Wake Forest Athletics
Men's Hoops Hosts Maryland
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
January 29, 1999
Jan. 29, 1999
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Demon Deacons begin the second half of their 1998-99 ACC regular season schedule here this afternoon as they host the nationally 4th-ranked Terrapins, who have already soundly defeated Wake Forest earlier this year in College Park (92-69 on 12/3). The Deacs enter today's regionally televised (ACC network) contest on a five-game losing streak, their longest since 1990.
WAKE FOREST (11-9 / 2-6 in ACC) vs MARYLAND (19-2 / 7-1)
January 31, 1999 -- 1:00 --Lawrence Joel Coliseum
PROBABLE DEMON DEACON LINEUP
Career Starts No. Name Pos. Ht. Class Key Statistics (*leads team) (98-99 starts) 4 Robert O'Kelley G 6'1 So. 16.2 ppg*, 2.1 rpg, 44 asts*, 52 3pters* 39 (20) 31 Ervin Murray G 6'5 Fr. 3.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 80.0 FT% (12-15) 7 (7) 41 Rafael Vidaurreta C 6'8 So. 6.6 ppg, 5.8* rpg, 75.5 FT%* 36 (14) 25 Darius Songaila F 6'9 Fr. 12.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 51.8 FG%*, 23 stls* 18 (18) 11 Joseph Amonett G/F 6'5 Sr. 3.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg 19 (9)TOP RESERVES
42 Craig Dawson G/F 6'5 Fr. 7.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 41.5 3pt%*, 81.0 FT% (17-21) 1 (1) 44 Josh Shoemaker F 6'9 So. 3.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg 32 (15) 3 Broderick Hicks G 6'1 Fr. 4.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg 7 (7) 34 Antwan Scott F/C 6'8 Fr. 4.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg 0 10 Jim Fitzpatrick G 6'0 Jr. 1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg 1 (1)HEAD COACH - Dave Odom (10th year at Wake Forest) / Won 193, Lost 102 (13th year overall) / Won 231, Lost 144
THE LINEUP - Wake Forest utilized its 11th different starting lineup on Thursday night at NC State, (the one listed above), although that marked the first time in seven contests that head coach Dave Odom had made an alteration in his starting five. The change saw senior JOSEPH AMONETT, a starter in eight earlier games, replace JOSH SHOEMAKER, who had started 13 straight outings prior to Thursday. Shoemaker, DARIUS SONGAILA, RAFEAL VIDAURRETA, ERVIN MURRAY and ROBERT O'KELLEY had started the previous six Deacon contests.
O'Kelley is the only individual who has started all 20 games this season. He and Vidaurreta are the only two Deacs who have started all eight ACC dates. Songaila's 18 starts on the year are second only to O'Kelley -- the Wake freshman standout has started every game except at VMI and at Maryland, including the last 12 in a row.
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.
UPCOMING - Wake Forest has just one game next week, a date in Charlottesville on Wednesday (Feb.3) against Virginia. Tipoff time is 8 p.m. Wake Forest vs Maryland
THE SERIES - Only one win separates these two rivals in a series that began in the semi-finals of the 1953 Southern Conference Tournament in Raleigh. Wake Forest won on that occasion, 61-59, and went on to capture the tourney title the following night -- a noteworthy event because it was the last Southern Conference Tournament prior to the formation of the ACC. The Demon Deacons currently hold a 49-48 edge over the Terrapins in their overall competition.
Wake had won six of eight meetings with Maryland over the past four seasons prior to the Terps' victory in Cole Field House back in December. Maryland last swept both regular season games from the Deacs in 1994.
THIS YEAR'S FIRST MEETING - The 2nd-ranked Terrapins disposed of the Demon Deacons early in a December 3rd meeting in College Park. Maryland made its first 14 shots in surging to a 32-10 lead in the first eight minutes. The lead grew to 25 (54-29) at halftime and to as many as 38 (89-51) with 5:47 remaining before a 16-0 run by Wake Forest in the closing minutes. (a complete boxscore is included in this packet)
IN JOEL - Wake Forest holds a 6-3 advantage over Maryland on the Joel parquet, including a 72-60 upset here last January 17th. Deacon freshmen scored 52 of those 72 points a year ago, led by ROBERT O'KELLEY's 17 and a "double-double" performance by the now-injured NIKI ARINZE (16 pts/10 rebs).
The Terps won here two years ago, defeating an unbeaten (13-0) and nationally 2nd-ranked Demon Deacon squad, 54-51, on a three-pointer by Laron Profit at the buzzer. That loss ended a 25-game homecourt winning streak for Wake Forest.
Noting the Demon Deacons
IT'S SUPER BOWL SUNDAY - This marks the seventh time that Wake Forest has played on "Super Bowl Sunday". And although the Demon Deacons are 2-4 overall when their schedule is paired with the NFL finale, they have won the last two times they have played on this occasion. That includes a win here in Joel Coliseum last January 25th over Missouri, shortly before the Broncos defeated the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.
The Deacons & "Super Sunday"
Date Site Wake Forest Result Super Bowl Result 1/25/98 H WF 74, Missouri 65 Denver 31, Green Bay 24 1/29/95 H WF 63, Vanderbilt 51 San Francisco 49, San Diego 26 1/30/94 A N.Carolina 85, WF 61 Dallas 30, Buffalo 13 1/28/90 H Virginia 71, WF 70 (ot) San Francisco 55, Denver 10 1/30/83 H* Arkansas 68, WF 65 Washington 27, Miami 17 1/15/78 A N.Carolina 71, WF 69 Dallas 27, Denver 10STARTING 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.*Greensboro Coliseum
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 39 games this season -- Deacon freshmen have started 33 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 weekend's games)
Starters WAKE UVA NCST UNC GAT DUKE FSU MD CLEM Frosh/Soph 90 69 67 66 64 63 25 21 3 Junior/Senior 10 36 33 44 36 42 70 84 102FIVE STRAIGHT LOSSES - Wake Forest's current five-game losing streak is its longest since head coach Dave Odom's first year at the school (the 1989-90 season) when the Demon Deacons lost six straight games in January of 1990 (from 1/13/90 through 1/28/90). After a win at Old Dominion (on 2/3/90), that squad dropped five more contests in a row before rallying to win its final three regular season games here over Maryland, at Virginia and at NC State. The 1989-90 Deacons lost their first 11 ACC outings before capturing those last three victories over league opponents.
Since 1990, the longest losing streak for a Dave Odom-coached team at Wake Forest prior to the present had been four in a row -- those four consecutive losses coming in the final four games of the 1991-92 campaign (two in regular season play, one in the ACC Tournament, one in NCAA Tournament).
STATS NOT PRETTY - Not surprisingly in its five-game skid, Wake Forest has been out-rebounded and out-shot from the floor in each contest (statistical trends that are often concurrent). During the last five games, Wake opponents are averaging 34.2 rebounds per game while the Deacons are averaging just 24.6 rpg. Opponents are shooting a collective 50.8% (117-230) from the floor, compared to Wake's 40.5% (104-257) during this period.
SECOND HALF DOLDRUMS - The Demon Deacons come into today's contest with a five-game losing streak even though have led at halftime of their last two outings. Last Saturday against North Carolina, Wake was ahead, 24-22, at intermission. This past Thursday in Raleigh the Deacs led the Wolfpack at the break, 32-28.
In those two games, Wake Forest scored 43 points in the second half (21.5 avg) while shooting a com-bined 15 for 54 (27.8%) from the floor (6-27 vs UNC; 9-27 at NCSU). North Carolina and NC State were a collective 21-for-40 (52.5%) in the second half of those two contests while scoring 72 points (36.0 avg).
52-40 ??? - Yes, that was the final score in Wake Forest's last appearance here in Joel Coliseum eight days ago as North Carolina defeated the Demon Deacons in the lowest scoring game in the 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) in Raleigh to NC State on February 11, 1980.
COMEBACK 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 struggled offensively much of the season, and has now gone nine games without shooting better than 43% in back-to-back outings. After a season-high 51% (26-51) at Florida State on January 20th, the Deacs shot a season-low 30.8% (16-52) against North Carolina, then were sub-40% again Thursday at NC State (19-49 / 38.8%).
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 - Three of the last five Demon Deacon opponents have shot over 50% from the floor, including Florida State's 61.5% effort, highest by a Wake opponent since Kentucky shot 61.9% in the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Only one of the first 15 Deacon opponents hit better than 48% (Maryland's 50.8% on Dec.3).
Overall, eight opponents have shot over 44% and the Deacs are 1-7 in those games.
FREE THROW TURNAROUND - A key statistic in Thursday night's loss at NC State was a reversal in Wake Forest's (and its opponent's) effectiveness at the free throw line.
The Demon Deacons, who had converted 76% of their foul shots in their last 11 games, managed to make only 15 of 25 (60%) versus the Wolfpack. State, on the other hand, hit 24 of 26 charity tosses (92.3%). Wake foes prior to Thursday had made 64% of their free throw tries.
THREE-POINT STREAK - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 219 consecutive games. The last time that Wake did not make a three-pointer was in a 1992 homecourt victory over Tulane.
The Demon Deacons, however, converted a season-low three "3s" (in 18 attempts) in their loss to North Carolina, and were only 6-for-20 (30%) at NC State, for a combined 9-for-38 (23.7%) in those two outings.
LIMITING TURNOVERS - In their first 10 games this season, the Demon Deacons committed 171 turn-overs (17.1 per game). In the last 10 games, they have committed only 128 turnovers (12.8 per game). The Deacs lost the ball a season-low 10 times in the loss to North Carolina last weekend, and in three of the previous four outings (Clemson, Duke & GaTech), committed just 11 ball-handling errors.
In this year's first meeting with Maryland, though, Wake lost the ball a season-high 26 times.
LEADING THE WAY - The Demon Deacons have had only two players lead the team in scoring in 19 of their 20 games this season. Sophomore ROBERT O'KELLEY has done so 12 times (the Deacs are 8-4 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.
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.
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 16 games (and 10 of the last 12). SONGAILA has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games.
Double Digit Deacons
Scoring Rebounding Joseph AMONETT once (E.Tenn) Craig DAWSON six times; three of last five Broderick HICKS three times (all in Nov.) Ervin MURRAY twice (Va, Clem) Robert O'KELLEY 16 times; 10 of last 12 (all but Va & UNC) Antwan SCOTT four times Josh SHOEMAKER once (VMI) Darius SONGAILA 15 times; 10 of last 11 (all but Clem) four times Rafael VIDAURRETA four times (all in last eight) three timesDOUBLE-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.
