Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Square Off Against Florida State Feb. 20
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
February 18, 1999
WAKE FOREST (14-11 / 5-8 in ACC)
vs FLORIDA STATE (12-13 / 5-8)
February 20, 1999 -- 5:00 -- Lawrence Joel Coliseum
Wake Forest seeks its second Joel Coliseum win of the week this evening in yet another critical ACC contest for the Demon Deacons, who defeated Georgia Tech here on Tuesday, 67-58. The winner of this matchup, which is being nationally televised on ESPN2, will be in 4th place (or tied for 4th) in the league standings entering the final week of the regular season schedule.
PROBABLE DEMON DEACON LINEUP Career Starts
No. Name Pos. Ht. Class Key Statistics (*leads team) (98-99) 4 Robert O'Kelley G 6'1 So. 16.9 ppg*, 2.2 rpg, 49 asts*, 67 3pters* 44 (25) 31 Ervin Murray G 6'5 Fr. 3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 78.6 FT% (22-28) 12 (12) 41 Rafael Vidaurreta C 6'8 So. 7.3 ppg, 6.5* rpg, 50.8 FG%*, 75.0 FT% 41 (19) 25 Darius Songaila F 6'9 Fr. 11.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 50.0 FG%*, 77.1 FT%* 22 (22) 42 Craig Dawson F 6'5 Fr. 8.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 39.6 3pt%*, 82.1 FT% (23-28) 6 (6)TOP RESERVES
44 Josh Shoemaker F 6'9 So. 3.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 52.1 FG% (37-71) 32 (15) 11 Joseph Amonett G/F 6'5 Sr. 3.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg 19 (9) 3 Broderick Hicks G 6'1 Fr. 4.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 43 asts 7 (7) 34 Antwan Scott F/C 6'8 Fr. 4.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg 1 (1) 10 Jim Fitzpatrick G 6'0 Jr. 1.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg 1 (1)HEAD COACH - Dave Odom (10th year at Wake Forest) / Won 196, Lost 104 (13th year overall) / Won 234, Lost 146
THE LINEUP - Wake Forest used its 13th different starting lineup of the season here Tuesday night in its win over Georgia Tech when freshman ANTWAN SCOTT made his first career start in place of fellow-rookie DARIUS SONGAILA, who had been slowed the previous two days with a slightly sprained ankle. Songaila had started the previous 16 straight games.
The Demon Deacons have now had at least three freshmen in their lineup for five consecutive dates, ever since CRAIG DAWSON joined the starting five on a regular basis versus Maryland (Jan.31). Another rookie, guard ERVIN MURRAY, has started the last 12 consecutive games.
ROBERT O'KELLEY is the only Deacon who has started all 25 games. He and RAFAEL VIDAURRETA are the only two players to start all 13 ACC dates. Both now have 40-plus career starts while still only sophomores.
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 extended their string of postseason tourneys to eight in a row by playing in last year's 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.
THE REMAINING FEBRUARY SCHEDULE - Wake Forest makes its final roadtrip of the regular season when the Deacs travel to North Carolina this coming Tuesday -- that game time has been changed to 7 pm. Wake then concludes its schedule here in Joel on February 28th versus NC State (1:30 pm).
Wake Forest vs Florida State
THE SERIES - Wake Forest's loss in Tallahassee a month ago has deadlocked this relatively young series at 9 wins apiece. The Deacons won the first-ever meeting between the two schools in December of 1958, 73-64, at FSU. The Seminoles evened the competition with a win in the 1973 "Sunshine Classic" in St.Petersburg. The two schools then did not square off again until being joined as ACC members and have split 16 meetings in conference play.Twelve of the 16 ACC contests between the Deacs and 'Noles have been decided by single-digit outcomes. Nine of those 12 have had final margins of four points or fewer.
THIS YEAR'S FIRST MEETING - On January 20th in Tallahassee, the Demon Deacons fell behind by as many as 14 points (30-16) in the first half before staging a comeback. Wake Forest was down by nine (32-23) at halftime, but actually took a brief 56-54 lead with 6:35 remaining on a three-pointer by Robert O'Kelley. Florida State regained control by hitting three "3s" of its own over the next two minutes, two of those by Ron Hale, then clinched the win by sinking five of six free throws in the final 0:16.
O'Kelley sparked the WFU rally by scoring 17 of his game-high 27 points in the second half. Wake shot an excellent 65.4% from the floor (17-26) during the final 20 minutes, but the Seminoles were even hotter, hitting 73.7% (14-19), including 5-of-6 from three-point distance. FSU's 61.5% shooting for the game is the best by a Wake Forest opponent this season.
(A complete boxscore from that game is included in this packet.)
IN JOEL COLISEUM - Florida State won on its first two visits to Joel Coliseum in 1992 (88-85) and 1993 (74-72) with both of those contests determined in overtime. Since then Wake Forest has won five in a row over the 'Noles here, but the last two have not been decided until the final seconds.
In 1997, Wake led by two when FSU's Lamarr Greer missed a baseline jumper with 0:04 left (the Deacs won, 61-58). Last year, the Deacons went scoreless the final 2:06 but held on for a 69-68 triumph. Greer again missed a last-second shot, and a tip by Corey Louis failed to drop as the final horn sounded.
Noting the Demon Deacons
TWO IN A ROW??? - Wake Forest, which defeated Georgia Tech here Tuesday night, has not won two straight games since the beginning of January when the Demon Deacons defeated Virginia here on January 2nd (69-53), then one week later won on the road at Clemson (64-61). Of course, these back-to-back home dates this week mark the first time since late-December that the Deacons have benefited from consecutive games here in Joel Coliseum.
BOUNCING BACK - Coach Dave Odom's squad could improve its record during the second half of the ACC regular season schedule to 4-2 as well, if it can knock off the Seminoles this evening. Wake Forest had "made the turn" of its conference slate at 2-6. The Deacs then began the second half of the league schedule with an 85-72 win over then-4th-ranked Maryland here in Joel on January 31st which ended a five-game losing streak, the longest at the school since 1990.
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 118-29 (80.3% 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 (51-18) on its homecourt since 1990. North Carolina is the only ACC visitor to post a winning record in Joel Coliseum.
Deacs vs the ACC in Joel Coliseum
Clemson 9-1 Maryland 7-3 Duke 5-5 North Carolina 4-6 Florida State 5-2 N.C.State 7-2 Georgia Tech 7-3 Virginia 8-2STARTING YOUNG - Last year Wake Forest gained notice by becoming 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 is again the youngest team in a quite youthful ACC, which features six teams that are dominated by freshman/sophomore starters.
Wake Forest has had freshmen start 48 times this season (North Carolina 2nd in that category with 47 freshman starts). However, when the freshman and sophomore classes are combined, Wake has had considerably more underclass starters than any other league school. (Figures compiled by the ACC Office.)
Games Started by Class
(prior to Wednesday games)
Starters WAKE UVA NCST GT UNC DUKE FSU MD CLEM Frosh/Soph 115 89 82 82 80 78 30 29 7 Junior/Senior 10 41 43 48 50 52 90 101 118FRESHMAN FACTOR - Last year's Wake Forest freshman class accounted for 51% of the team's total points (1,009). Through 24 games this season, the Deacon freshmen have scored 812 points, which constitutes 49% of the 1998-99 team's total output.
SOPHOMORES STEP UP - Two of last year's freshmen (this year's sophomores) were the key perfor-mers for Wake Forest in Tuesday night's win over Georgia Tech, however. Guard ROBERT O'KELLEY scored a game-high 25 points, including 15 straight for the Deacs during one amazing stretch during the second half, and center RAFAEL VIDAURRETA notched his first "double-double" of the year by scoring 13 points and securing 12 rebounds (both season highs).
MORE ON "EL TORO" - No player has played with more consistency and solid productivity for Wake Forest the past six weeks than has RAFAEL VIDAURRETA. The Zaragoza, Spain sophomore (often referred to as "El Toro" by those around the basketball program) has compiled some terrfic numbers in ACC play.
Vidaurreta is averaging 8.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game (the 7.6 rpg is 6th-best in the league in conference competition). During the Deacons' 13 ACC outings, he is shooting 61.2% from the floor and 80% from the free throw line.
Eleven times in the last 13 games (at Utah plus 12 ACC dates), Vidaurreta has led Wake Forest in rebounding, grabbing 8-or-more rebounds 10 times in those 13 outings. In the last seven games, he is averaging 9.1 rebounds per contest -- all against ACC foes.
O'KELLEY HITS 20 AGAIN - Sophomore guard ROBERT O'KELLEY scored 20-or-more points for the 10th time this season when he netted 25 in the win over Georgia Tech earlier this week. O'Kelley was especially impressive during one stretch when he personally out-scored the Yellow Jackets, 15-8, during a 4:58 period. The Memphis standout connected on a three-pointer to ignite that run and give the Deacs a 39-32 advantage at the 14:00 mark. Another "3" by O'Kelley extended the WFU lead to 51-40 with 9:02 remaining and capped his streak of 15 consecutive points.
In those 10 games this year that O'Kelley has scored at least 20 points, Wake Forest has compiled a 7-3 record. One of the 20-point losses came at Florida State when his 27 points were not enough to help the Deacs past the Seminoles in a 74-68 defeat.
APPROACHING ELITE COMPANY - He may or may not make it this season, but guard ROBERT O'KELLEY is drawing close to the 1,000-point mark for his career as only a sophomore. The Demon Deacon standout has currently scored 920 points (497 last year as a freshman, 423 this season). That total already puts him past the sophomore figure of former All-America Frank Johnson, who scored 818 points in his first two years as a Deacon, and not far behind the totals of former backcourt stars Skip Brown (933) and Randolph Childress (997).
Deacon Backcourt Demons
(Point Totals at End of Sophomore Year)
Randolph Childress 997 Skip Brown 933 ROBERT O'KELLEY (current) 920 Frank Johnson 818In fact, only two players in Wake Forest history have scored 1,000 points in their freshman and sophomore seasons -- Dickie Hemric (1,161 pts in 1952 & 1953) and Rodney Rogers (1,084 in 1991 & 1992). (Of course, from the mid-50s until 1972, freshmen did not play on the varsity level.)
DEACON SHOT TALK - Wake Forest is shooting 43.1% from the floor this season and has fewer 50% or better outings (4) than under-40% performances (7). The Demon Deacons have been a little more consistent recently, however, shooting a season-high 51.0% here 10 days ago versus Clemson, connecting on 47.2% of their field goal tries in a losing cause at Duke, then hitting 45.3% in the win over Georgia Tech on Tuesday evening.
Those three consecutive efforts represent only the second time this season that Wake Forest has shot over 45% from the floor in three straight games. A shooting performance over 45% against Florida State would give the Deacs four such games in a row for the first time this year.
THREE-POINT STREAK STAYS ALIVE - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 224 consecutive games. The last time that Wake did not make a three-pointer was in a 1992 homecourt victory over Tulane.
CONVERTING AT THE LINE - Through the first 12 games this season, Wake Forest was shooting 66.7% from the free throw line. In 13 outings since, the Demon Deacons have improved considerably, connecting on 76.3% (203-266) of their foul shot attempts. In their last five contests, the Deacons have made 95 of 116 free throws (81.9%).
For the season, Wake is now shooting 71.6% at the line (2nd in the ACC). In conference play only, however, the Deacs are the best in the league at 74.5%.
FTS IMPORTANT - Wake Forest is 13-1 when it attempts more free throws than its opponents.
OFF THE GLASS - Wake Forest out-rebounded Georgia Tech here on Tuesday night, 35-30, only the third time in the last 11 games that the Deacons have held the advantage in that department. Not surprisingly, Wake won all three of those games -- out-rebounding Maryland (42-39), Clemson (30-28) and Georgia Tech. On the year, Wake Forest is 10-1 when it wins the battle of the boards.
AMONG THE ACC LEADERS - Entering Wednesday's games, ROBERT O'KELLEY is 8th in the ACC scoring race (16.9 ppg). In ACC games only, the Memphis sophomore ranks 6th (17.5 ppg) in the league.
O'Kelley also is among the ACC's most productive three-point shooters, currently ranking 2nd in that category with 67 "3s" (2.7 per game; behind only Trajan Langdon). He's even slightly better in league play, averaging 3.0 three-pointers per contest (3rd behindTerrell McIntyre and Langdon).
DARIUS SONGAILA is 8th in the ACC in free throw shooting with his 77.1% accuracy (he's also hit 16 in a row over the last four games). The freshman is connecting on an outstanding 81.0% of his charity tosses in league games (7th-best in the ACC).
RAFAEL VIDAURRETA has now joined the conference's top ten rebounders list (he's 10th at 6.5 rpg), In ACC games only, he is 6th-best in the conference (7.6 rpg).
NEW HAMPTON DUO - Wake Forest's two starting frontcourt players, RAFAEL VIDAURRETA and DARIUS SONGAILA, both played at New Hampton Prep (in New Hampshire) although the two current Deacs were never teammates there. Vidaurreta spent two years at New Hampton after departing his home city of Zaragoza, Spain. Songaila's only year at New Hampton came while Vidaurreta was a freshman at Wake.
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 con-fusion and thanks for your cooperation.
DAWSON JOINS TOP SCORER LIST - When he scored 19 points in the win over Clemson last week, forward CRAIG DAWSON became the fourth freshman to lead Wake Forest in scoring this season. DARIUS SONGAILA has been the most prominent rookie in that category, topping the WFU scoring chart seven times. BRODERICK HICKS and ANTWAN SCOTT 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 -- 15 times.
Dawson Named ACC Rookie of the Week
Freshman CRAIG DAWSON earned his first ACC Rookie of the Week
recognition earlier this week after back-to-back double-figure outings
against Clemson and Duke.
In Wake's win over the Tigers, Dawson scored a team-high 19 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the floor and 4-of-5 three-pointers. He added 10 points vs the Blue Devils.
For the week, Dawson made 9 of 16 shots from the floor, 6 of 10 "3s" and 5 of 6 free throws, scoring 29 points (14.5 ppg).
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 21 games (and 15 of the last 17).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DEACON - The only Deacon player to record a "double-double" this season is rookie DARIUS SONGAILA, who did so three times 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.
COMEBACK WINS - Wake Forest has trailed in the second half of eight of its 14 wins this season, including here last week when the Demon Deacons were behind Clemson, 54-50, with 7:46 remaining in the game. Wake then scored 13 unanswered points over the next 4:10 to build a 63-54 advantage. The Tigers got no closer than three points thereafter.
Four Deacon victories (over Mercer, William & Mary, Davidson & at Clemson), have come after Wake Forest was behind at halftime.
The largest deficit that the Deacs have overcome in a win has been 13 points (27-14) against Davidson. They fell behind at Florida State by 14 (30-16) in the first half, rallied to take a 56-54 lead with less than seven minutes remaining, but could not maintain that comeback.
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.
ARINZE OUT FOR SEASON - Sophomore forward NIKI ARINZE, who started 24 games as a freshman last year, has been lost for the season due to a shoulder injury. Arinze dislocated his left shoulder on October 26th during preseason practice. After missing two games, he returned to action and was a starter in four of the five contests in which he played this season.
The 6'5 Nashville product re-injured the shoulder on November 30th in Wake Forest's win at VMI. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder on December 15th. Having played in only five regular season contests, Arinze should qualify for a medical hardship ruling and not lose a year of eligibility. Wake Forest will make that appeal following the season.
"ED K" JOINS HOOPS TEAM; MAKES IMPACT AT DUKE - Freshman ED KARGBOOKOROGIE (KARG-boh-oh-KOR-gee), an inside linebacker on the Wake Forest football team, joined the hoops squad in December. Kargbookorogie is a high school teammate of point guard Broderick Hicks at Houston's Strake Jesuit High School, where the two won a state championship last year. He also is the only true freshman to see action for the Deacon football squad in the last two years, making nine tackles this past fall, including a sack versus Florida State.
"Kargbo" had yet to see his first action when he made his presence felt last Saturday at Duke. During pregame warm-ups, he shattered a backboard while dunking the ball. The contest was delayed for nearly a half hour while a replacement goal was installed. Later that afternoon, "Kargbo" got into his first game, playing two minutes versus the Blue Devils (he didn't dunk--or even take a shot).
