-71 at Haas Pavilion in their final exciting 8-game homestand. Cal’s victory was their first in the ACC and second of the season.

Cal was coming off its first loss at Haas Pavilion, 90-70 to No. 16/13 Louisville on December 30 in both teams’ Atlantic Coast Conference openers. The Cardinals’ strong shooting proved to be the difference, with five players scoring in double figures. Cal had four players in double figures, led by Chris Bell’s 20-point performance.

Cal’s second ACC home game of the 2025-26 season took place Thursday night, capping off an eight-game homestand. The Bears’ first test of the new year came against a 10-4 Notre Dame.

The visiting Fighting Irish started the game with Jalen Haralson, Logan Imes, Braeden Shrewsberry, Carson Towt, and Garrett Sundra. The five set the tone early on, led by Haralson, who started the game on pace. He started the game 4-for-4 from the floor, including two corner three-pointers, which provided Notre Dame with a quick offensive push.

Cal’s starting lineup included John Camden, Dai Dai Ames, Lee Dort, Justin Pippen, and Chris Bell. Camden, who had already made 40 three-pointers for the Bears this season and had made at least one in every game, got off to a slow start, going 0-for-3 on field goals and three-pointers.

The first half was all Notre Dame, with the Fighting Irish coming out of Cal’s house strong, fast, and disciplined. They hit 58% from the field and 57% from three-point range in the first ten minutes, putting early stress on the Golden Bears. Cal struggled to find a rhythm, connecting on only 23% of their total shots and 13% from deep.

The game was physical on both sides, as both teams were eager to begin the year with a dub. The Golden Bears attempted nine free throws in the first half and made six, while Notre Dame was only 2-of-8 at the line. Despite the poor shooting and early setbacks, Cal was determined to get back on track. The Bears trailed 31-27 at halftime, keeping the game within reach for the second half.

The Bears played much better in the second half, with an intensity of awareness and focus that allowed them to play smarter, more precise basketball. Cal made four of their first five shots in the first six minutes, taking advantage on a three-minute scoring drought by Notre Dame. Justin Pippen was the driving force in raising his point count from six to fourteen while boosting the Bears’ offense.

Overall, Cal’s shooting improved, especially from deep. With seven minutes remaining, the Bears led by seven points, their largest lead of the night. However, the Fighting Irish remained fighting, shooting reliably and making tough shots when needed. Notre Dame had cut its lead to one with four minutes left in the game.

The Bears then went cold, making only one of ten field goals the rest of the way, giving the Irish the lead again. With two minutes remaining, Notre Dame’s Cole Serta made a critical three-pointer, giving the Irish the lead. Then, with only nine seconds remaining and the Bears down 71-68, Dai Dai Ames scored a three-pointer and was fouled, completing a four-point play that gave Cal a 72-71 lead with 2.6 seconds left. The Golden Bears won the game by holding on defensively in the final seconds.

Ames led Cal with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 1 rebound, and 3 assists, while Chris Bell had 15 points and 5 rebounds. The win gave the Bears their first ACC conference victory and improved their overall record to 13-2 into the new year.

Cal will return to play on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, when they face the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA, tipping off at 6 p.m., ready for another tough conference game.

Cardinal clipped the wings of the Cardinals 80-76, Friday  Evening inside Maples

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Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) dribbles against Stanford Cardinal guard Benny Gealer (5) during the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images | Justine Willard-Imagn Images

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (12-3, 1-1 ACC) garnered their first conference win, after an 80-76 victory over the Louisville Cardinals (11-3, 1-1 ACC) in a pleasant atmosphere on the Farm.

Stanford started the game off with a 4-0 run.  Louisville followed that with a 5-0 run of their own.  The Cardinal equaled that amount on their second points burst..  They were in the lead for 16:23 of the first 20 minutes of the game and half, while the Cardinals were on top for 1:48, while they were tied twice for 1:49.

The Cardinal shot a whole lot better in the first half, compared to their previous conference game.  They managed to shoot 46% from both the field and beyond the arc.  Although they shot a mediocre 56% from the charity stripe.  Stanford’s defense forced Louisville into an abysmal 38% from 2, and 19% from 3.  Their 78% from the free throw line helped keep them close at recess.

Another different scenario for the Cardinal was from their leading scorer Ebuke Okorie,  The freshman sensation had a total of two points at the half in the previous game.  In his second conference game, he garnered  14 points in the initial 20-minute half.  That doubled his total amount in the other game.

After all of that action, Stanford was ahead by one at halftime, 35-34.  Stanford had one player in double-figures, and that was the aforementioned Okorie (14).  Louisville’s Sananda Fru was close, with 9 points and 5 rebounds at the midway point of the competitive game.

The second half had an immediate lead change, as Louisville entered the second half down one, but went up two on a 3-point shot by senior guard Isaac McKneely, 16 seconds into the second stanza.  That would be the fifth of 18 lead changes in the back and forth conference clash.

Both teams shot better in the second half, and made significant runs to race in front of each other.  Although there were nearly 20 lead changes, Stanford held the advantage for more than three times as many minutes of gameplay.

The game was a “nail-biter” in the final minutes, as it could have gone either way.  However, the Cardinal made the correct plays and converted the free throws to seal the deal at the end of 40 regulation minutes of action.  Stanford prevailed, and won the game by four, 80-76.

Two Cardinal teammates joined Okorie (28) in double-digit scoring.  Chisom Okpara tallied 17 points and 8 rebounds and Ryan Agarwal contributed 12 points to the team’s total.

Four Louisville hoopers reached that plateau for the visitors from the Blue Grass State.  Ryan Conwell led them with 18 points and7 rebounds, Isaac McKneely (17) Sananda Fru chipped in 15 points and 8 rebounds, and J’Vonne Hadley offered 14 points and 7 rebounds.

The Cardinal will next be in action Wednesday, January 7, as they travel across  the Continental US to Blacksburg to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies at 4 PM PT local time on the ACC NETWORK.  The Cardinals head back to Kentucky Tuesday, January 6, to host the Duke Blue Devils at 7 PM ET on ESPN.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Rose Bowl Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza guides Indiana to a 38-3 rout over Alabama

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Indiana Hoosiers lineman Jackson Lloyd (78) and quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) share congratulations after a touchdown pass from Mendoza to wide receiver Elijah Sarratt in the second half at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Thu Jan 1, 2026 (AP News photo)

Rose Bowl Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza guides Indiana to a 38-3 rout over Alabama, the Hoosiers’ first bowl win since 1991, and they are now on their way to the CFP semifinal berth against Oregon

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards(87.5%), for three touchdowns, as Indiana routed Alabama 38-3. The Hoosiers’ first bowl win since 1991, and they are now on their way to the CFP semifinal berth against Oregon.

Always a big deal to beat Alabama, arguably the most prestigious as well as dominant college football program ever. They consistently have multiple players selected in the NFL Draft each year, with some years yielding significant first-round picks, and many NFL stars who played for Alabama, such as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Thursday, Hurts’ team, the Eagles, is a strong contender (among the top 6) to win the upcoming Super Bowl.

Fernando Mendoza is the first Heisman winner of Cuban heritage; all four of his grandparents were born and raised in Cuba before moving to the US. Mondoza was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up immersed in the most vibrant Cuban community in the US.

As a Latino quarterback, he’s seen as an inspiration, bringing pride to the Hispanic community, particularly Cubans. In the Miami area, Mendoza is highly engaged with the community, consistently speaking with young Latinos about family, hard work, sacrifice, and other values.

He is seen as an inspiration to the Hispanic community. Other famous quarterbacks of Hispanic heritage include the following. Jim Plunkett is the most successful, won the Heisman Trophy and led the Oakland Raiders to two Super Bowl victories.

He was the first Hispanic starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the Super Bowl MVP Award. Tom Flores, Joe Capp, Jeff García, Tony Romo, and Mark Sánchez also made it to the NFL and they all had Latino roots. Attention Raiders fans: Fernando Mendoza has not declared his favorite NFL team (at least publicly).

Raiders fans hope he is drafted by them, as betting odds strongly favor him as the #1 pick for the Raiders in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. I believe it would be a strong move for the Raiders to select young Fernando Mendoza.

Let’s face it, the Raiders need all the help they can get. The whole organization needs a total overhaul. And it would not be a bad start if they pick this talented young man. There is hardly any doubt that the majority of the Raiders fans live here in the Bay Area. No team that moves from the Bay Area to Las Vegas can have a larger following in Las Vegas than here in Oakland.

Quote: “Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.” – Attributed to John Heisman, the trophy’s namesake, often used to emphasize ball security.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Cardinal need to regroup on offensive strategy; Stanford faces Louisville Friday

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Stanford Cardinal Chisom Okpara was the only player on Stanford in double figures as the Cardinal strugggled to get any offense going against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Tue Dec 30, 2025 (Sports Illustrated file photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Chisom Okpara finished with 13 points and was one of Stanford’s leading scorers Tueday night — what adjustments do you think the team needs to make offensively after a tough shooting night.

#2 Ebuka Okorie came into the game as one of the nation’s top scorers but was held to seven points — what credit do you give Notre Dame’s defense?

#3 Oskar Giltay led Stanford with 11 rebounds — can you talk about his presence on the boards and how he might build a better transition offense off those rebounds next time?

#4 The team struggled with shooting efficiency overall — what specific areas (shot selection, ball movement, or spacing) do you feel most need improvement before your next ACC game?

#5 After playing a tough defensive battle on the road, how does Stanford keep the team’s confidence up and reset for the next game, especially after a frustrating offensive performance like this?

Join Michael Roberson for the Stanford Cardinal podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal suffered Bad Luck (Play) versus the Fighting Irish, 47-40, on ACC Opening Night on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal forward Chisom Okpara (10) throws down on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) at Maple Pavilion in Palo Alto on Tue Dec 30, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (11-3, 0-1 ACC) allowed good fortune for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-4, 1-0 ACC) by losing to the visitors from the Midwest 47-40, on Opening Night of the 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference league play, inside the confines of Maples Pavilion.

Notre Dame opened the conference contest with a tip-in layup. However, the Cardinal followed that with an 8-0 run to go up by six…The Fighting Irish topped that with a 10-0 run of their own, to lead by four. They eventually extended the margin to six. The guests from South Bend settled for a five point advantage at recess, 22-17.

The shooting in all three aspects was poor, at best. Both squads shot a putrid 27% from the floor. Stanford was 27% from beyond the arc, and 50% from the charity stripe, within the initial 20-minute half. Notre Dame was awful from threeland (0%) and 67% from the free throw line.

Cardinal top scorer Ebuke Okorie was scoreless for nearly the first 14 minutes of the game. He finally scored on a layup at the 6:02 mark of the half. That was his only tally in the first half. Okorie was working on a 30+ points consecutive streak, which was in dire jeopardy. Two points at the half would have required a 28-point explosion. That seemed to be very unlikely at the midway point of the battle.

Neither team produced a double-digit scorer in the very low scoring half of regulation play.

The second half had the Fighting Irish scoring first, as they did in the first half, on a basket by senior forward Carson Towt. They later extended their lead to as much as 16 points midway through the final half. Although they reached that wide of a margin, Stanford was still battling the Fighting Irish.

The Cardinal indeed fought back enough to get into striking range, cutting the deficit to single digits down the stretch. They were as close as five points behind at just under three minutes left in the game. Unfortunately for the home team, that was as close as they got in the second half, thanks to a couple of dagger threes by sophomore forward Garrett Sundra.

After 40 minutes of abysmal shooting on both sides, the Hoosier State hoopers prevailed and held on to victory by seven points, 47-40. The game could also be viewed as a defensive struggle, but the average fan on either side would have preferred an offensive masterpiece.

Stanford presented one player with more than ten points. Chisom Okpara contributed 13 points, while the high scoring freshman sensation Ebuke Okorie managed to chip in seven points and six rebounds.

Notre Dame also had a lone player reach that standard plateau. the aforementioned Jalen Haralson put up 13 points too, while his teammate Carson Towt grabbed 10 rebounds and scored eight points

The Cardinal will next be in action Saturday, January 2, as they host the Louisville Cardinals at 5 PM PT on the ACC Network. The Fighting Irish head across the Bay to take on the California Golden Bears, on the same date at 8 PM PT on ESPN2.

Cal Bears game wrap: Bears welcomed to ACC play with brutal awakening in 90-70 loss to Louisville

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Louisville Cardinal guard Adrian Wooley (14) takes a shot against Cal Bears forward Chris Bell (22) in second half action at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Tue Dec 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Louisville Cardinals 90 (11-2 Overall; 1-0 ACC)

California Golden Bears 70 (10-2 Overall; 0-1 ACC)

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–The Bears were welcomed to ACC play with a brutal awakening, as they fought the good fight, but were ultimately pummeled by the 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals 90-70.

The Bears got off to a 12-1 start, one of their best starts in a long time, as they dominated non-conference play. While many of the Bears’ 12 wins came against lesser known schools, they still had some wins against elite teams like UCLA. There has also been an excitement brewing around the Bears, who have not had a winning season in nine years.

As the Bears start playing the big teams on a regular basis, they would be met with the best of the best from the very getgo. Tonight, the 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals came to Haas Pavilion for the beginning of ACC play.

Haas Pavilion wasn’t filled to capacity, but a fairly-large crowd showed up nevertheless. Many excited Bears’ fans showed up, but many Cardinals’ fans showed as well. Perhaps a lot of them made the long journey from Kentucky to the Bay Area, which is a worthy trip.

As for the game, the Bears won the opening tip, but knocked the ball out of bounds. That seemed to set the tone for how tonight’s game would go. The Cardinals made Cal pay for the fumbled tip, as Sanandra Fru made an alleyoop dunk.

That was just the start for Louisville, who jumped out to an early 10-lead. The Cardinals dominated the first half, and eventually got out to a 36-15 lead with 5:53 left.

The Bears then went on a 10-0 run to suddenly cut Louisville’s lead to 36-25. Adrian Woolet and J’Vonne Hadley responded with threes to make it 42-25, but the Bears kept going. Justin Pippen hit a three with 57 seconds remaining to make it 44-31 and get the crowd back into the game.

Chris Bell would also hit a three for Cal, but Fru and Wooley scored for Louisville, who went into halftime up 14 points at 48-34.

The Cardinals opened their lead up to 25 points at 73-48 with 8:26 remaining in the second half. However, Cal made one last push, as they scored 14 unanswered points in just under two minutes. Bell hit a three to cut it to 73-62 with 6:44 remaining.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals seized control right back, and won it 90-70.

Ryan Conwell led the way for the Cardinals with 26 points, and Adrian Wooley was not too far behind with 21. For Cal, Chris Bell and Justin Pippen were able to cut through Louisville’s defense, and scored 20 and 17 points respectively.

All you can say is that the Bears ran into a juggernaut tonight, as they dropped just their second game of the season. Unfortunately, they are 0-1 in ACC play, which is what ultimately counts the most.

The Bears will need to put this one behind them. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will come to Haas Pavilion Friday night.

Tipoff will be at 8 p.m.

Spartans fall 81-68 in hard fought battle against San Diego State

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San Diego State University guard Elzie Harrington (3) guards SJSU Spartans guard Colby Garland (0) at Provident Credit Union Arena in San Jose Tue Dec 30, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Jose, Calif–The Spartans (5-7) entered the contest looking to snap a two game losing streak after falling at New Mexico, 88-65, and at home against Stanford, 86-82. San Jose State came in 4-2 on its home floor but winless against teams at .500 or better this season. The Aztecs, now 7-4, were playing their second conference game after opening Mountain West play with a loss to New Mexico.

San Jose State now 5-8 was without Javaughn Hannah, Ben Roseborough and Sadraque Nganga, further testing the Spartans’ depth against a physical Aztecs squad now 8-4 after defeating the Spartans 81-68 at Provident Credit Union on Tuesday night.

Turnovers plagued the Spartans early, allowing San Diego State to capitalize in transition. The Aztecs’ fastbreak offense helped build a double digit lead less than 10 minutes into the game.

San Jose State responded with a strong run midway through the first half, cutting what had been a sizable deficit down to a one possession game in a five minute span. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, though foul trouble emerged as a new concern for the Spartans. San Diego State went 9 of 14 from the free throw line in the opening half.

San Jose State forward Yaphet Moundhi left the game with just under three minutes remaining in the first half and did not return before the break. The Aztecs took a 42-38 lead into halftime.

Moundhi returned to the bench to start the second half but did not re-enter the game. Jermaine Washington opened the half with a 3 pointer to trim the Aztecs’ lead to one, setting the tone for a competitive second period.

Behind a scoring surge from Colby Garland, the Spartans tied the game at 49 with 14:30 remaining and briefly took a 53-51 lead shortly after. The game remained tight for more than 10 minutes, with neither team able to create separation.

That changed when San Diego State went on a key late run, pushing its lead to eight and halting San Jose State’s comeback momentum. The Aztecs maintained control from there, closing out the win.

Garland led a strong second half effort for the Spartans after a quiet opening half. San Jose State also excelled at the free throw line, shooting 94 percent as a team.

Despite the loss, the Spartans showed resilience, limiting turnovers and fouls while executing within their system. The effort, however, was not enough to overcome San Diego State’s late surge.

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman: Louisville crushes it 90-70; Cal can’t get past Cardinals in either half

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Taking a look at the Cal Bears Top 40 players guard Dai Dai Ames (7), forward Chris Bell (22), forward John Camden (2). Cal currently is on a nine game win streak. (photo by Cal Bears X)

Cal Bears podcast Stephen Ruderman Tue Dec 30, 2025:

#1 How will Cal’s star guard Dai Dai Ames manage Louisville’s defensive pressure?
Ames leads Cal in scoring and three-point efficiency — can he replicate his offensive rhythm against a top-20 Cardinal defense?

#2 Can Justin Pippen’s playmaking and pace-setting control the tempo early?
As one of Cal’s primary ball-handlers, how effective will Pippen be in initiating offense and limiting turnovers against Louisville’s perimeter defenders?

#3 What kind of impact will John Camden have on both ends of the floor?
Camden has been a consistent threat inside and beyond the arc — how will his scoring and rebounding influence Cal’s ability to stay close?

#4 How might Lee Dort’s rebounding and interior defense affect Louisville’s second-chance points?
Dort is one of Cal’s key rebounders — will he be able to contain Louisville in the paint and limit extra possessions?

#5 Which supporting Cal players Chris Bell, Jovani Ruff, or Milos Ilic will step up to provide complementary scoring?
Beyond the primary stars, can Bell and others deliver timely baskets to keep Cal competitive throughout the game?

Stephen Ruderman is a Cal Bears beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com