Miami Hosts Stanford in ACC Play After Jeremy Dent-Smith’s 20 Points in Loss at Cal

Game setup in Coral Gables

Miami will host Stanford on Wednesday night, Jan. 28, in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup scheduled for a 9 p.m. Eastern tip in Coral Gables. The meeting pairs a Miami team sitting at 16-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play with a Stanford group that enters at 14-6 overall and 3-4 in the ACC.

The contest is the first conference meeting this season between the programs, part of Stanford’s continued transition into a coast-to-coast ACC travel calendar and Miami’s midseason push to solidify its position in the league standings.

Stanford arrives after a road loss and a key individual performance

Stanford’s most recent outing was a 78-66 defeat at California, a game in which guard Jeremy Dent-Smith scored 20 points. The result left Stanford at 3-4 in ACC play, with the team navigating a conference slate that has included several high-variance outcomes.

On the season, Stanford has been defined by contrasting statistical profiles: it has produced enough offense to average 76.0 points per game, while allowing 72.5 points per game. In games decided by double digits, Stanford holds a 5-3 record, reflecting a pattern in which the margin has often swung decisively one way or the other.

Miami’s formula: pace, scoring and ball movement

Miami enters with one of the ACC’s more efficient offensive resumes to date, averaging 85.0 points per game while allowing 69.3. At home, the Hurricanes have been difficult to beat, posting an 11-1 record on their own floor this season.

A defining feature has been distribution: Miami ranks second in the ACC at 17.6 assists per game, led by point guard Tre Donaldson at 6.3 assists per contest. The Hurricanes’ ball movement has also supported consistently high scoring output, creating a matchup in which Stanford’s defense will be tested by both tempo and spacing.

Players to watch

• Miami: Malik Reneau has been Miami’s leading scorer at 19.7 points per game, pairing production with 6.5 rebounds per game.

• Stanford: Freshman guard Ebuka Okorie has averaged 21.7 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game, giving Stanford a high-usage option capable of driving possessions late.

Key matchup indicators

Statistically, Miami’s scoring rate exceeds Stanford’s typical points allowed by 12.5 points per game, a gap that frames the central question: whether Stanford can slow Miami’s offense enough to keep the game within a late-possession margin. On the other end, Stanford’s scoring average outpaces Miami’s points allowed by 6.7, suggesting Stanford will also have opportunities if it can handle Miami’s pressure and limit empty trips.

Tipoff: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 9 p.m. ET — Stanford at Miami, ACC conference game in Coral Gables.