Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Open Basketball Season Monday Night
11/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2001
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Wake Forest (0-0) vs. UNC-Wilmington (0-0)
Game #1 n Nov. 12, 2001 Lawrence Joel Coliseum (14,665) Winston-Salem, NC
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Television: None
Radio: The Deacon Radio Network, distributed by ISP. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
The Records: Monday's game is the season opener for both teams. Both Wake Forest and UNC-Wilmington finished last season with identical 19-11 records.
The Rankings: The ESPN/USA Today poll does not rank Wake Forest in the top 25, although the Deacons are receiving votes. Wake would be ranked 28th. The Associated Press poll has not been released yet.
WFU Coach Skip Prosser: Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy '72) is 0-0 in his first season at Wake Forest. In eight years overall as a head coach, including one season at Loyola (MD) and seven seasons at Xavier, Prosser has a career record of 165-78.
UNCW Coach Jerry Wainwright: Wainwright (Colorado College '66) is 113-93 in seven seasons at UNCW, 113-93 in seven seasons overall.
The Series History: Wake Forest leads, 9-0. More series information on page two.
The Officials: Announced on game day.
Deacons Open 2001-02 Season Monday Against UNC-Wilmington
Wake Forest, making its first ever appearance in the Preseason NIT, kicks off the 2001-02 season Monday night in Lawrence Joel Coliseum against UNC-Wilmington (7 p.m./no TV). The winner of Monday's game will play either Arkansas or Maine in the second round of the Preseason NIT Friday at a site to be determined. Wake Forest and UNC-Wilmington posted identical 19-11 records last year. The Deacons advanced to the NCAA Tournament -- their 11th consecutive postseason appearance. The Seahawks earned an NIT bid -- their third postseason appearance in four years. UNCW is led by junior guard Brett Blizzard, the Colonial Athletic Association preseason player of the year and a two-time All-CAA selection. Blizzard averaged 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season. He also sank 78 three-point field goals in 30 games.
A Quick Look At The Deacons
Wake Forest, under first-year coach Skip Prosser, rolled to a pair of easy exhibition victories by a combined 106 points. Junior forward Josh Howard was impressive in the exhibition season, averaging 21.0 points per game. He also led the team in blocked shots (4) and steals (8). Senior Antwan Scott averaged 19.0 points per game in the exhibition season and shot 82.4 percent from the field. Darius Songaila averaged 16 points and nine rebounds.
Wake Rolls To Easy Victory In Final Exhibition Game
Wake Forest scored 81 first-half points Wednesday night to easily whip Gulbene Buki of Latvia, 117-64 in an exhibition game at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. The Deacons led 81-33 at the half and dominated every facet of the game. The Deacons shot 54.7 percent from the field, outrebounded their opponents 43-24, recorded 21 steals and forced 30 turnovers. Junior Josh Howard scored 18 of his game-high 24 points in the first half. Howard went 9-of-12 from the field and recorded five steals. Six other Deacons scored in double figures including Darius Songaila, who earned a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while going 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Freshman Vytas Danelius also had a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Wake's 81 first-half points would have easily shattered the Lawrence Joel Coliseum record for points in one half (63).
A Look At The Exhibition Numbers
Although Wake Forest posted impressive -- if not remarkable -- numbers in two exhibition game victories, don't get carried away with the statistics below. With due respect to Nike Elite and Gulbene Buki, the Deacons did not play the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, the numbers Wake produced in those two games were eye-popping:
Category WFU Opponents Points 225 129 Scoring Average 112.5 64.5 Rebound Average 47.0 26.0 FG Percentage 52.0 41.1 FT Percentage 83.9 71.8 Assists Average 21.5 14.0 Turnovers Average 13.5 29.0 Steals Average 20.0 8.5
The Wake Forest-UNCW Series History
- Wake Forest leads the series, 9-0. - Wake won the last meeting between the two teams, 56-52, in the 1998 postseason NIT. - Four out of the last five meetings have been decided by four points or less. - The Deacons are 8-0 all-time at home against the Seahawks. - The only meeting between the two teams outside of Winston-Salem came in the first contest between the two teams -- an 83-79 Wake Forest win at UNCW in 1977-78. - Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser has never faced UNC-Wilmington previously. - UNCW's Jerry Wainwright is 0-1 all-time against Wake Forest. - Wake Forest is 46-12 all-time against teams currently in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Wainwright Returns To Old Stomping Ground
UNC-Wilmington head coach Jerry Wainwright returns to a place he worked for nine years when his Seahawks come to Wake Forest on Monday. Wainwright served nine seasons as a Demon Deacon assistant coach, from 1985-86 to 1993-94. Wainwright first worked under Bob Staak and later under Dave Odom. Monday's game marks the second time Wainwright has returned to Winston-Salem to play Wake Forest. In 1998, his Seahawks fell to the Deacons in the postseason NIT at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. More Wake Forest-UNCW connections: - Wainwright and current Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser both previously worked as an assistant coach at Xavier. Wainwright worked one season at Xavier (1984-85) before following Bob Staak to Wake Forest. Prosser worked as a Xavier assistant coach from 1985-93 before taking over as the Musketeers' head coach in 1994-95. - UNC-Wilmington sophomore forward Joel Justus is the son of John and Mary Ann Justus. Mary Ann currently works as a secretary in the Wake Forest basketball office. John previously served as the SID at Wake Forest for 16 years and also as the SID at UNC-Wilmington. - Wake Forest assistant athletic director for media relations Dean Buchan is a UNC-Wilmington graduate.
Three Freshmen Ready For Deacon Career Debuts All three members of the Wake Forest freshman class -- guard Taron Downey and forwards Vytas Danelius and Jamaal Levy -- could make their career debuts Monday night when Wake Forest hosts UNC-Wilmington. Levy was not in attendance at Wednesday's exhibition game. He was back in Panama because of the death of his mother. He scored eight points in Wake's first exhibition game. Danelius averaged 21 minutes, 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in exhibition play. He scored 15 points in Wednesday's exhibition game against Gulbene Buki. Downey averaged 6.0 points and 3.0 assists per game during the exhibition season and was impressive running the point guard position in Wednesday's game. Here's a quick look at how some previous well-known Deacons did in their career debuts: - Robert O'Kelley scored 17 points and had four assists against VMI on Nov. 15, 1997. - Tim Duncan had a quiet career debut. He did not attempt a field goal, but grabbed seven rebounds in 10 minutes at Alaska-Anchorage in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout. - Randolph Childress scored 12 points and hit a pair of three-point field goals on Nov. 23, 1990 in a win over Howard. - Len Chappell made his career debut in 1959-60 aganst powerful Ohio State and he responded with nine points and 11 boards.
Deacons 68-28 In Season Openers
Wake Forest has enjoyed its share of success in season openers, posting an all-time record of 68-28. More on WFU in season openers: - The Deacons haven't lost a season opener since losing at Alaska-Anchorage in the opening round of the 1993 Great Alaska Shootout. - Wake hasn't lost a season opener played at home since falling to Richmond in 1988-89. - The Deacs open at home for the seventh consecutive season. - WFU won last year's lid-lifter, 108-61 over Mount St. Mary's. The 108 points were the most the Deacons would score all season.
A-Wake In November
Wake Forest has won its last 10 games and 23 of its last 24 games played in the month of November. The last time the Deacons lost in November came against seventh-ranked Temple (59-48) on Nov. 11, 1998 in Madison Square Garden.
Deacons Picked To Finish Fifth In ACC By The Media
Duke was the overwhelming choice to finish first in the ACC as voted on by the media Oct. 28 at ACC Operation Basketball. Wake Forest was picked to finish fifth -- the same place the Deacons finished in 2000-01. Duke earned 661 out of a possible 666 points. The Blue Devils were followed by Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Georgia Tech was predicted to finish sixth, followed by NC State, Florida State and Clemson.
ACC Preseason Poll Rk. Team 1st Place Total Points 1. Duke 69 661 2. Maryland 5 596 3. Virginia 483 4. North Carolina 421 5. Wake Forest 407 6. Georgia Tech 254 7. NC State 242 8. Florida State 140 9. Clemson 126
The Skip Prosser Era Begins At Wake Forest
Skip Prosser, who has compiled a 165-78 record in eight seasons as a head coach, takes over at Wake Forest this season. Prosser comes to Winston-Salem after serving seven seasons as the head coach at Xavier, where he compiled a record of 148-65 (.695) and led the Musketeers to six postseason appearances. A 1972 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Prosser's teams won 20 games or more six times in seven years at Xavier. He has the 18th-highest winning percentage among active Division I coaches and he helped Xavier earn one of the nation's highest graduation rates. Joining Prosser on the coaching staff will be former Xavier assistants Jeff Battle and Dino Gaudio and former Musketeer players Chris Mack (assistant coach) and Pat Kelsey (director of basketball operations).
Winningest Active Division I Coaches Rk. Coach, Current School Pct. 1. Jerry Tarkanian, Fresno State .802 2. John Kresse, Charleston .801 3. Roy Williams, Kansas .800 4. Rick Majerus, Utah .742 4. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse .742 6. Rick Pitino, Louisville .739 7. Lute Olson, Arizona .738 8. Tom Izzo, Michigan State .736 8. Bob Huggins, Cincinnati .736 10. John Chaney, Temple .734 11. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke .731 12. Nolan Richardson, Arkansas .721 13. Eddie Sutton, Oklahoma State .716 14. John Calipari, Memphis .712 15. Tubby Smith, Kentucky .711 16. Jim Calhoun, Connecticut .682 17. Mike Montgomery, Stanford .680 18. Skip Prosser, Wake Forest .679 19. Larry Eustachy, Iowa State .673 20. Billy Tubbs, TCU .672 *Entering the 2001-02 season
Deacons Just Outside Of First ESPN/USA Today Poll
Wake Forest was not ranked in the first ESPN/USA Today top 25 of the season, but the Deacons were listed third among teams receiving votes. The Associated Press poll, which has ranked Wake Forest for 19 consecutive weeks, has not been released. Five Wake Forest opponents are in the ESPN/USA Today top 25 including three teams -- Duke, Maryland and Kansas -- ranked in the top 10.
Experience On Deacons' Side As Five Veteran Seniors Return
Five fourth-year seniors who have played key roles for Wake Forest the previous three seasons, are back in the fold in 2001-02. Combined, those five seniors have played in a 475 games. The five seniors: shooting guard Craig Dawson, point guard Broderick Hicks, guard Ervin Murray and forwards Antwan Scott and Darius Songaila. An honorable mention All-ACC selection last season, Songaila will leave Wake ranked among the all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.
Career Games Played/WFU History Rk. Player (Years) Games 1. Tim Duncan (1994-1997) 128 2. Robert O'Kelley (1998-01) 127 3. Josh Shoemaker (1998-01) 126 4. Danny Young (1981-1984) 122 Tony Rutland (1995-98) 122 6. Anthony Teachey (1981-84) 121 7. Frank Johnson (1977-81) 120 Randolph Childress (1991, 93-95) 120 9. Tyrone Bogues (1984-87) 119 Rafael Vidaurreta (1998-01) 119 11. Lee Garber (1982-85) 116 12. Trelonnie Owens (1991-94) 115 Jerry Braswell (1995-98) 115 nr. Broderick Hicks (1998- ) 97 Darius Songaila (1998- ) 96 Antwan Scott (1998- ) 95 Craig Dawson (1998- ) 94 Ervin Murray (1998- ) 93
Josh Howard Is Second Team Preseason All-ACC
Junior forward Josh Howard was named second team Preseason All-ACC in a vote by the media. Howard finished the 2000-01 season on the All-ACC second team. The preseason All-ACC first team includes Jason Williams (Duke), Mike Dunleavy (Duke), Carlos Boozer (Duke), Juan Dixon (Maryland) and Lonny Baxter (Maryland). Howard received 11 first team votes.
Hicks, Songaila Elected Co-Captains
Seniors Broderick Hicks and Darius Songaila were elected co-captains of the Wake Forest basketball team head coach Skip Prosser announced. Hicks and Songaila were voted to the honor by their teammates. In each of the previous two seasons, Wake Forest did not designate captains, using only game captains. Joseph Amonett, in 1998-99, was the last Deacon to be named team captain.
Redshirt Freshman Dshamal Schoetz Will Miss 2001-02 Season
Wake Forest redshirt freshman center Dshamal Schoetz will sit out the 2001-02 season after tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. Schoetz, 7-0, injured the knee during the Oct. 19 practice session at the Kenneth D. Miller Center. The injury was confirmed by an MRI examination. Dr. Walt Curl, director of sports medicine, peformed successful surgery on Schoetz Nov. 2. Expected recovery time is 9-12 months. A native of Cottbus, Germany, Schoetz redshirted last season. He came to Wake Forest after playing two seasons on the high school level at High Point Wesleyan Academy. "I feel horrible for Dshamal," Prosser said. "Of course he sat out all of last season and he had worked hard to prepare himself for this season."
Deacons Add Three Walk-Ons
Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser opened up try-outs to the student body and officially named three non-scholarship walk-ons to the roster. The three new Deacons include sophomore guard Alan Williams (6-3), a Memphis (TN) native who played sparingly last season. Williams saw action in 10 games last year, averaging 0.8 points and 0.6 rebounds per game. Also added to the roster were 6-6 senior Brett Hickman of Rock Hill (SC) and 6-1 guard Walt Chancellor of Houston (TX). Williams, Hickman and Chancellor give the Deacons 14 healthy bodies. Redshirt freshman Dshamal Schoetz suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier.
Craig Dawson Erupts In Black/Gold Intrasquad Scrimmage
Senior Craig Dawson turned Wake Forest's Black/Gold intrasquad scrimmage game into his own personal highlight film Oct. 26 at Reynolds Gym. Dawson sank his first 11 field goal attempts, including a remarkable nine consecutive from three-point range, en route to 43 points. The scrimmage was an abbreviated one with a normal 20-minute first half, followed by a 10-minute second half in front of a full house at Reynolds Gym. For the record, the Gold won the first half, 71-43, and the second half, 21-13, although players randomly changed sides throughout the game. "We accomplished what we set out to accomplish," first-year coach Skip Prosser said. "We wanted to get up and down a little bit in front of a crowd and that's what we did. We were ragged at times, as you would expect in your first exhibition game." All totaled, Dawson was 16-of-21 from the floor and 11-of-14 from three-point range. He also added four assists.
Howard, Lepore Star In Midnight Madness Scrimmage
Junior forward Josh Howard scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Black team over the Gold team, 28-23, in a short 12-minute scrimmage at Reynolds Gym Oct. 14. The scrimmage climaxed a night of Midnight Madness festivities in Reynolds. A standing room only crowd watched an evening of three-point and dunk contests before the Demon Deacons took the court at midnight. Junior Steve Lepore, an eligible transfer from Northwestern, led all scorers with 12 points.
