Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Hosts UNC-Wilmington in NIT First Round
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest will meet UNC-Wilmington, co-champion of the Colonial Athletic Association, in the opening round of the 1998 NIT on Thursday (March 12) at 7:30 p.m. in Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons, who finished regular season play at 15-13, are making their first appearance in the NIT since 1985 and their eighth straight postseason trip. Wake had appeared in seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments, but was denied a bid this year although the Deacs finished in a tie for fourth in the ACC regular season race (at 7-9) and claimed a ranking of 35th nationally on the most recent "RPI Index."
UNC-Wilmington, which is coached by former Wake Forest assistant coach Jerry Wainwright, is making its first-ever postseason appearance. The Seahawks are 20-10 and finished in a tie with William & Mary for first place in the CAA with a 13-3 league record, but were defeated by Richmond in the CAA championship game two weeks ago.
All other NIT first-round games, except for the Wake-UNCW matchup, take place on Wednesday (March 11). If the Demon Deacons can defeat the Seahawks, they would face the winner of the Vanderbilt-St.Bonaventure contest at a site to be determined on either March 16 or 17.
