Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Men's Basketball Weekly Release
1/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2001
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#16 Wake Forest (14-5/3-4)
vs.
NC State (10-8/2-5)
Jan. 31, 2001 - 7:00 p.m.
Joel Coliseum (14,407)
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Tip Time:
7:05 p.m.
Television:
ESPN (national). Mike Patrick (play-by-play) and Dan Bonner (color analysis) call the action. Jeff Kibler produces and Ken Dennis is the bearded director.
Radio:
The Deacon Radio Network. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
The Records:
Wake Forest is 14-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC after a 78-72 loss in overtime at Cincinnati in non-conference action on Saturday. NC State is 10-8 and 2-5 following a 60-52 loss at home against 5th-ranked North Carolina Sunday.
The Rankings:
The Deacons are ranked 16th in the Associated Press poll and 12th in the ESPN/USA Today poll this week. NC State is not ranked.
WFU Coach Dave Odom:
Odom (Guilford '65) is in his 12th season at Wake Forest with a record of 235-126. In 15 years overall, he is 273-168. Odom, a three-time ACC Coach of the Year, owns the second-most wins in WFU history and the eighth-most wins in ACC history.
NC State Coach Herb Sendek:
Sendek (Carnegie Mellon '85) is 83-66 in five seasons in Raleigh, 146-92 in eight seasons overall.
The Series History:
NC State leads, 122-86.
The Officials:
Announced on game day.
Wake Forest Tries To Get Back On Track Wednesday Vs. NC State
Wake Forest, undefeated at home and winless on the road in the month of January, closes out a roller-coaster month by returning to Lawrence Joel Coliseum Wednesday night to face NC State in an ACC battle (7:00 p.m./ESPN).
The 16th-ranked Demon Deacons, 14-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC, have won 13 straight home games dating back to last season. Wake, which began the season 12-0, has lost two straight and five of its last seven games -- all on the road in January.
Wake Forest is coming off a disappointing 78-72 overtime loss at Cincinnati Saturday afternoon. Darius Songaila and Broderick Hicks scored 18 points each to lead the Deacons, who scored 15 of the final 20 points in regulation to force overtime.
NC State, 10-8 and 2-5, is coming off a 60-52 loss at home to North Carolina Sunday afternoon. The Wolfpack was led by Damien Wilkins and Anthony Grundy, who scored 12 points each.
Wednesday's game marks the 209th meeting between the two schools. NC State leads the series, 122-86. Wake Forest has won the last two meetings including a win over the Wolfpack in the semifinals of the 2000 NIT at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Demon Deacon Streaks & Notes
- Wake Forest has played four of its last five games on the road. While the schedule gets no easier -- four of Wake's remaining nine games come against nationally-ranked teams -- the Deacons will play four of their next six games at home.
- The Deacons own a 13-game homecourt win streak, which ties for the 14th-longest current streak in college basketball and ranks as the longest current streak in the ACC.
- The Deacons have held 28 consecutive opponents to less than 50 percent shooting. Duke is the last team to reach the 50 percent mark against Wake (Feb. 22 at Duke).
- Wake sophomore standout Josh Howard, the Deacs' leading scorer (13.9 ppg.), hopes to be 100 percent healthy Wednesday. He missed last week's game against Duke because of the flu.
Wake Forest-NC State Series History
- NC State leads the all-time series, 122-86.
- Wake Forest has won the last two meetings including a 62-59 overtime win in the semifinals of the 2000 NIT.
- WFU has won 10 of the last 14 meetings.
- When at home, Wake Forest owns a 28-25 series lead. At Joel Coliseum, the Deacons are 9-2 against the Wolfpack.
- The home team has won the last five meetings by an average of 18.4 points.
- Only Duke (214 games against Wake Forest) has played the Deacons more frequently than NC State (208 previous meetings).
- The two teams first met in the 1910-11 season. The Deacons and Wolfpack have met every year since 1911 with the exception of the 1914-15 season and the 1943-44 season (Wake did not field a team in 1943-44).
- Wake Forest coach Dave Odom is 17-7 all-time versus NC State.
- NC State's Herb Sendek is 4-6 all-time against Wake Forest.
Deacon-Wolfpack Connections
- Wake Forest sophomore Josh Howard and NC State sophomore Clifford Crawford are both from Winston-Salem. Howard played on the high school level at Glenn HS while Crawford attended Parkland HS.
- Former Deacon Rodney Rogers and former Wolfpack Tom Gugliotta are teammates with the Phoenix Suns. Former Deac Frank Johnson is a Suns assistant coach.
A Look Back At The Last WFU-NCSU Meeting
(March 28, 2000 at New York's Madison Square Garden) -- Darius Songaila scored six of his game-high 18 points in the final minute to lead Wake Forest past NC State, 62-59 in overtime, in the semifinals of the 2000 NIT. The Deacons went on to beat Notre Dame in the championship game. Wake Forest went 15-of-19 from the free throw line including 5-of-5 in the overtime period. The Deacs held the 'Pack to just 29.1 percent shooting.
Josh Howard added 14 points and Rafael Vidaurreta 10 points and eight rebounds for Wake. Anthony Grundy led NC State with 14 points off the bench.
A Closer Look At The Deacon Numbers
Wake Forest leads the ACC in three statistical categories -- scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense. More Deacon statistical notes:
- Through Jan. 22 (the NCAA's last update in this category), Wake ranked third nationally in field goal percentage defense (currently at .381). The Deacons have held 28 straight opponents to less than 50 percent shooting. Wake's field goal percentage defense ranks second in the ACC and is its second-best mark since the 1959-60 season.
- Wake Forest's field goal percentage (.483) is its highest since the 1992-93 season (.491).
- Wake is averaging more points per game (79.2) than any Deacon team since 1990-91 (80.5).
- The Deacs rank first in the ACC in scoring defense (limiting opponents to just 63.7 points per game). Wake hasn't allowed fewer points since the 1996-97 team allowed just 58.3 points per contest.
- WFU's scoring margin (+15.5) ranks 11th nationally.
- Wake Forest leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage defense (.274) -- the lowest percentage in school history.
- The Deacons rank second in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.42). Before this season, Wake went six consecutive seasons with more turnovers than assists. This year the Deacs have 328 assists and just 231 turnovers.
- Wake Forest is averaging 17.3 assists per game which ties the 1987-88 team for the most assists per game in school history.
- The Deacs are averaging more steals per game (7.4) than any team since the 1987-88 season.
- Wake ranks second in the ACC in free throw percentage (.725).
- Individually, junior Ervin Murray leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (59 assists, 19 turnovers), junior teammate Craig Dawson ranks fourth (2.63 ratio) and Broderick Hicks ranks sixth (2.45).
- Josh Shoemaker ranks third in the ACC in rebounds per game (8.2).
Wake Has Held 28 Straight To Under 50 Percent Shooting
Wake Forest has not allowed an opponent to shoot better than 47 percent in a game since Feb. 22, 2000 (Duke) -- a streak of 28 consecutive games.
Over the last 26 games, an opponent has shot better than 40 percent against the Deacs just four times. The Deacons rank second in the ACC and rank third nationally in field goal percentage defense (currently .381).
The Deacs lead the ACC in three-point field goal percentage defense (.274).
More From Saturday's Loss At Cincinnati
Wake Forest scored 15 of the final 20 points in regulation to force overtime but lost in OT at Cincinnati Saturday, 78-72. More from that game:
- Broderick Hicks came off the bench to score 18 points and Darius Songaila also scored 18 to lead the Deacons. For Hicks, it was the third straight game he has led Wake in scoring.
- Sophomore and leading scorer Josh Howard played just 18 minutes because of the flu.
- Wake Forest dished out a season-low 10 assists and tied for a season low field goal percentage (.371).
- The Deacons sent the Bearcats to the free throw line 36 times.
Broderick Hicks Takes Turn As Wake's Hottest Player
Things are clicking on offense for junior guard Broderick Hicks and that's good news for Wake Forest. Over his last three games -- vs. Clemson, Duke and Cincinnati -- Hicks has turned in his three best performances of the year.
Hicks has scored in double figures in each of the last three games -- 18 vs. Clemson, 16 vs. Duke and 18 vs. Cincinnati. In his previous 43 games, Hicks scored in double figures twice.
Over the last three games, Hicks has 52 points including nine 3-point field goals. The Houston junior enters the NC State game having made 15 of his last 16 free throw attempts.
Steady Songaila One Of The ACC's Best
Darius Songaila may not be the flashiest player in the ACC, but the junior forward is one of the league's best. A consistent performer, Songaila ranks among the ACC leaders in five different statistical categories.
Songaila already ranks among Wake Forest's all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and free throw percentage.
More on Songaila:
- Songaila ranks second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg.) and he has scored at least eight points in every game this season.
- He ranks second on the team and ninth in the ACC in rebounding (6.7 rpg.) and has pulled down at least five boards in 15 of 19 games this season.
- Songaila ranks seventh in the ACC in free throw percentage (.824).
- He already ranks 30th in Wake Forest career scoring history with 1,115 points.
- With 16 more rebounds, Songaila will become the 20th player in Wake Forest history with 1,000 career points and 500 rebounds.
- His career free throw percentage (.822) is the sixth-best in Wake Forest history.
- Songaila ranks 13th in the ACC for blocked shots. He ranks 10th in Wake Forest history for career blocked shots.
- Songaila earned a bronze medal last summer playing for the Lithuanian national team, which nearly beat the United States team twice.
- His parents have never been to the United States although they have plans to attend Songaila's graduation next year. Songaila sends video tapes of his games back home to Lithuania.
Deacons Hoping To Snap January Cold Streak
After beginning the season 12-0, including impressive wins over Kansas, Temple, Georgia, Richmond, Michigan and Virginia, Wake Forest has lost five out of its last six games -- all in the month of January.
Point Guards Murray And Hicks Combine For 108 Assists, 39 Turnovers
Wake Forest's predominant point guards -- juniors Broderick Hicks and Ervin Murray -- have an assist-to-turnover ratio that any coach would love.
With a combined 108 assists and just 39 turnovers between them, the duo has dished out nearly three assists to go with every turnover. Murray leads the ACC in assists-to-turnovers ratio (3.11) with 59 assists and just 19 turnovers. Murray has had more games this season with zero turnovers (9) than games with more than one turnover (5). He averages just one turnover every 19.5 minutes.
Hicks (49 assists, 20 turnovers) ranks sixth in the ACC in assists-to-turnovers ratio (2.45).
Senior Robert O'Kelley, the starter at big guard, and freshman A.W. Hamilton, also see action periodically at point guard.
Assists & Turnovers, Part 2
As a team, Wake Forest ranks second in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). And while point guards Ervin Murray and Broderick Hicks deserve a big chunk of credit for that, it has been a team effort. Every Deacon guard has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Three of the ACC's five leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio are Deacons.
Junior big guard Craig Dawson (42 assists, 16 turnovers) ranks fourth in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio.
In addition, junior forward Darius Songaila has emerged as one of the better passing post players in college basketball and post players Josh Shoemaker and Rafael Vidaurreta are both excellent passers.
Versatile Josh Howard Quickly Emerging As A Star
Sophomore Josh Howard, who is quietly emerging as one of the ACC's best players, hopes to be back at full strength Wednesday after missing one game and playing just 18 minutes in Saturday's game at Cincinnati because of the flu.
If you listen to his head coach, Howard would lead the nation in blocking shots on the perimeter -- if the NCAA tracked such a statistic. Dave Odom is only guessing, of course, but he does help illustrate the havoc that the 6-6 Howard causes away from the basket.
Howard has 26 blocked shots this season (ranking second on the team behind Antwan Scott and eighth in the ACC) and almost all of those have come near or beyond the three-point line. He's a big reason opponents are shooting just 27.4 percent from behind the arc -- the best three-point field goal percentage defense in the ACC.
Howard is making an impact in every facet of the game:
- He leads the Deacons in scoring (13.9 points per game).
- Howard ranks fifth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.542).
- With 59 career blocks, Howard already ranks 11th in Wake Forest blocked shots history.
- Howard leads the team and ranks fifth in the ACC in steals (35).
- In ACC games, Howard leads the team in scoring (15.7 ppg.), blocked shots (1.8 bspg.) and steals (2.3 spg.).
- He is shooting 78.9 percent from the free throw line in ACC games.
- Howard has scored in double figures in 11 of his last 13 games.
- By the end of his sophomore season, Howard should have more than 700 career points. He currently has 585 points.
Deacons Extend Homecourt Streak To 13 Games
Wake Forest has won 13 consecutive games at Lawrence Joel Coliseum including a 11-0 mark within the friendly confines this season. The streak is the longest in the ACC and ties for the second-longest in Dave Odom's 12 seasons at WFU. The Deacons' last loss at home came against Maryland on Feb. 19, 2000 (73-67).
The 13-game streak ties for the 14th-longest current streak in Division I. The Deacs have a long way to go to approach the Joel Coliseum record of 25 straight wins from January of 1995 to January of 1997.
Home Is Where The Stats Are
At home, Wake Forest is holding opponents to just 56.0 points per game, compared to 74.4 points on the road. At home, the Deacons shoot 51.5 percent from the field, compared to 44.0 percent on the road. Wake is out-rebounding opponents by nearly five boards per game at Joel Coliseum, but is being out-rebounded by nearly three rebounds per game on the road.
Wake's home schedule has been challenging (vs. Kansas, Georgia, Virginia), but the road schedule has been brutal (at Duke, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Michigan, Temple and Richmond).
Wake's Bench A Key To Success
One of the real strengths of this Wake Forest team is its bench play. The Deacons bring at least four veteran players -- three juniors and one senior -- off the bench every game.
The Deacon bench accounts for 39 percent of the team scoring. Wake's bench has outscored the opponent's bench in all 19 games this season. The Wake bench has contributed less than 20 points in a game just twice this season.
Wake's key reserves include:
- Craig Dawson averages 13.0 points per game and leads the team with 37 three-point field goals.
- Broderick Hicks (7.2 ppg.) has come off the bench for 52 points over the last three games. He ranks sixth in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Antwan Scott (8.2 ppg. and 4.0 rpg.) leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC in blocked shots (29).
- Senior Rafael Vidaurreta, who has been slowed by September knee surgery, led the Deacons last season in rebounding (6.9 rpg.).
O'Kelley Moves Up To Ninth In Wake Scoring History
Senior Robert O'Kelley passed two former Wake Forest greats to move into ninth place on Wake's all-time career scoring chart last Wednesday. O'Kelley (1,736 career points) passed both Rodney Rogers (1,720 points from 1991-93) and Chris King (1,721 points from 1988-92) for ninth place.
Deacons Slide To 16th In AP Poll, 12th In ESPN Poll
Wake Forest, which has been ranked in both major national polls every week this season, dropped to its lowest ranking since Nov. 20 this week. The Demon Deacons are ranked 16th in the Associated Press poll and 12th in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
The Deacons dropped out of the AP top 10 for the first time since Dec. 4.
The latest national polls demonstrate how difficult the Wake Forest schedule is this season. Three teams ranked in the top four and six teams ranked among the top 25 are on the Deacon schedule -- (2) Duke, (3) Kansas, (4) North Carolina, (9) Maryland, (11) Virginia and (25) Georgia.
Cincinnati and Georgia Tech -- both Wake opponents this season -- received votes for one or both major polls this week.
More Poll Stuff
- The Deacons are rated 18th in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
- Wake is ranked No. 7 in the latest Sagarin computer poll.
- The Deacons are ranked No. 17 in The Sporting News' Power Poll.
- Wake is ranked No. 7 in the ESPN.com fan poll.
O'Kelley Ranked 7th In ACC History With 259 Treys
Robert O'Kelley, with 261 career three-point field goals, ranks second in Wake Forest history and seventh in ACC history for three-pointers made.
O'Kelley may not be able to catch Wake's all-time leader Randolph Childress (329 career three-pointers), but he will move up the ACC's all-time list. He needs four more three-pointers to pass former Duke guard Bobby Hurley (264) for sixth place.
O'Kelley has made 32-of-101 three-point field goal attempts this season.
O'Kelley also ranks second at Wake for career three-point field goal attempts (734).
Shoemaker Among ACC Board Leaders
When senior center Rafael Vidaurreta underwent surgery in late September, Wake Forest coach Dave Odom expected senior Josh Shoemaker to step up. Shoemaker has exceeded all expectations.
While Shoemaker's numbers have declined slightly since the return of Rafael Vidaurreta, he currently leads the team and ranks third in the ACC in rebounds (8.2 rpg.). Shoemaker has six double-figure rebound games this season.
Scott, Songaila, Howard Climb Blocked Shots List
Three of the 11 most-prolific shot blockers in Wake Forest history are on this Deacon team.
Antwan Scott, a key junior reserve, ranks eighth on Wake Forest's all-time blocked shots list. Scott has 84 career blocks including a team-high 29 rejections this season. Scott is eight blocked shots shy of passing Kenny Green for seventh place on the Wake list.
Junior Darius Songaila (63 career blocks) is ranked 10th in WFU history for career blocked shots.
Rising up the chart quickly is sophomore Josh Howard, who has 59 blocks in just one and one-half seasons. He is ranked 11th on WFU's all-time blocked shots list.
Dawson Among WFU's Most Prolific Three-Point Shooters
Junior Craig Dawson enters the NC State game with 137 career three-point field goals, ranking fifth in WFU history. He needs 15 treys to pass Rusty LaRue (151 three-pointers between 1993 and 1996) for fourth place. Dawson ranks fourth at Wake Forest for career three-point field goal attempts (363).
Vidaurreta, Shoemaker Moving Up Rebounds List
Senior teammates Rafael Vidaurreta and Josh Shoemaker are both among the 20 most prolific rebounders in Wake Forest history.
Vidaurreta, with 680 career rebounds, ranks 14th in Wake Forest career rebounding history. He needs three boards to pass Dave Budd (682 rebounds from 1958-60) for 13th place. He is also 20 rebounds shy of becoming the 11th player in Wake Forest history to garner 700 career rebounds.
Shoemaker (601 career rebounds) is ranked 18th on Wake's all-time rebounds chart after pulling down his 600th career board Saturday at Cincinnati. He needs 18 boards to pass Lefty Davis (618 rebounds from 1953-56) for 17th place.
Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Odom
Wake Forest head coach Dave Odom (Guilford '65) owns a career record of 235-126 in 12 seasons with the Deacons, 273-168 in 15 seasons overall. Odom was the head coach at East Carolina for three seasons before taking over the Deacon program in 1989-90. The three-time ACC Coach of the Year has led Wake to 10 consecutive postseason appearances. Odom has already reached a pair of milestones this season:
- On Nov. 18, Odom won his 223rd game at Wake Forest, passing Carl Tacy as the second-winningest coach in WFU history and the eighth-winningest coach in ACC history.
- Odom needs four more ACC victories this season to become just the ninth person to win 100 ACC conference games.
Many Overtimes, But Not At Home
Wake Forest played its second overtime game of the season Saturday at Cincinnati. Over the last four seasons, Wake has played eight overtime games. Oddly, none of those games have come at home. The last time Wake played a home overtime game came against NC State on Feb. 16, 1997.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Craig Dawson scored his 800th career point on Saturday and enters the NC State game with 805 career points. The junior is well on track to become the 40th Deacon to score 1,000 points. At his current pace, Dawson could reach the 1,000-point mark this season if the Deacs enjoy at least moderate success in the postseason.
- Wake Forest needs one win to clinch its 11th straight winning season.
- Craig Dawson is the nephew of NBA standout Jerry Stackhouse. ?Uncle Jerry? was in attendance at the Nov. 28 game against Michigan. Dawson spent part of his Christmas holiday attending Stackhouse's wedding in Michigan.
- Frank Burlison of FoxSports.com recently gave his national midseason awards out. He named Wake's Dave Odom the coach of the year. Dick Vitale, on his website, made Odom and Stanford's Mike Montgomery co-winners of a similar award.
- Deacon assistant coach Barry Sanderson is the son of legendary and former Alabama coach, Wimp Sanderson.
- Dave Odom's sons -- Ryan (American) and Lane (Missouri) -- are both working as Division I assistant coaches.
- Wake Forest has won 14 consecutive November games. The last time the Deacs lost in November was a 59-48 loss to Temple in 1998.
- The Deacons also finished the month of December undefeated. The last time Wake went undefeated in both November and December came during the 1996-97 season.
- The Deacons have won seven straight season openers and are now 11-1 in season openers under Dave Odom following a Nov. 16 win over Mount St. Mary's. Wake is 69-28 all-time in season openers.
- Wake Forest shot 70.0 percent from the field in the season opener on Nov. 16 against Mount St. Mary's. That percentage is the third-highest single-game percentage in the NCAA this season.
Trio Has Combined For 339 Career Games Played
Wake Forest's three seniors -- Robert O'Kelley, Josh Shoemaker and Rafael Vidaurreta -- have combined to play in 339 career games. O'Kelley ranks eighth in Wake history with 116 games played, followed by Shoemaker (115) and Vidaurreta (108).
Deacons Have Played Five Ranked Opponents
The Deacons are 2-3 this season against nationally-ranked teams including a 2-1 mark against top 10 clubs. Wake has defeated then No. 3 Kansas (84-53) on Dec. 7 and No. 8 Virginia (96-73) on Jan. 2. Both victories came at home. The three losses have come on the road to No. 13 North Carolina (70-69), at No. 12 Maryland (71-61) and at No. 2 Duke (85-62).
Various notes about Wake and ranked opponents:
- The Deacons have already won more games against ranked teams this season (2) than they did all of last season (1). Wake went 1-5 against ranked teams last year.
- WFU's win over Kansas (Dec. 7) marked the highest-ranked opponent that 1997. It was also the highest-ranked opponent the Deacs have defeated
- in Lawrence Joel Coliseum since beating No. 2 Duke in 1994.
- Wake Forest has defeated nine teams ranked in the top five over the last seven seasons.
- Over the last seven seasons, Wake Forest has defeated 13 opponents ranked 10th or better.
- In Dave Odom's 12 seasons at Wake Forest, his teams are 23-20 against nationally-ranked teams when his team is also ranked.
- Wake Forest has won 21 of its last 22 games against unranked teams. The Deacs have played 34 teams ranked in the top 10 over the last eight seasons.
