Wake Forest Athletics
Men's Basketball Takes on ACC Rival N.C. State
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
January 27, 1999
WAKE FOREST (11-8 / 2-5 in ACC)
at
NC STATE (12-7 / 2-5)
For the first time since 1992, Wake Forest is on a four-game losing streak as the Demon Deacons make their last scheduled visit to Reynolds Coliseum here tonight. After winning at Clemson on January 9th, Wake has dropped four straight conference contests to fall to 2-5 in the league as it reaches the midway point in the ACC regular season schedule. This evening's game is being telecast regionally on the ACC network.
PROBABLE DEMON DEACON LINEUP
Career Starts No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Key Statistics (*leads team) (98-99 starts) 4 Robert O'Kelley G 6'1 So. 15.9 ppg*, 2.0 rpg, 41 asts*, 48 3pters* 38 (19) 31 Ervin Murray G/F 6'5 Fr. 3.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 84.6 FT% (11-13) 6 (6) 41 Rafael Vidaurreta C 6'8 So. 6.4 ppg, 5.6* rpg, 76.0 FT%* 35 (13) 25 Darius Songaila F/C 6'9 Fr. 12.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 52.3 FG%*, 75.0 FT%, 22 stls* 17 (17) 44 Josh Shoemaker F 6'9 So. 3.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg 32 (15)TOP RESERVES
42 Craig Dawson G/F 6'5 Fr. 7.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 41.6 3pt%*, 81.3 FT% (13-16) 1 (1) 11 Joseph Amonett G/F 6'5 Sr. 3.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg 18 (8) 3 Broderick Hicks G 6'1 Fr. 4.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg 7 (7) 10 Jim Fitzpatrick G 6'0 Jr. 1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg 1 (1) 34 Antwan Scott F/C 6'8 Fr. 4.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg 0HEAD COACH - Dave Odom (10th year at Wake Forest) / Won 193, Lost 101 (13th year overall) / Won 231, Lost 143
THE LINEUP - The Demon Deacons have utilized the starting five listed above in their past six games, the longest continuous stretch this season that head coach DAVE ODOM has stayed with the same starting lineup. This quintet was put together for the first time in the January 2nd win over Virginia when freshman ERVIN MURRAY replaced senior JOSEPH AMONETT.
Overall, Wake Forest has utilized 10 different starting lineups this year. Every player on the roster has started at least once this season with the exception of ANTWAN SCOTT and walkon TIM FULLER.
The only individual who has started all 19 games is ROBERT O'KELLEY, who now has equaled his total starts from last year as a freshman, and whose 38 career starts are a team high. JOSH SHOEMAKER has started the last 13 games and DARIUS SONGAILA has started the last 11 in a row. Songaila's 17 starts are second only to O'Kelley this season -- that's every game except at VMI and at Maryland.
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 nearly 70% 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.
UPCOMING - Wake Forest begins the second half of its ACC regular season schedule on Sunday, hosting 4th-ranked Maryland in Lawrence Joel Coliseum at 1 p.m. in a regionally televised (ACC network) contest.
Wake Forest vs NC State
THE SERIES - Wake Forest has won seven of its last eight games with NC State, including both regular season meetings last season. The Demon Deacons' only loss to the Wolfpack during the last four years came in Joel Coliseum in February of 1997 on a last-second three-pointer by CC Harrison that gave State a 60-59 win.
Since DAVE ODOM took over the Wake Forest program in the 1989-90 campaign, the Deacons have won 14 of 18 contests with the 'Pack. Overall, however, NC State holds a 119-83 advantage in the series that began in 1911. The two schools have met at least twice every year since with the exception of 1915 and 1944.
LAST YEAR - The Demon Deacons won here in Raleigh on February 4th, 68-62, as ROBERT O'KELLEY tallied 19 points and RAFAEL VIDUARRETA recorded his first (and to this point only) career "double-double" (10 pts/12 rebs). The game was noteworthy in that Wake Forest started five freshmen (O'Kelly, Vidaurreta, Niki Arinze, James Griffin & Josh Shoemaker) -- the first time in ACC history that a team had gone with five rookies in its starting lineup.
In the second meeting in Winston-Salem last March 1st, Wake concluded its 97-98 regular season with a 71-57 victory over the Wolfpack. The day belonged to the senior backcourt duo of Tony Rutland and Jerry Braswell -- Rutland poured in a career-high 28 points, while Braswell netted 16.
IN REYNOLDS COLISEUM - Wake Forest has won four straight games, and seven of nine during the 90s, in this famous arena. The only Demon Deacon losses here this decade came in 1994 and 1992. The Deacons have also enjoyed some of the finest moments in their basketball history here as well.
Wake Forest won the 1953 Southern Conference Tournament which was played in Reynolds, a notable achievement since that was the final Southern Conference tourney prior to the formation of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Two of the four ACC Championships won by Wake Forest have also come here (1961 & 1962).
Noting the Demon Deacons
STARTING 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, including the one here in Raleigh against NC State (the other came in Wake's next outing at Clemson. Four freshmen started consistently for Wake throughout last year's ACC schedule.
Those freshmen are now sophomores, although one of last season's regulars (forward NIKI ARINZE) is out for the year with a shoulder injury. They have been joined by another talented class of current freshmen. The result is that Wake Forest is again the youngest team in a quite youthful ACC, which features six teams that are dominated by freshman/sophomore starters.
North Carolina has had freshmen start 38 games this season -- Deacon freshmen have started 31 times. But 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 (entering this week's games)
Starters WAKE UVA NCST UNC GAT DUKE FSU MD CLEM Frosh/Soph 86 65 64 63 61 60 24 20 2 Junior/Senior 9 35 31 42 34 40 66 80 98CHALLENGING SCHEDULE - No game in the ACC can be considered easy, but Wake Forest is in the midst of a stretch of league games that are particularly difficult. Beginning with a January 9th date at Clemson and continuing through the end of January, the Demon Deacons are/were faced with four of seven opponents away from home (Clemson, GaTech, Florida State, NC State), while the three teams coming to Lawrence Joel Coliseum during that same period are/were all ranked in the Top Ten (Duke, North Carolina, Maryland).
FOUR STRAIGHT LOSSES - The last time that Wake Forest lost four games in a row prior to its current streak was in 1992 when the the Demon Deacons dropped their last four games (two in regular season play, one in the ACC Tournament, one in NCAA Tournament).
Wake last lost more than four consecutive contests in DAVE ODOM's first year at the school (1989-90) when it endured a six-game losing streak in January of 1990. That year's Deacs lost 11 straight games versus ACC opponents as well before rallying to win their final three regular season conference dates.
52-40 ??? - Yes, that was the final score this past Saturday as North Carolina defeated Wake Forest in the lowest scoring game in Lawrence Joel Coliseum's 10-year history. The 92 combined points by the two teams resulted in the lowest scoring WFU game anywhere since the Demon Deacons dropped a 46-43 contest to Clemson in 1986 in old Memorial Coliseum.
The Deacon total of 40 points was their lowest since a loss by the same final score (52-40) here in Raleigh to NC State on February 11, 1980.
CLOSE WINS - Florida State's 74-68 win over Wake Forest last week in Tallahassee is the only single-digit loss for the Demon Deacons this season. Previously when the games had been close, Wake had fared well.
In fact, the Demon Deacons are still 4-0 in games decided by five points or fewer. Those narrow victories include a 75-73 overtime decision over Illinois in the "Coaches vs Cancer Classic"; a 59-58 homecourt verdict over Davidson; a 52-47 road win at Virginia Tech; and Wake's last win, a 64-61 victory at Clemson. Winning the Close Ones
Date Opponent Final Score Late-Game Keys Nov.10 Illinois (@MSG) 75-73 (ot) O'Kelley scores 10 of team's 11 pts in OT Nov.27 Davidson 59-58 O'Kelley 2 FTs with 0:02.3 left erase 58-57 deficit Dec.12 at Virginia Tech 52-47 Deacs break 47-47 tie; hold Tech scoreless final 3:40 Jan.9 at Clemson 64-61 Dawson 4-4 FTs in final 0:08 clinch winCOMEBACK WINS - Wake Forest has trailed in the second half of seven of its 11 wins. In four of those victories (Mercer, William & Mary, Davidson & Clemson), the Deacs were behind at halftime. The largest deficit that they have overcome in a win has been 13 points (27-14 in the first half) against Davidson. The Demon Deacons 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.
DEACON SHOT TALK - Wake Forest has not been very consistent with its shooting in recent games. In fact, the Demon Deacon have not shot better than 43% in back-to-back outings in the last eight contests. Wake hit 50% (21-42) in winning at Clemson, then dropped to 39.7% in a loss to Duke. After a season-high 51% (26-51) at Florida State, the Deacs shot a season-low 30.8% (16-52) this past Saturday against North Carolina. On the year, the Deacons have shot 50%-or-better from the floor only three times. Wake has won twice while shooting below 40% from the field, most recently in a 69-53 decision over Virginia in Joel Coliseum on January 2nd when the Deacs hit just 39.6% from the floor. Coach Dave Odom's club also won at Virginia Tech on December 12th, 52-47, while shooting a season-low 32.6%.
HOT SHOOTING FOES - Demon Deacon opponents, on the other hand, have been quite effective shooting the ball in recent outings. Before the North Carolina game this past Saturday, three straight foes hit over 50%, topped by Florida State's 61.5% (highest by a Wake opponent since Kentucky shot 61.9% in the 1993 NCAA Tournament). The Tar Heels were limited to 39% in the first half, but then made 13 of 25 shots (52%) after intermission to finish at 45.3% for the game. Only one of the first 15 Deacon opponents hit better than 48% this season (Maryland's 50.8% on Dec.3). Overall, seven opponents have shot over 44% and the Deacs are 1-6 in those games.
IMPROVEMENT AT THE LINE - After a poor start to the 1998-99 campaign with their free throw shooting, the Demon Deacons have gradually become a very respectable squad in that important category. In the last 11 games, the Deacs have hit 75.7% of their foul shots (153 for 202) -- quite an improvement over the season's first five games when they made only 61.8% of their free throw tries. Deacon starters ERVIN MURRAY (84.6%), RAFAEL VIDAURRETA (76.0%), DARIUS SONGAILA (75.0%) and ROBERT O'KELLEY (73.2%) are all shooting over 73% at the line, as is sixth-man CRAIG DAWSON (81.3%).
GETTING TO THE LINE THE PROBLEM - In the last five games, Wake Forest has attempted only 82 free throws (16.4 per game). Wake has shot more free throws than the opposition in 10 of its 11 wins this season (all but Clemson).
THREE-POINT STREAK - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 218 consecutive games. The last time that Wake did not make a three-pointer was in a 1992 homecourt victory over Tulane. The Demon Deacon did, however, convert a season-low three "3s" (in 18 attempts) on Saturday in their loss to North Carolina.
LIMITING TURNOVERS - In their first 10 games this season, the Demon Deacons committed 171 turn-overs (17.1 per game). In the last nine games, they have committed only 114 turnovers (12.7 per game). The Deacs lost the ball a season-low 10 times in their loss to North Carolina this past weekend, and in three of the previous four outings (Clemson, Duke & GaTech), committed just 11 ball-handling errors.
LEADING THE WAY - The Demon Deacons have had only two players lead the team in scoring in 18 of their 19 games this season. Sophomore ROBERT O'KELLEY has done so 11 times (the Deacs are 8-3 in those games), while freshman DARIUS SONGAILA has been the team's top scorer seven times (with a 2-5 record). The only other individual to score the most points in a single game was freshman BRODERICK HICKS with 20 (all in the 2nd half) in a win over William & Mary. A couple of other key statistical areas have featured more balance. Six different players have been the leading rebounder for Wake Forest thus far. And eight Deacons have led the team in assists at least once.
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 10 points per contest. In fact, they are the only two players scoring more than eight points per game. O'KELLEY has reached double digits in 15 games (and nine of the last 11). SONGAILA has scored in double figures in nine of the last 10 games.
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. The freshman frontcourt standout narrowly missed a fourth "double-double" with a 22 pt/9 reb effort versus Virginia.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE?? - As the conference season reaches it midpoint tonight, Wake's DARIUS SONGAILA must be considered a strong candidate for the 1998 "ACC Rookie of the Year" award. The Demon Deacon rookie is averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in conference play -- only Virginia's Chris Williams (14.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is better against league opponents. Songaila leads all ACC freshmen in field goal percentage (50.0%), and his free throw percentage (77.8%) in the league is second only to NC State's Adam Harrington (78.9%).
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.
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* 9-4 8-4 8-4 7-6 6-5 5-9 8-2 10-3
Last Nine Years* 14-5 11-7 8-8 10-9 10-7 6-15 13-3 14-7
*includes 1998-99 game
ACC Records in the 1990s
(as of 1/27/99)
UNC DUKE WAKE MD GAT FSU UVA CLEM NCST
W-L 103-44 100-47 81-66 73-74 70-77 56-63 66-82 56-92 45-102
(Pct.) (70.1) (68.0) (55.1) (49.7) (47.6) (47.1) (44.6) (37.8) (30.6)
ALL IN THE FAMILY - Did you know that Wake Forest head coach DAVE ODOM's two sons, Lane and Ryan, are both involved in college basketball coach on the Division One level?
Lane is in his first season as an assistant coach at UNC Charlotte after serving previously on the coaching staffs at Alabama and East Carolina, while Ryan serves as an assistant at Furman under former Demon Deacon assistant Larry Davis.
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 - Freshman ED KARGBOOKOROGIE (KARG-boh-oh-kuh-ROH-gee), an inside linebacker on the Wake Forest football team, began practicing with the basketball squad in December and is now dressing for all Deacon games. 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 any game action for the Demon Deacon football squad in the last two years, making nine tackles this past fall, including a sack versus Florida State.
