Pittsburgh Panthers vs Stanford Cardinal Picks and Predictions January 4th 2025

Stanford Continues ACC Road Slate Against Pitt

Stanford continues its inaugural journey in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a visit to Pittsburgh on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from its recent struggles.

Cardinal Seek to Rebound

Stanford (9-4, 1-1 ACC) opened the new year with an 85-71 road loss at Clemson on Wednesday, marking its second consecutive defeat. Despite the setback, first-year head coach Kyle Smith is optimistic about his team’s adjustment to life in the ACC.

“The West to East thing wasn’t an issue,” Smith said. “I feel like it’s fun being in the ACC. It’s pretty cool. Now we have to go up to Pittsburgh and take that challenge on.”

The Cardinal are led by 7-foot-1 center Maxime Raynaud, who continues to impress following his breakout as the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player last season. Raynaud has delivered 11 double-doubles this season and is averaging 20.8 points per game. Complementing him is Duke transfer Jaylen Blakes, who has found his stride with 15.2 points per game in a breakout campaign.

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Panthers Riding High

Pitt (11-2, 2-0 ACC) comes into the matchup on a four-game winning streak, highlighted by a dramatic 86-74 win over Cal on Wednesday. The Panthers erased a 16-point deficit thanks to a stellar 27-point performance from Jaland Lowe, who is tied for 17th in the nation with 6.2 assists per game.

“I think Jaland is as good a guard as there is in college basketball,” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. “With good players, you just want to put them in a position where they can make reads and make plays.”

Pitt’s depth will be tested once again as they may be without leading scorer Ishmael Leggett, who missed the Cal game due to a rolled ankle in practice. Leggett is averaging 17.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting a career-high 51.3 percent from the floor. His availability for Saturday remains uncertain.

The Panthers are also without Damian Dunn, a standout guard recovering from a thumb dislocation. Dunn is expected to return later this month, according to Capel.

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Key Matchup Factors

• Pitt’s Offensive Firepower: The Panthers rank 32nd nationally in scoring, averaging 84.2 points per game, and shoot an impressive 49 percent from the field. Stanford’s defense, which allows 71.1 points per game, will need to step up.
• Stanford’s Inside Game: Maxime Raynaud’s dominance in the post could be a key factor against Pitt, especially if the Panthers are without Leggett.
• Depth Challenges: Both teams are managing injuries to key players, making bench contributions critical.

Historical Context

This will be the second all-time meeting between Stanford and Pitt. The Panthers won the previous matchup 88-67 in New York in 2013.

As Stanford looks to end its losing streak and Pitt aims to keep its momentum, this game could be a pivotal early-season test for both programs in their ACC campaigns.