Men's Basketball Prepares For High Point
12/16/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 1999
#23/25 WAKE FOREST (6-1)
vs HIGH POINT (5-1)
December 17, 1999 - 7:30 pm
Joel Coliseum
Wake Forest plays its second game in three days at Joel Coliseum on Friday night when the Demon Deacons entertain High Point. Wake Forest, which is ranked 23rd by USA Today and 25th by AP and coming off a 71-62 victory over UNC Greensboro on Wednesday night, will play its final home game in the decade of the 1990's this evening.
SERIES VS. HIGH POINT - Wake Forest and High Point have met on 11 previous occasions, with the Deacons holding a 10-1 lead in the all-time series. However, the two schools have not met since the 1945-46 season (prior to Wake Forest moving to Winston-Salem) when the Deacs claimed a 40-26 victory.
The first meeting between Wake Forest and High Point came during the 1911-12 season when the Deacons took a 72-9 victory, and the two schools met fairly regularly during the 1920's, 30's and 40's. High Point's lone win in the series came in 1934-35, a 19-13 triumph.
THE LINEUP - The Demon Deacons used the same starting lineup for the first six games of the season (ROBERT O'KELLEY, JOSH HOWARD, RAFAEL VIDAURRETA, DARIUS SONGAILA and NIKI ARINZE) before switching to the lineup listed below in the most recent contest against UNC Greensboro. In all, 11 different Deacons have started at least one game in their career while seven different players have started 10 or more games.
Wake Forest used 15 different starting lineups during the 1998-99 season as twelve different players started at least one game.
PROBABLE DEMON DEACON LINEUP Career No. Name Pos. Ht. Class PPG RPG Starts (99-00)4 Robert O'Kelley G 6'1 Jr. *13.7 1.1 57 (7)3 Broderick Hicks G 6'1 So. 6.9 1.9 8 (1)41 Rafael Vidaurreta C 6'9 Jr. 4.0 6.1 53 (7)5 Josh Howard F 6'6 Fr. 6.7 2.9 7 (7)25 Darius Songaila F 6'9 So. 13.1 5.0 31 (7)
TOP RESERVES42 Craig Dawson G 6'5 So. 10.4 1.9 12 (0)33 Niki Arinze F 6'5 So. 7.3 3.9 34 (6)44 Josh Shoemaker F/C 6'9 Jr. 7.7 *6.7 34 (0)31 Ervin Murray G 6'5 So. 2.0 1.3 14 (0)34 Antwan Scott F 6'8 So. 4.0 2.7 3 (0)52 Tate Decker F 6'11 Jr. 2.6 1.8 0 (0)
HEAD COACH - Dave Odom (11th year at Wake Forest)/Won 205-Lost 108 (14th year Overall)/Won 243-Lost 150
THE HEAD COACH - The 1999-2000 season is the 11th at Wake Forest for coach DAVE ODOM, who has built the Demon Deacon program into one of the nation's best and most consistent. The Deacs made seven consecutive NCAA appearances from 1991 through 1997, then extended their string of postseason tourneys to nine in a row by playing in the 1998 and 1999 NIT.
Odom is a three-time ACC Coach of the Year (1991, 1994, 1995). From 1993 through 1998, his Wake Forest teams won 20-or-more games each season. Since a losing record in his first year with the Deacs, his teams have won 67% of their games, averaging 21 wins per season over the last nine years. Wake Forest won back-to-back ACC titles in 1995 and 1996, establishing a school record for wins (26-6) each year, and in 1997 spent 10 weeks as the nation's #2-ranked team.
UP NEXT - The Demon Deacons travel to Arkansas next Monday (7:00 / ESPN 2) to play their final game before Christmas and the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii (Dec. 27-30).
IN THE NATIONAL POLLS - Wake Forest is nationally ranked in both major polls for the second consecutive week after being unranked at the outset of the 1999-2000 campaign. Currently, the Demon Deacons are ranked 23rd in the USA Today poll and 25th by AP. A week ago, Wake Forest cracked the nation's Top 25 for the first time since December 15, 1997 when the Deacs were ranked 23rd by AP and 22nd by USA Today.
Being in the national polls is nothing new to Wake Forest, however, as the Deacs were ranked in the AP poll for 54 consecutive weeks from November 1994 to March 1997.
In the National Rankings Against Ranked Opponents Week of AP USA Opponent AP USA Preseason -- -- Temple 9 10 Dec. 6 18 21 Dec. 13 25 23
FIRSTS AGAINST GEORGIA - Wake Forest's 68-67 loss to Georgia last Saturday -- the first of the season for the Demon Deacons -- marked a number of statistical firsts for the 1999-2000 season. The Deacs were outrebounded (40-31), attempted less free throws than their opponent (20-15), shot under 40% (38.8%) and allowed their opponent to shoot over 50% (52.0%).
That trend reversed itself in Wednesday's victory over UNC Greensboro as the Deacs outrebounded (40-33) the Spartans, attempted more free throws (32-9), shot better than 40% (47.1%) and held UNCG to 41.3% from the floor.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS / COMPARING 1998-99 TO 1999-00 - Through the first seven games of the 1999-2000 season, some interesting statistical trends have developed as compared to last year. As a team, Wake Forest is attempting 10.5 more 2pt-field goals per game than last season, while the Demon Deacons are taking 4.2 less 3pt-field goals per contest. Overall, the Deacs are taking and making more than six field goals per game the season as opposed to last year.
1998-99 vs. 1999-00 Year FGA FGM 2pt A 2pt M 3pt A 3pt M 1998-99 52.3 22.5 34.5 16.4 17.9 6.2 1999-00 58.7 28.6 45.0 23.7 13.7 4.9 Difference +6.4 +6.1 +10.5 +7.3 -4.2 -1.3
ODOM HITS 200 - Wake Forest's win over Campbell in the season opener was the 200th at the school for Demon Deacon head coach DAVE ODOM, who is now 11th on the ACC all-time victory list (205-108). He is on pace to surpass both Jim Valvano (209 wins at NC State) and Vic Bubas (213 at Duke) during the 1999-2000 campaign. Odom's overall record as a head coach is now 243-150 including a three-year stint at East Carolina from 1980 through 1982.
On the Wake Forest career coaching list, Odom ranks 3rd behind Carl Tacy (222-149 record from 1973-1985) and the school's all-time victory leader, Murray Greason (288-243 from 1934-1957). Odom's 86 ACC victories (he's 86-70), however, are the most for any Demon Deacon coach.
BIG SECOND HALF LEADS - Wake Forest has outscored its opponents by an average of 19.1 points per game, with four of the first seven games being decided by more than 10 points. In fact, Wake Forest has held a double-digit lead for at least one point in the second half in all seven games this season.
ON THE GLASS - The Demon Deacons had dominated the battle on the boards in the first five games of the season, outrebounding their opponents by nearly nine boards per game. That streak, of course, came to an end last Saturday against Georgia, but the Deacs bounced back with a 40-33 edge on the glass on Wednesday against UNC Greensboro. For the season, Wake Forest is outrebounding its opponents by 6.0 per game (38.9 to 32.9), the second best figure in the ACC.
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT - In the six games that the Demon Deacons have attempted as many or more free throws than their opponents they are a perfect 6-0. The only time Wake Forest did not accomplish that feat was last Saturday against Georgia (a 68-67 loss) when the Bulldogs shot 20 free throws to the Deacs' 15 attempts.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST - Wake Forest scored over 80 points in each of the first three games of the season, the first time the Demon Deacons scored 80+ points in three consecutive games since December of 1992. (Wake Forest topped 80 points just three times in 31 games last season).
The Deacons are averaging 77.7 points through seven games. Wake Forest has averaged over 80 points per game just once in 10 previous years under head coach Dave Odom (80.5 ppg in 1990-91) and better than 70 points in five of 10 years.
BUT A BALANCED ATTACK - The Demon Deacons are averaging 77.7 points through six games, but no player is scoring more than 14 points per game. ROBERT O'KELLEY leads the Deacs with a 13.7 ppg average while DARIUS SONGAILA (13.1 ppg) and CRAIG DAWSON (10.4 ppg) are each scoring in double figures. A closer examination of the statistics reveals that seven different players are scoring over six points per game and nine different players are averaging at least four points per contest.
Double Digit Deacons Scoring Rebounding Niki ARINZE once (Campbell) Craig DAWSON 3 times (3 of last 5) Broderick HICKS once (UMES) Josh HOWARD once (UMES) Robert O'KELLEY 5 times (5 of last 6) Josh SHOEMAKER once (UMES) Darius SONGAILA 5 times (17 of 22 overall) R. VIDAURRETA 2 times (UMES, UGA)
SHOT TALK - After shooting 43.1% from the floor last season, the Demon Deacons have shot that low just once in seven games this year. The Deacs shot a season low 38.8% last Saturday against Georgia, but had shot at least 50% from the floor in three consecutive games earlier this season (60.3% at Navy, 55.4% vs UMES, and 50.0% vs Wisconsin). Wake Forest shot over 50% in only six of 31 games last season.
DEACS STRUGGLE FROM THE LINE - While shooting accuracy from the floor has improved, the Deacons have been very inconsistent at the free throw line this season. After hitting 37 of their first 48 free throws (77.1%) in the first two games of the year, Wake Forest connected on only 73 of 120 (60.8%) free throw attempts in the last five games. Wake Forest has shot under 63% from the line in four of the last five games.
Last year, Wake Forest ranked second in the ACC with a 72.1% mark at the line.
TIME SHARING - Through the first seven games of the season, the Demon Deacons have operated with a very deep bench. Nine different players are averaging better than 10 minutes per game while only one player is playing more than 30 minutes per contest. Junior ROBERT O'KELLEY, who averaged 35.0 mpg last season, leads the team with 30.9 mpg.
Eleven different Demon Deacons played more than 10 minutes in the season opener against Campbell.
THREE-POINT STREAK CONTINUES - Wake Forest enters the game against High Point having made at least one three-point field goal in 237 consecutive games. The last time that the Demon Deacons did not make a three-pointer was in a 1992 homecourt victory over Tulane.
DEFENSIVE DEACS - The Wake Forest defense is holding opponents to 38.2% from the floor and forcing an average of 17.6 turnovers per contest (last year opponents turned the ball over 14.6 times per game). The Deacs rank second in the ACC in turnover margin (+4.0).
Another aspect of the Deacon defense is an increased shot blocking presence. In the 90-55 win at Navy, the Deacs blocked 11 shots - the most in a single game since Tim Duncan's senior season (79 games) - and now have 35 blocks on the season (5.0 per game). Sophomore ANTWAN SCOTT and freshman JOSH HOWARD lead the team in that department with nine rejections apiece.
DEACS IN THE "O-DOME" - The Demon Deacon overall record in Lawrence Joel Coliseum since the facility opened for the 1989-90 season is an excellent 126-29 (81.3% winning pct).
After winning just one league game in Joel in its inaugural campaign (1989-90), Wake Forest has won nearly 75% of its conference games (53-18) on its homecourt since 1990. North Carolina is the only ACC visitor to post a winning record in Joel Coliseum.
Wake's record in Joel includes an outstanding 72-5 mark against non-ACC foes. Non-conference losses suffered by the Deacons in Joel Coliseum have come to Colorado in January of 1991, California in December of 1993, Utah and Vanderbilt (in the NIT) during the 97-98 season, and Arkansas last year.
Deacon Homecourt Advantage - Record in Joel Coliseum Non-ACC ACC Overall Record 1989-90 7-0 1-6 8-6 1990-91 7-1 6-1 13-2 1991-92 8-0 5-3 13-3 1992-93 7-0 5-3 12-3 1993-94 7-1 6-2 13-3 1994-95 5-0 7-1 12-1 1995-96 6-0 8-0 14-0 1996-97 6-0 5-3 11-3 1997-98 7-2 5-3 12-5 1998-99 7-1 6-2 13-3 1999-00 5-0 0-0 5-0 Totals 72-5 54-24 126-29 (93.5%) (69.2%) (81.3%)
TOP HALF OF ACC - With a victory over NC State in its final regular season contest, Wake Forest claimed undisputed possession of 4th place in the final league standings for the 1999 campaign. The Demon Deacons have now finished in the top half of the ACC regular season standings (4th place or higher including ties) seven consecutive years.
ACC SUCCESS - Since dropping their first 11 league contests and finishing with a 3-11 mark in the league in 1990, the Demon Deacons under head coach Dave Odom have achieved winning records against seven of their eight ACC foes, with only North Carolina holding an advantage over the Deacs the past nine years.
NINE STRAIGHT POSTSEASON TRIPS - The Demon Deacons made a ninth straight postseason appearance with their participation in the 1999 NIT. That streak of nine straight postseason trips ranks second among ACC schools, seven of which took part in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT last year.
Consecutive Postseason Appearances by ACC Schools North Carolina 33 WAKE FOREST 9 Clemson 7 Maryland 6 Duke 4 NC State 3 Georgia Tech 2
The Wake Forest Record When...
At Home 5-0On Opponent Court 1-0On Neutral Court 0-1Leading at Halftime 5-1Trailing at Halftime 0-0Leading with 10:00 Left 5-1Trailing with 10:00 Left 0-0Final Margin Fewer than 5 Pts 0-1Final Margin 5-to-9 Pts 2-0Final Margin in Double Figures 4-0
WF Scores 80+ Pts 3-0WF Scores 70+ Pts 2-0WF Scores 60+ Pts 1-1WF Scores Under 60 Pts 0-0WF Shoots 50%+ 3-0WF Shoots Under 50% 3-1Opponent Shoots 50%+ 0-1WF Atts More FTs than Opp 5-0WF Out-Rebounds Opp 6-0Opp Out-Rebounds WF 0-1