Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Take Break From ACC Play
2/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2000
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest takes a break from Atlantic Coast Conference action for the Demon Deacons' final non-conference game of the 1999-2000 regular season. Wake Forest plays eight games, all against league foes, following tonight's contest. The Deacs are coming off a 76-67 loss to Virginia on Sunday while Davidson fell to Appalachian State, 77-72, at home on Monday night.
WAKE FOREST (12-8, 3-5 in ACC)
at DAVIDSON (10-9, 6-3 in SC)
February 2, 2000 -- 7:00 pm -- Belk Arena
PROBABLE DEMON DEACON LINEUP
| No. Name | Pos. | Ht. | Class | PPG | RPG |
| 4 Robert O'Kelley | G | 6'1 | Jr. | 14.8 | 1.9 |
| 5 Josh Howard | G | 6'6 | Fr. | 7.2 | 3.8 |
| 41 Rafael Vidaurreta | C | 6'9 | Jr. | 3.8 | 6.6 |
| 33 Niki Arinze | F | 6'5 | So. | 5.7 | 3.5 |
| 25 Darius Songaila | F | 6'9 | So. | 12.3 | 4.6 |
TOP RESERVES
| No. Name | Pos. | Ht. | Class | PPG | RPG |
| 42 Craig Dawson | G | 6'5 | So. | 7.9 | 2.4 |
| 44 Josh Shoemaker | C | 6'9 | Jr. | 5.7 | 5.7 |
| 3 Broderick Hicks | G | 6'1 | So. | 4.9 | 1.6 |
| 31 Ervin Murray | G | 6'5 | So. | 1.7 | 1.2 |
| 34 Antwan Scott | F | 6'8 | So. | 4.7 | 2.9 |
| 52 Tate Decker | F | 6'11 | Jr. | 3.2 | 2.5 |
| 10 Jim Fitzpatrick | G | 6'0 | Sr. | 0.3 | 0.6 |
HEAD COACH - Dave Odom (11th year at Wake Forest) / Won 211, Lost 115
(14th year Overall) / Won 249, Lost 157
THE LINEUP - The Demon Deacons used the same starting lineup listed in 11 of the first 15 games this season (O'KELLEY, HOWARD, VIDAURRETA, ARINZE, SONGAILA) before using three different lineups in the next three games. Wake Forest returned to that original lineup (the one listed above) in each of the last two contests, however. Nine different Deacons have starting at least one game this season, while RAFAEL VIDAURRETA is the only individual to start all 20 games. Wake Forest has used six different lineups this season.
In all, 11 different Deacons have started at least one game in their career while eight different players have started 10 or more games. Wake Forest used 15 different starting lineups during the 1998-99 season as twelve different players started at least one game.
THE HEAD COACH - The 1999-2000 season is the 11th at Wake Forest for coach DAVE ODOM, who has built the Demon Deacon program into one of the nation's best and most consistent. The Deacs made seven consecutive NCAA appearances from 1991 through 1997, then extended their string of postseason tourneys to nine in a row by playing in the 1998 and 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 67% of their games, averaging 21 wins per season over the last nine 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 visits Florida State on Saturday (1:00 / RJ) to open the second half of the ACC schedule before returning to Joel Coliseum next Tuesday to host Clemson (7:00 / RSN). In all, eight regular-season games remain on the1999-2000 schedule, four at home in Joel Coliseum and four on the road.
Wake Forest vs. Davidson
THE SERIES - Wake Forest has played more games against Davidson (83) than it has against any other non-ACC opponent and hold a 61-22 advantage in the overall series which began in back in 1909. The two schools have met at least once every year since 1957 with the exception of the 1995-96 campaign.
Wake Forest currently has a 19-game winning streak versus Davidson, dating back to a 75-72 loss in the 1978-79 season. WFU's last two wins, however, have come by a combined total of just six points (59-58 last year and 61-56 in 1997-98). Wake Forest has won nine games in a row at Davidson.
Tonight is the Deacons' third visit to Belk Arena. Wake Forest took a 74-62 win here in 1994 and then claimed a 61-56 come-form-behind victory in 1997.
LAST YEAR'S MEETING - Wake Forest's winning streak over Davidson was kept alive -- but just barely -- last season in a 59-58 win in Lawrence Joel Coliseum on November 27th. The Wildcats led by eight (35-27) at halftime, but the Demon Deacons opened the second half on a 19-4 run to build a seven point lead (46-39) with 11:53 left in the game. However, Davidson battled back to tie the score at 49-49 with 5:09 remaining.
The two schools then traded baskets for the remainder of the game, with no team leading by more than one point and the lead changing hands on 10 occasions. Ali Ton's driving layup with 5.5 seconds lef gave the Wildcats a 58-57 lead, but ROBERT O'KELLEY was fouled with 2.3 seconds left and nailed two free throws to give the Deacs the 59-58 win.
O'Kelley led all players with 24 points, while DARIUS SONGAILA added 10 points. Landry Kosmalski led Davidson with 14 points. (A complete boxscore is included in this packet).
INDIVIDUALLY - ROBERT O'KELLEY has averaged 21.0 points in two games against Davidson, netting 24 points last year in Winston-Salem and 18 points as a freshman in 1997-98 in Davidson.
Noting the Demon Deacons
CLOSING OUT THE NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE - Wake Forest wraps up the 1999-2000 regualr season non-conference schedule tonight against Davidson, and the Demon Deacons are looking for their 10th non-ACC win of the season. Wake Forest is currently 9-3 in non-conference games, including a perfect 2-0 mark on their opponent's home floor (wins at Navy and Arkansas).
HOWARD QUESTIONABLE AT DAVIDSON - Freshman guard/forward JOSH HOWARD reaggrivated a sprained left ankle in the first half of the Virginia game last Sunday that caused him to miss the entire second half of that contest. He originally suffered the injury in the closing minutes of the NC State game on Jan. 16 but had since returned to the lineup on a full-time basis. His status for the game at Davidson on Wednesday night is questionable.
"70" IS THE MAGIC NUMBER - Wake Forest is a perfect 8-0 when the Deacons score 70 or more points this season. The Deacs are just 4-8 when scoring under 70 points. However, Wake Forest has not topped 70 points since defeating Ohio 10 games ago in Hawaii.
DEFENSE DOES THE JOB - Twelve of 20 opponents have shot under 44% from the floor against Wake Forest this year -- the Demon Deacons are 11-1 in those games. When the opposition has shot over 44%, the Deacs are just 1-7.
NO SENIOR CITIZENS - Wake Forest is one of only two teams in the ACC that have not had a senior in the starting lineup at any point this season (Maryland is the other). The other seven conference schools have had one or more seniors start games this season.
Wake Forest gained attention two years ago when the Deacs became the first team in ACC history to start five freshman in a league game. Those freshman are now juniors and last year's freshman are now sophomores, but the Deacs are still a team with no four-year scholarship seniors (former walk-ons Time Fuller and Jim Fitzpatrick were both awarded scholarships for their final season this winter).
AT THE HALF - Wake Forest has held a halftime lead in 13 of 20 games, and the Deacons are 10-3 in those contests. However, since building a halftime lead in 12 of the first 14 games, Wake has trailed at the half in five of the last six contests.
CLOSE CALLS - Three of Wake Forest's eight losses this season have come by two points or less. Two defeats came with the opponents hitting a very difficult shot within the final five seconds of the game -- Georgia's Adrian Jones hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and Oregon's Alex Scales hit a fade-away 16-footer with four seconds left. Wake Forest lost to Florida State, 66-64. Wake Forest is now 0-3 in games decided by less than five points. In contrast, the Deacs are 12-5 in games decided by five or more points.
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT - The old adage that whomever attempts more free throws will usually win the game certainly holds true this season. The team that has shot more free throws is 15-4 this year -- including a 10-3 mark by Wake Forest. [Temple and Wake Forest each shot 23 free throws].
IMPROVEMENT AT THE LINE - While the Deacons have been successful in getting to the free throw line this season (22.2 attempts per game), they struggled to capitalize on that advantage for much of the season. As a team, Wake Forest is shooting just 65.0% from the line (the second lowest figure in the ACC). However, the Deacs have shown improvement in that department of late and have hit 71.3% (62-87) from the line in the last five games.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL - Wake Forest has done a solid job of protecting the basketball this season, and the Deacs are tied for the ACC lead with an average of 14.4 turnovers per game.
DEACON SHOT TALK - Since opening the season by shooting better than 50% from the floor during the first 10 games, Wake Forest has struggled from the field in the last month. The Deacs are shooting just 38.1% (226-593) from the field in the last 10 games.
THREE-POINT ACCURACY DOWN, TOO - Wake Forest has struggled with their long range accuracy this season. The Deacons are shooting 31.2% behind the arc, the lowest team mark since the three-point shot was instituted in 1986-87.
The three-point shooting percentage has taken a downturn in recent weeks -- the Deacs are just 45-173 (26.0%) on long range attempts in the last 12 games. In fact, the Deacs have failed to shoot at least 30% from 3-point territoy in each of the last six games.
THREE-POINT STREAK CONTINUES - Wake Forest enters the game at Davidson having made at least one three-point field goal in 250 consecutive games. The last time that the Deacs did not make a three-pointer was a 1992 homecourt victory over Tulane.
ON THE GLASS - The Deacs have been solid on the boards this season, ranking second in the ACC with a +5.2 rebound margin. Wake Forest is just 9-5 when grabbing more rebounds than its opponent, however.
After outrebounding nine of their first 10 opponents, the Deacs were outrebounded in five of the next six games. However, Wake Forest has outrebounded its opponent in each of the last four games, including by 10 or more rebounds in three of those contests.
VS. THE TOP 10 - Wake Forest defeated #9 Temple (77-72) in December, which stands as the ACC's only win over a non-conference Top-10 ranked team this season. The ACC is just a combined 1-8 against Top 10 teams, but is 7-13 overall against non-conference ranked opponents.
O'KELLEY CLIMBS THE CHARTS - Last season, guard ROBERT O'KELLEY became just the third player in Wake Forest history to reach the 1,000 point plateau by the end of his sophomore year (Dickie Hemric and Rodney Rogers are the others). O'Kelley currently has 1,336 points, good for 17th place on the Wake Forest all-time scoring list. O'Kelley needs 31 points to pass No. 16 Jerry Schellenberg (1974-77).
Wake Forest Career Scoring
| 1. Dickie Hemric (52-55) | 2,587 |
| 2. Randolph Childress (91-95) | 2,208 |
| 3. Len Chappell (60-62) | 2,165 |
| 4. Tim Duncan (94-97) | 2,117 |
| ........ | |
| 15. Alvis Rogers (79-83) | 1,441 |
| 16. Jerry Schellenberg (74-77) | 1,366 |
| 17. Robert O'Kelley (98- ) | 1,336 |
SONGAILA MAKES HIS MARK - Since returning to the lineup on a full time basis from a knee injury on Jan. 4 against Florida State, sophomore forward DARIUS SONGAILA has raised his level of play and is making a strong push for All-ACC honors. Songaila is second on the team in scoring in ACC games only (14.4 ppg), he currently ranks 1st in the conference in free throw percentage (87.9%), 4th in field goal percentage (54.4%), 8th in steals (1.8 per game), and 15th in scoring.
HOWARD IMPRESSES, TOO - Freshman JOSH HOWARD has made an impact as the only freshman on a team full of veteran players. Howard has started 18 of 20 games, an impressive feat considering that 10 other Demon Deacons had started at least one game in their career entering this season. He is currently 4th on the team in both scoring (7.2 ppg) and rebounding (3.8 rpg). In the last thee games, however, Howard's numbers have improved to 10.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg while shooting 66.7% from the floor.
"EL TORO" ANCHORS THE MIDDLE - While junior center RAFAEL VIDAURRETA has struggled at times offensively this season, head coach DAVE ODOM praises him as one of the top defensive post players in the ACC. Vidaurreta leads the Demon Deacons with 6.6 rebounds per game, including 7.0 rpg in eight ACC games. Defensively, Vidaurreta anchors a post defense that has held opponent starting centers to 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
VIDAURRETA & THE GLASS - Junior RAFAEL VIDAURRETA became the 24th member of the 500 rebound club at Wake Forest against North Carolina on Jan. 12. He is currently 22nd on the Wake Forest career rebounding chart with 531 boards.
Wake Forest Career Rebounding
| 1. Dickie Hemric (52-55) | 1,802 |
| 2. Tim Duncan (94-97) | 1,570 |
| 3. Len Chappell (60-62) | 1,213 |
| ........ | |
| 20. Kenny Green (83-85) | 554 |
| 21. Jim Gilley (55-57) | 543 |
| 22. Rafael Vidaurreta (98- ) | 531 |
ODOM CRACKS ACC'S TOP 10 - Wake Forest's win over Campbell in the season opener was the 200th at the school for Demon Deacon head coach DAVE ODOM, who is now in 10th place on the ACC's all-time victory list (211-115). Wake Forest's win over North Carolina moved Odom into 10th place on the ACC's all-time victory list past NC State legend Jim Valvano. Odom's overall record as a head coach is now 249-157 including a three-year stint at East Carolina from 1980 through 1982.
On the Wake Forest career coaching list, Odom ranks 3rd behind Carl Tacy (222-149 record from 1973-1985) and the school's all-time victory leader, Murray Greason (288-243 from 1934-1957). Odom's 89 ACC victories (he's 89-75), however, are the most for any Demon Deacon coach.
DOUBLE DIGIT DEACONS - Eight different Deacons have score in double figures at least once this season. Only two Deacs (ROBERT O'KELLEY and DARIUS SONGAILA), though, are averaging more than 10 points per contest. O'KELLEY has reached double digits in 17 games (including 16 of the last 17) while SONGAILA has scored in double figures on 15 occasions (including 26 of the last 34 overall dating to last season).
Double Digit Deacons
| Scoring | Rebounding | |
| Niki ARINZE | 3 times | |
| Craig DAWSON | 6 times | |
| Broderick HICKS | 2 tines | |
| Josh HOWARD | 5 times (2 in a row) | |
| Robert O'KELLEY | 17 times (16 of 17) | |
| Antwan SCOTT | 3 times | once (Arkansas) |
| Josh SHOEMAKER | once (UMES) | |
| Darius SONGAILA | 15 times (9 of 10) | |
| Rafael VIDAURRETA | 3 times |
A BALANCED ATTACK - The Demon Deacons are averaging nearly 70 points a game, but no player is scoring more than 15 points per game. ROBERT O'KELLEY leads the Deacs with a 14.8 ppg average while DARIUS SONGAILA (12.3 ppg) is the only other player in double figures. A closer examination of the statistics reveals that eight different players are scoring over four points per game.
TIME SHARING - Through 20 games, the Demon Deacons have operated with a very deep bench. Nine different players are averaging better than 10 minutes per game while only one player is playing more than 30 minutes per contest. ROBERT O'KELLEY, who averaged 35.0 mpg last season, leads the team with 33.1 mpg.
POINTS OFF THE BENCH - Given Wake Forest's balanced offensive production, it comes as no surprise that the Demon Deacons have received solid contributions off the bench this season. Through 20 games, the Wake Forest bench is averaging 27.8 points per game while the starting five has totaled 41.0 ppg. The bench has actually outscored the starters on three occasions this season (Arkansas, High Point and MD-Eastern Shore) while the starting five has topped 50 points just three times.
NOT SO NEUTRAL - Wake Forest is 7-3 at home and 4-2 in road games this season, but the Demon Deacons have struggled to a 1-3 mark on neutral courts. The Deacs will not have another neutral site date until the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, however.
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 .500 or better records against seven of their eight ACC foes, with only N. Carolina holding an advantage over the Deacs the past 10 years.
Wake Forest vs the ACC
| CLEM | DUKE | FSU | GT | MD | UNC | NCST | UVA | TOTAL | |
| Last 7 Years* | 11-4 | 8-6 | 9-5 | 9-6 | 7-6 | 6-10 | 9-5 | 10-5 | 69-47 |
| Last 10 Years* | 16-5 | 11-9 | 9-9 | 12-9 | 11-8 | 7-16 | 14-6 | 14-9 | 94-71 |
*includes 1999-2000 season
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.
NINE STRAIGHT POSTSEASON TRIPS - The Demon Deacons made a ninth straight postseason appearance with their participation in the 1999 NIT. That streak of nine straight postseason trips ranks second among ACC schools, seven of which took part in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT last year.
Consecutive Postseason Appearances by ACC Schools
| North Carolina | 33 | Duke | 4 |
| WAKE FOREST | 9 | NC State | 3 |
| Clemson | 7 | Georgia Tech | 2 |
| Maryland | 6 |
The Wake Forest Record When...
| At Home | 7-3 |
| On Opponent Court | 4-2 |
| On Neutral Court | 1-3 |
| Leading at Halftime | 10-3 |
| Trailing at Halftime | 2-5 |
| Leading with 10:00 Left | 11-3 |
| Trailing with 10:00 Left | 1-5 |
| Final Margin Fewer than 5 Pts | 0-3 |
| Final Margin 5-to-9 Pts | 5-1 |
| Final Margin in Double Figures | 7-4 |
| WF Scores 80+ Pts | 4-0 |
| WF Scores 70-79 Pts | 4-0 |
| WF Scores 60-69 Pts | 4-5 |
| WF Scores Under 60 Pts | 0-3 |
| WF Shoots 50%+ | 4-1 |
| WF Shoots Under 50% | 8-7 |
| Opponent Shoots 50%+ | 0-2 |
| WF Atts More FTs than Opp | 10-3 |
| WF Out-Rebounds Opp | 9-5 |
| Opp Out-Rebounds WF | 3-3 |
