Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Prepare for Alabama
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 9, 1999
WAKE FOREST (16-13)
vs ALABAMA (17-14)
March 10, 1999 -- 7:30
Lawrence Joel Coliseum
1999 NIT -- First Round
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest enters postseason play for the ninth consecutive year and is making its second straight appearance in the NIT. The Demon Deacons, who finished 4th in the ACC regular season standings with a 7-9 league record, are 16-13 overall after suffering a loss to NC State in the quarterfinals of last week's ACC Tournament in Charlotte.
At the midpoint of the ACC regular season schedule, the Deacons appeared in danger of a second-division finish in the conference, having won just twice in their first eight league outings. But an 85-72 win over Maryland (then #4 in the country) on January 31st, sparked a resurgence that saw the Deacs go 5-3 over the second half of their league schedule.
Included in Wake Forest's February finish since that win over Maryland were a nine-point win over Georgia Tech (67-58), a 10-point win over Clemson (79-69), and a decisive 29-point victory over NC State (74-45) in the regular season finale. Wake also rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit to defeat Florida State (67-65) during its impressive stretch drive -- all achieved with a lineup that is the youngest in the ACC.
PROBABLE DEMON DEACON LINEUP
No. Name Pos. Ht. Class Key Statistics (*leads team) 4 Robert O'Kelley G 6'1 So. 17.0 ppg*, 2.3 rpg, 60 asts*, 82 3pters* 11 Joseph Amonett F 6'5 Sr. 3.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg 41 Rafael Vidaurreta C 6'8 So. 7.8 ppg, 6.8* rpg, 50.3 FG% 44 Josh Shoemaker F 6'9 So. 4.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 53.1 FG% (43-81) 42 Craig Dawson F 6'5 Fr. 7.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 80.6 FT% (25-31)
TOP RESERVES
25 Darius Songaila F/C 6'9 Fr. 11.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 50.7 FG%, 79.3 FT%* 31 Ervin Murray G 6'5 Fr. 3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg 3 Broderick Hicks G 6'1 Fr. 4.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 46 asts 34 Antwan Scott F 6'8 Fr. 4.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg 10 Jim Fitzpatrick G 6'0 Jr. 0.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg
HEAD COACH - Dave Odom (10th year at Wake Forest) / Won 198, Lost 106 (13th year overall) / Won 236, Lost 148
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THE LINEUP - Wake Forest has used 14 different starting lineups this season. Since the Maryland game on January 31st, at least three freshmen were in the Demon Deacon lineup until the regular season finale against NC State when senior JOSEPH AMONETT started in place of rookie ERVIN MURRAY, and JOSH SHOEMAKER made his first starting appearance since January 23rd (vs UNC), replacing another freshman, DARIUS SONGAILA. Murray had started 14 straight contests prior to that game; Songaila had started 16 contests in a row.
Another freshman, CRAIG DAWSON, joined the starting five versus Maryland and has been on the floor for the opening tip in nine consecutive outings. Songaila, though, has the most starts among the Deacon freshmen (22).
ROBERT O'KELLEY is the only Deacon who has started all 29 games. He and RAFAEL VIDAURRETA, who has started 17 straight contests, are the only two players to start every ACC date this season. Both now have more than 40 career starts while still in only their sophomore seasons.
On the year, 12 different players have started at least once for the Demon Deacons, including every player on the roster except walkon TIM FULLER and ED KARGBOOKOROGIE, a member of the Wake Forest football team who joined the hoops squad in December.
THE HEAD COACH - Now in his 10th season at Wake Forest, DAVE ODOM has built the Demon Deacon program into one of the nation's best. The Deacs made seven consecutive NCAA appearances from 1991 through 1997, then have extended their string of postseason tourneys to nine in a row by playing in the 1998 and now the 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 68% of their games, averaging 21 wins per season over the last eight 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.
ODOM MOVING UP ACC COACHING LIST - Wake Forest head coach DAVE ODOM is now in 12th place on the ACC all-time victory list (for wins at an ACC school) with 198 victories as the Demon Deacon leader (198-106). Earlier this year, Odom moved past the legendary Everett Case, who compiled 191 wins during his fabled career at NC State.
With one more win, Odom will match former Maryland mentor Bud Millikan's career total of 199 ACC coaching wins. NC State's Jim Valvano is next on the ACC chart with 209 victories.
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.
1999 FINAL ACC STANDINGS
ACC Regular Season All Games#
Won Lost Pct. Won Lost Pct.
Duke* 16 0 1.000 32 1 .970
Maryland* 13 3 .813 26 5 .839
North Carolina* 10 6 .625 24 9 .727
WAKE FOREST** 7 9 .438 16 13 .552
NC State** 6 10 .375 18 13 .581
Georgia Tech** 6 10 .375 15 15 .500
Clemson** 5 11 .313 16 14 .533
Florida State 5 11 .313 13 17 .433
Virginia 4 12 .250 14 16 .467
*NCAA participant
**NIT participant
#current record including ACC Tournament games
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.
Wake Forest vs the ACC
CLEM DUKE FSU GATECH MD UNC NCST UVA Last Six Years 10-4 8-5 9-4 8-6 7-5 5-10 9-4 10-4 Last Nine Years 15-5 11-8 9-8 11-9 11-7 6-16 14-5 14-8
ACC Regular Season Records in the 1990s
DUKE UNC WAKE MD GAT FSU UVA CLEM NCST W-L 109-47 108-48 86-70 80-76 73-83 56-72 69-87 60-96 49-107 (Pct.) (69.9) (69.2) (55.1) (51.3) (46.8) (43.8) (44.2) (38.5) (31.4)
Wake Forest in the NIT
FOURTH NIT APPEARANCE - Wake Forest played in the 1983 and 1985 NIT events, experiencing both success and early round disappointment, then was absent from this postseason affair until last year.
In '83, the Demon Deacons won three games to advance to New York for the national semi-finals where they lost to eventual champion Fresno State. Two years later, however, the Deacs were eliminated in the first round of the the '85 NIT, sustaining a loss at South Florida.
Last March, Wake Forest and Lawrence Joel Coliseum hosted two NIT contests. In the first, Coach Dave Odom's squad defeated former Odom assistant Jerry Wainwright's UNC Wilmington team in a close contest, 56-52. In the second round, Wake's season was ended by visiting Vanderbilt in another tight, hard-played matchup, 72-68.
1983 1985 1998 at Murray State W 87-80 at South Florida L 66-77 UNC Wilmington W 56-52 at Vanderbilt W 75-68 Vanderbilt L 68-72 South Carolina* W 78-61 Fresno State (@MSG) L 62-86 *at Greensboro Coliseum
SECOND YEAR IN WINSTON-SALEM - Last year's games here with UNC Wilmington and Vanderbilt marked the first time that an NIT game has been played in Winston-Salem. When Wake Forest hosted South Carolina in the 1983 NIT quarterfinals, that date was played in the Greensboro Coliseum, which was the Demon Deacon home arena for most ACC contests and top non-league games prior to the completion of Joel Coliseum in 1989.
LAST YEAR'S NIT IN REVIEW - In a defensive struggle here in Joel Coliseum last March 12th, Wake Forest defeated UNC Wilmington, 56-52. The Demon Deacons limited the Seahawks to 35.2% shooting from the floor but managed to convert only 35.7% of their own field goal attempts. Wake won the game with a 44-23 rebounding advantage, and made 18 of 22 free throws while UNCW was only 5-for-6 at the line. The Deacs led by 10 (40-30) with 6:27 remaining, then withstood a late Seahawk rally for the win. The backcourt duo of senior Tony Rutland (20 pts) and ROBERT O'KELLEY (19 pts) carried the offensive load for Wake Forest. RAFAEL VIDAURRETA pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds. In the 1998 NIT Second Round (March 17th), Wake Forest led Vanderbilt throughout the second half, including a 56-48 advantage with 10:10 left, but fell victim to a Commodore comeback sparked by Dan Langhi's 11 points in the final 5:33. Langhi scored nine straight Vandy points in that late-game stretch and gave his team a 63-62 edge with a layup at the 2:46 mark. Wake hurt its own chances by making 6 of 11 free throws (3-7 in the 2nd half). Rutland again led the WFU attack with 15 points.
Wake Forest vs Alabama
THE SERIES - Wake Forest and Alabama have met previously six times with the Demon Deacons holding a 4-2 edge. The two schools last played during the 1990-91 season -- in fact, they met twice that year with the Crimson Tide winning both times in close, high-scoring affairs. In December of '90, Wake lost in Tuscaloosa, 96-95 in overtime. The Deacs and Tide faced off again in March of '91 in the second round of that year's NCAA Tournament in Atlanta, and Alabama prevailed, 96-88.
The first meeting between the two teams was in December of 1956 in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest won, 73-50. The Deacons claimed two more decisions over the Crimson Tide in the 1972 Twin City Classic (94-88) here in old Memorial Coliseum, and in the 1980 Cable Car Classic (79-66).
This NIT meeting also marks Alabama's second trip to Joel Coliseum. On December 21, 1989 a 20th-ranked Tide squad was upset here by Wake Forest, 67-65.
Noting the Demon Deacons
NINE STRAIGHT POSTSEASON TRIPS - The Demon Deacons are making a ninth straight postseason appearance with their participation in the 1999 NIT. Wake Forest had been in the NCAA Tournament for seven straight years (1991-1997), at that time the seventh-longest streak in the nation, before missing out on that event and participating in the NIT last March.
Wake Forest's current streak of nine straight postseason trips rank second among ACC schools, seven of which are taking part in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT this year.
Consecutive Postseason Appearances by ACC Schools
North Carolina 33 Duke 4 WAKE FOREST 9 NCState 3 Clemson 7 Georgia Tech 2 Maryland 6
ELEVEN LOSSES TO POSTSEASON PARTICIPANTS - Wake Forest was 5-11 versus teams that are playing in either the NCAAs or NIT this season. The Deacs have done well against their three ACC brethren who are also in the NIT (2-0 vs Clemson; 1-1 vs GaTech; 1-2 vs NCState), but are 1-8 against NCAA squads. That lone Deacon victory came here over Maryland, 85-72. Losses to NCAA participants have come against Duke (0-2), North Carolina (0-2), Arkansas, Temple and Utah (all 0-1), and Maryland (1-1).
Overall then, 11 of Wake Forest's 13 defeats have come to postseason teams. The only exceptions came in road losses at Florida State and Virginia.
DOING IT WITH YOUTH - Last year Wake Forest became the first team in ACC history to start five freshmen when the Demon Deacons went with an all-rookie lineup in two early February encounters at NC State and Clemson. Four freshmen started consistently for Wake throughout last year's ACC schedule.
In 1999, Wake Forest was again the youngest team in a quite youthful ACC, which featured six teams dominated by freshman/sophomore starters. Freshmen have started 56 times for the Deacs. And of a total 145 possible starts (five each in 29 games), freshmen and sophomores have combined to start 133 times.
Games Started by Class
(1998-99 Regular Season Play)
Starters WAKE UVA NCST GT UNC DUKE FSU MD CLEM
Frosh/Soph 133* 100 94 90 90 89 35 34 7
Junior/Senior 12* 45 51 55 60 66 100 111 138
*does include ACC Tournament
(Figures compiled by the ACC Office.)
FRESHMAN FACTOR - Last year's Wake Forest freshman class accounted for 51% of the team's total points (1,009). Through 29 games this season, the Deacon freshmen have scored 909 points, which constitutes 49% of the 1998-99 team's total output.
FOUR FRESHMEN TOP SINGLE GAME SCORING LIST - Four different freshmen have led Wake Forest in scoring at least once this season. DARIUS SONGAILA has been the most prominent rookie in that category, topping the WFU scoring chart eight times, most recently on February 20th when he netted 19 points in a win here over Florida State. CRAIG DAWSON (19 pts vs Clemson here), BRODERICK HICKS (20 vs Mercer) and ANTWAN SCOTT (13 at Virginia) have each led the Deacs in points once.
"Elder statesman" (he's a sophomore after all) ROBERT O'KELLEY has led the team in scoring more often than anyone else -- 17 times.
SONGAILA CAREER OFF TO PROMISING START - Freshman DARIUS SONGAILA is only the 11th freshman (since formation of the ACC in 1953) to average in double figures for the Demon Deacons -- but he's the second in the last two years following ROBERT O'KELLEY. O'Kelley's 16.6 ppg average last season is the best by a Wake Forest rookie since '53. Only Dickie Hemric's school record for scoring as a freshman (22.4 ppg in 1952) is higher.
Top Wake Forest Freshman Scorers (double figures since (1953)
ROBERT O'KELLEY* (1998) 16.6 Rod Griffin (1975) 13.9 Sam Ivy (1987) 13.2 Rodney Rogers* (1991) 16.3 Alvis Rogers (1979) 13.5 DARIUS SONGAILA 11.8 Chris King* (1989) 14.4 Rod Watson* (1986) 13.5 Frank Johnson (1977) 11.6 Randolph Childress (1991) 14.0 Skip Brown (1974) 13.2 *led team in scoring
SONGAILA NAMED TO ALL-ACC FRESHMAN UNIT - For the second year in a row, Wake Forest was represented on the All-ACC Freshman Team as first-year forward DARIUS SONGAILA earned that distinction in voting by the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association. Last year, ROBERT O'KELLEY was an All-Freshman pick.
Songaila, whose 12.1 ppg scoring average in 16 ACC games was second among all league rookies, was fourth in the freshman team balloting, receiving 79 of a possible 101 votes.
PLEASE SAY IT THIS WAY - Contrary to the notation in this year's Wake Forest Basketball media guide, freshman DARIUS SONGAILA's last name should be pronounced "son - GUY - lah". Sorry about the confusion and thanks for your cooperation.
SOPHOMORE LEADERS - While freshmen have certainly had an impact on the 1998-99 Wake Forest squad, two sophomores have been the unquestioned leaders of this current edition of the Demon Deacons. Guard ROBERT O'KELLEY tops the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) and was an All-ACC 2nd Team selection. Post player RAFAEL VIDAURRETA leads the Deacs in rebounding (6.8 rpg), and over the last seven outings has nearly averaged a "double-double" (11.4 ppg and 9.0 rpg).
O'KELLEY NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL-ACC - Wake Forest sophomore ROBERT O'KELLEY was voted to the 1999 All-ACC 2nd Team by the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association. O'Kelley, who was named the ACC "Rookie of the Year" last season but did not make the all-conference squad, is only the second Deacon back-court player to earn All-ACC recognition in the last 10 years. Randolph Childress, of course, was a two-time 1st team All-ACC pick (1994 & 1995) and once a 2nd team selection (1993).
O'KELLEY APPROACHES ELITE COMPANY - ROBERT O'KELLEY is within 10 points of becoming only the third sophomore in Wake Forest history to score 1,000 points. The Demon Deacon backcourt star has currently scored 990 points (497 last year as a freshman, 493 this season), which places him 4th among all Wake Forest players in history for points as a sophomore. The only Deacon guard ever to score more points than O'Kelley as a sophomore is Randolph Childress (997).
The two players in Wake Forest history who have scored 1,000 points in their freshman and sophomore seasons are Dickie Hemric (1,161 pts in 1952 & 1953) and Rodney Rogers (1,084 in 1991 & 1992). (Of course, from the mid-50s until the 1972-73 season freshmen did not play on the varsity level.)
Deacon Sophomore Scoring Leaders
(800+ Points at End of Sophomore Year)
Dickie Hemric 1,161 Rodney Rogers 1,084 Randolph Childress 997 ROBERT O'KELLEY (current) 990 Skip Brown 933 Sam Ivy 903 Tim Duncan 860 Chris King 856 Rod Griffin 830 Frank Johnson 818
AMONG THE ACC LEADERS - Entering postseason play, ROBERT O'KELLEY is 7th in the ACC scoring race (17.0 ppg). In ACC games only, the Memphis soph averaged an even better 18.3 ppg, the 5th-best figure in the league. O'Kelley is second to Duke's Trajan Langdon in three-point production at 2.8 per outing. His 38.5% accuracy from three-point distance is 7th in the ACC, one spot behind teammate Craig Dawson, whose 38.7% efficiency from long range ranks 6th in the league.
Freshman DARIUS SONGAILA is 7th in the ACC in free throw shooting with his 79.3% accuracy. Over the last eight games, the Deacon rookie has made 36 of 38 free throws (94.7%).
RAFAEL VIDAURRETA's is 9th in the league in rebounding at 6.8 rpg. In ACC regular season play, Vidaurreta, the team's leading rebounder in 14 of the last 17 games, was 5th-best in the league (7.6 rpg).
DOUBLE DIGIT DEACONS - Nine Deacons have scored in double figures at least once this season. Only two Deacs (ROBERT O'KELLEY & DARIUS SONGAILA), though, are averaging more than eight points per contest. O'KELLEY has reached double digits in 24 games (and 18 of the last 21), but had a streak of nine consecutive double-figure performances ended when he tallied only 5 points in the ACC Tournament loss to NC State.
Double Digit Deacons
Scoring Rebounding Joseph AMONETT once (E.Tenn) Craig DAWSON 9 times (once in last five) Broderick HICKS 6 times (once in last six) Ervin MURRAY twice (Va & at Clem in January) Robert O'KELLEY 24 times (9 of 10; 13 of 15; 18 of 21) Antwan SCOTT 5 times; once (at Va) since Dec. Josh SHOEMAKER twice (VMI & NCState in ACCT) Darius SONGAILA 18 times (10 of 13) 4 times (all in Dec.) Rafael VIDAURRETA 10 times (6 of 7; 7 of 10) 7 times (3 of 5)
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DEACONS - RAFAEL VIDAURRETA's outstanding play the past month has included three "double-double" outings in the last five games. Vidaurreta totaled 13 pts/12 rebs in a homecourt win over Georgia Tech on February 16th, 12pts/10 rebs at North Carolina, and 15 pts/12 rebs against NC State in the ACC Tournament.
Freshman DARIUS SONGAILA recorded three double-figure games in both points and rebounds in December (all non-ACC games). Songaila totaled 14 pts/10 rebs versus Mercer, 15 pts/10 rebs against East Tennessee State, and 23 pts/12 rebs versus Arkansas.
HOT & COLD DEACS - Wake Forest has shot below 40% from the field more often (9 times) than it has shot 50% or better (5 times). In their last outing in the ACC Tournament versus NC State, the Deacons hit 39.4% from the floor. The previous game, also versus NC State, Wake connected on a season-best 52.4% of its field goal attempts. The Deacons have won just twice when they've made fewer than 40% of their field goal tries (at Virginia Tech & vs Virginia at home).
CONVERTING AT THE LINE - The Demon Deacons rank 2nd in the ACC in free throw percentage (71.7%) despite beginning the year in less-than-promising fashion. Through the first 12 games this season, Wake Forest was shooting just 66.7% from the free throw line. Since that time the Deacs have improved considerably, connecting on over 75% (75.3% to be exact / 271-360) of their foul shot attempts.
FTS IMPORTANT - When you make free throws, it is obviously important to shoot as many of them as you can. Wake Forest is 15-1 this season when it attempts more free throws than its opponents.
SO ARE REBOUNDS - Another key to Wake Forest's success during its 16 victories this season has been the team's work in the rebounding department. On the year, Wake is 11-1 when it wins the battle of the boards. However, the Deacs have been out-rebounded 10 times in the last 14 games.
70 POINTS USUALLY ENOUGH - When Wake Forest scores 70-or-more points in a game, the Demon Deacons are 10-2. Both Deacon losses when they have topped 70 points have come against Duke.
THREE-POINT STREAK CONTINUES - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 228 consecutive games. The last time that the Demon Deacons did not make a three-pointer was in a 1992 homecourt victory over Tulane.
DEACS IN THE "O-DOME" - The Demon Deacon overall record in Joel Coliseum since the facility opened for the 1989-90 season is an excellent 120-29 (80.5% winning pct).
After winning just one league game here 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 excellent record in Joel includes a 66-5 record against non-ACC foes. Non-conference losses suffered by the Demon Deacons in Joel Coliseum have come to Colorado in January of 1991, California in December of 1993, Utah and Vanderbilt (in the NIT) last season, and Arkansas this year.
BIGGEST SUCCESSFUL COMEBACK IN JOEL - When Wake Forest overcame a 19-point second half deficit against Florida State (57-38 with 8:05 remaining) for a 67-65 victory on February 20th, that rally represented the biggest winning comeback for a Demon Deacon squad under Dave Odom -- and the biggest in Joel Coliseum history. (The Deacs also trailed the Seminoles by 18 (61-43) with 6:13 left.)
Wake fell behind Maryland by 19 points (27-8) in the first half of a 1997 game in Joel before fighting back to take a brief lead in the second half. The Terps eventually won that contest, 54-51, on a last-second three-point shot by Laron Profit
The biggest successful comeback for a Dave Odom-coached Wake Forest team prior to Saturday had come in the 1995 ACC Tournament when the Deacs fell behind Duke by 18 points (31-13), rallied to actually take a one-point halftime lead (46-45), then won the game by 17 (87-70).
(No precise record exists for the biggest comeback ever by a Wake Forest team.)
COMEBACK WINS - That comeback against Florida State was certainly noteworthy, but coming from behind has not been something out of the ordinary for the 1998-99 Deacons, who have trailed in the second half of nine of their 16 wins.
Coach Dave Odom's youthful squad initially displayed its comeback ability in the very first game this season when Wake trailed Illinois by five points (61-56) with 2:18 remaining in the game, and by six (70-64) with 2:32 left in overtime, before rallying for the win.
The Deacs also overcame a double-figure deficit (27-14) in downing Davidson on November 27th.
CLOSE WINS - Wake Forest is 5-1 in games decided by five points or fewer this season -- and 6-2 in contests with single-digit outcomes.
Winning (Most of) the Close Ones
Date Opponent Final Score Late-Game Factors
Nov.10 Illinois (@MSG) W 75-73(ot) O'Kelley scores 10 of team's 11 pts in OT
Nov.27 Davidson W 59-58 O'Kelley 2 FTs with 0:02.3 left erase 58-57 deficit
Dec.12 at Virginia Tech W 52-47 Deacs break 47-47 tie; hold Tech scoreless final 3:40
Jan.9 at Clemson W 64-61 Dawson 4-4 FTs in final 0:08 clinch win
Feb.20 Florida State W 67-65 Deacs rally from 19 down in final 8:05; Hicks scores
12 pts in final 4:21, including 2 FTs with 0:05 left
Feb.23 at N.Carolina L 65-68(ot) UNC hits 7-10 FTs in OT; Wake scores 1 pt on last
four possessions
The Demon Deacons have split two other single-digit outcomes, defeating Georgia Tech (67-58) in Joel Coliseum, but sustaining a six-point loss at Florida State (74-68).
