Stanford Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Cardinal
By Joey Loose
Back in 2014, Stanford Basketball marched to the Sweet Sixteen as a 10-seed, with names like Chasson Randle and Dwight Powell helping deliver an upset win over Kansas and a fantastic ending to the season. Nearly a decade has passed and the Cardinal have not so much as returned to the Big Dance. Many things have changed in Palo Alto in recent years, though there might be even more change on the horizon.
Jerod Haase was hired as Stanford’s head coach way back in 2016, fresh off a fruitful stint leading UAB. He’s quickly found out that success in Conference USA doesn’t necessarily mean success will come out in the Pac-12, especially at a program like Stanford. He hasn’t led the Cardinal to the NCAA Tournament and has only made a single trip to the NIT half a decade ago. This becomes a major make or break season for Haase and this program.
Last year’s squad screamed potential and perhaps had enough talent to get Haase that first ticket to the Dance, but the Cardinal underwhelmed, took a step back, and finished just 14-19, good for 10th place in the Pac-12. What’s even worse is that star Harrison Ingram jumped ship in the offseason, transferring to North Carolina. The Cardinal also lost Michael O’Connell to NC State, but fortunately these were the only major departures.
Stanford returns all of their other players, including three starters, and added a few intriguing prospects in the offseason. Haase landed a pretty talented name off the Transfer Portal and does have a roster that could make noise this season. Recent history tells us that betting on Stanford is a losing cause, but could this be the year things turn around for the Cardinal?
It’s highly unlikely that Haase survives an eighth year without a trip to the Big Dance, and this may be Stanford’s best opportunity. The program transitions into the ACC after this season, making their basketball lives just that more unbearable. Can Haase and this team play up to their potential or will there be another long, disappointing season in Palo Alto? We’re going to dive into the roster, the schedule, and exactly what to expect from these Cardinal.