Deacons Host SC State Friday Night
12/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2001
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#23 Wake Forest (5-2) vs. S. Carolina State (1-5)
Game #8 / Dec. 7, 2001 Lawrence Joel Coliseum (16,300) Winston-Salem, NC
Tip-Off: 7:30 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: Wake Forest is 5-2 after losing at No. 4 Kansas, 83-76, Tuesday night. South Carolina State is 1-5 after beating visiting Howard, 63-58, Monday night.
The Rankings: Wake Forest is ranked 23rd in the Associated Press poll and 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today poll. South Carolina State is not ranked.
WFU Coach Skip Prosser: Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy '72) is 5-2 in his first season at Wake Forest. In nine years overall as a head coach, including one season at Loyola (MD) and seven seasons at Xavier, Prosser has a career record of 170-80.
South Carolina State Coach Cy Alexander: Alexander (Catawba '75) is 243-180 in 15 seasons at SCSU and 243-180 in 15 seasons overall.
The Series History: Wake Forest leads, 1-0. More series information on page two.
The Officials: Rose, Uptom, T. Clougherty.
Deacons Begin Homestand Friday Against SC State
Wake Forest, which has played just one home game over the last two and a half weeks, begins a three-game homestand Friday night against South Carolina State (no TV/7:30 p.m.). The 23rd-ranked Demon Deacons, 5-2, are coming off an 83-76 loss at 4th-ranked Kansas Tuesday night. Wake battled the Jayhawks tough all night but could not overcome foul trouble and KU's 51.7 percent shooting. South Carolina State, 1-5, broke into the win column Monday night with a 63-58 win over visiting Howard. The Bulldogs are led by junior guard Moses Malone, Jr., who averages 23.5 points per game. Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 1-0. The Deacons beat the Bulldogs, 66-55, last season (Dec. 2, 2000) at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Following Friday's game, Wake Forest will not play until Dec. 16 against Florida State in the ACC opener for both teams. The Deacons will be in final exams all of next week. What's at stake for Wake Friday: - Wake Forest, which plays five of its next six games at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, would like to remain perfect at home this season. The Deacons are 3-0 at The Joel this season. - The Deacons would like to avoid consecutive losses for the first time this season and remain undefeated against unranked teams. - A win could help Wake Forest remain in the national polls for the third straight week.
A Quick Look At The Deacons
With five seniors on the roster, including four in the starting lineup, Wake Forest's biggest asset may be its experience. The Deacons' experience has shown in several close games this season. Wake Forest has battled its way to a 5-2 record against a difficult schedule (three games against nationally-ranked teams) despite a recent shooting slump. Over the last four games, Wake has shot just 40.7 percent overall and just 27.7 percent from three-point range. One bright spot in Tuesday's 83-76 loss at Kansas was the play of two non-starters -- junior Steve Lepore (12 points) and freshman Vytas Danelius (8 points in 19 minutes). Senior forward Darius Songaila (16.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game) leads the team in scoring and has scored in double figures in eight straight games dating back to last season. Junior forward Josh Howard (13.1 ppg., 7.9 rpg.), a second team preseason All-ACC selection, leads the Deacons in rebounding and steals (17). Senior guard Craig Dawson (12.1 ppg.), who has 21 three-point field goals, is one of the ACC's top perimeter shooters. Senior Antwan Scott (12.1 ppg., 6.4 rpg.) is shooting 57.9 percent from the field and he leads the team and ACC in blocked shots (17). Senior guard Broderick Hicks (9.1 ppg., 3.7 apg.) starts at point guard. Lepore, Danelius, Taron Downey and Ervin Murray are solid contributors off the bench.
Deacons Have Just One Road Game Between Now And Jan. 5
Wake Forest, which takes a nine-day break for final exams next week, will ease up on the travel schedule over the next month. The Deacons have already traveled to Arkansas, New York (for the Preseason NIT) and Kansas this season. After Friday's game against South Carolina State, the Deacons will take nine days off before opening ACC play at home Dec. 16 against Florida State. Wake's only road game prior to Jan. 5 is a Dec. 22 game at St. John's. Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 19, Wake Forest will play four of five games on the road.
Wake-SC State Series History
- Wake Forest leads the series, 1-0. - The only previous meeting between the Demon Deacons and Bulldogs was a 66-55 Wake Forest win in Winston-Salem last season (Dec. 2, 2000). Darius Songaila scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Deacon win. - Wake Forest has never lost to a team from the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), posting a 7-0 record. - Wake Forest has defeated a MEAC team in each of the previous two seasons, topping South Carolina State last season and Maryland-Eastern Shore (85-60) in 1999-00. - Wake's Skip Prosser has never coached against South Carolina State. Prosser is 5-0 all-time against teams from the MEAC.
Wake Forest-SC State Connections
- Wake Forest senior Craig Dawson and South Carolina State freshman Demeco Haith are both from Kinston (NC) and both graduated from Kinston High School. - Wake's Broderick Hicks and SC State's Moses Malone, Jr. both hail from Houston. - Bulldog coach Cy Alexander attended college in North Carolina at Catawba College. - In the next two weeks, SC State will play at Kansas (where WFU played Tuesday night) and at South Carolina, which is coached by former Wake Forest coach Dave Odom.
Deacons Fall At No. 4 Kansas In Most Recent Outing
Wake Forest could not overcome foul trouble to key players and Kansas' 51.7 percent shooting in an 83-76 loss to the 4th-ranked Jayhawks Tuesday night at KU's Allen Fieldhouse. The Demon Deacons trailed by 11 points at the half and 12 points early in the second half, but battled back to pull within four points (55-51) with 9:39 remaining. But Wake would get no closer the rest of the way. Wake Forest was whistled for a season-high 27 person fouls and Kansas went to the free throw line 40 times (WFU had just 18 free throw attempts). The Jayhawks won the rebounding battle, 46-35. Antwan Scott led the Deacons with 13 points and Broderick Hicks, Craig Dawson and Steve Lepore each scored 12 points. More from Tuesday's loss at Kansas: - Scott's four blocked shots were the most by any Deacon player this season. - The Deacons recorded season highs for field goal attempts (70) and steals (10). - Five different Deacons scored in double figures for the first time this season. - Kansas' 83 points and 46 rebounds were both single-game highs by a Wake Forest opponent this season. - Wake Forest shot less than 50 percent from the field (.414) for the fourth straight game.
Craig Dawson Scores 1,000th Career Point
Senior guard Craig Dawson became the 40th player in Wake Forest history to score 1,000 points Tuesday night. Dawson scored 12 points at Kansas to give him 1,006 career points, which ranks 39th in Wake Forest scoring history. Dawson's feat gives Wake Forest two current players with 1,000 points. Senior Darius Songaila has scored 1,365 career points. Later this season, junior Josh Howard should also eclipse 1,000 points. He enters Friday's game against South Carolina State with 820 points.
Deacon Streaks - The Deacons have a modest three-game homecourt winning streak with wins over UNC-Wilmington, Elon and Minnesota this season. The Deacs' final two home games last season were losses to Final Four-bound Duke and Maryland. - Wake Forest has won four of its last five road games. - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 262 consecutive games. - The Deacons are 4-0 this season in games decided by five points or less. - Wake has used the same starting lineup -- Broderick Hicks, Craig Dawson, Antwan Scott, Darius Songaila and Josh Howard -- in all seven games this season. - Songaila has scored in double figures in eight straight games dating back to last season. - Dawson has made at least two three-point field goals in every game this season.
Deacons Move Up In Both Polls With a win over Minnesota last week, Wake Forest moved up a couple of notches in both national polls. The Demon Deacons are ranked 23rd in the Associated Press poll and 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Wake was ranked 25th in the media and 23rd by the coaches last week. The Deacs have been in the AP top 25 in 21 of the last 22 weeks. Using the AP poll as an indicator, Wake Forest is facing one of the nation's most difficult schedules this season. Five of the nation's 10 highest-ranked teams are on the Deacon schedule -- No. 1 Duke, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Kansas, No. 8 Virginia and No. 9 Syracuse. Six Deacon opponents are in the top 25 and four others are receiving votes. More on Wake Forest and the national polls: - The Deacons' win over No. 23 Fresno State Nov. 21 snapped an eight-game losing streak against nationally-ranked teams. Wake Forest went 2-8 against ranked teams last season. - Wake is 1-2 against ranked foes this year -- a win over No. 23 Fresno State and losses to No. 18 Syracuse and No. 4 Kansas. - Wake Forest is ranked 5th by CollegeRPI.com, 17th by CBS Sportsline, 18th by The Sporting News and 23rd in the Sagarin ratings. - Wake's next ranked opponent will likely be No. 17 Marquette on Dec. 29 in Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The Skip Prosser Era In Full Swing At Wake Forest Skip Prosser, who previously served as the head coach at Loyola (MD) and Xavier, is beginning his first season at Wake Forest. His record at Wake Forest is 5-2. His career record, in nine seasons, is 170-80. 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 are 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
Prosser Has No. 1's Number
Wake Forest's Skip Prosser has coached against the nation's No. 1-ranked team three times and he has come away a winner twice. Prosser's Xavier teams beat No. 1 Cincinnati in 1999-00 and in 1996-97. His only loss to a No. 1-ranked team was an overtime decision to No. 1 Massachusetts in 1995-96. Prosser, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Maryland's Gary Williams are the only current Atlantic Coast Conference coaches to own more than one victory against a No. 1-ranked team.
Songaila Gaining Reputation As Clutch Performer
Senior Darius Songaila has made the game-winning shot in two games this season decided by one point. Songaila hit a lay-up with 2.7 seconds remaining to lift Wake Forest to a 79-78 win over UNC-Wilmington in the season opener. Without Songaila's basket, Wake Forest would own a 2-2 record right now. Nov. 21 against Fresno State, Songaila's follow tip with 1.7 seconds left gave the Deacons a 62-61 win over the Bulldogs in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden.
Beating The Highly-Ranked
Over the last eight seasons, Wake Forest has defeated 12 teams ranked in the top 10. That includes wins last season over No. 3 Kansas and No. 8 Virginia.
Recent Wake Wins Vs.Top 10 Teams Opponent Site Date Result No. 8 Virginia H Jan. 2, 2001 W, 96-73 No. 3 Kansas H Dec. 7, 2000 W, 84-53 No. 4 Maryland H Jan. 31, 1999 W, 85-72 No. 7 Clemson H Feb. 12, 1997 W, 55-49 No. 7 Maryland A Feb. 1, 1997 W, 74-69 No. 2 Clemson A Jan. 23, 1997 W, 65-62 No. 10 Duke A Jan. 11, 1997 W, 81-69 No. 7 Utah A Dec. 31, 1996 W, 70-59 No. 4 N. Carolina N March 12, 1995 W, 82-80ot No. 2 N. Carolina A Feb. 28, 1995 W, 79-70 No. 7 Maryland H Feb. 15, 1995 W, 63-54 No. 5 N. Carolina H March 2, 1994 W, 68-61
Antwan Scott Leads The ACC In Blocked Shots
To say Antwan Scott is quietly putting together a senior season would not be totally accurate. After all, the senior leads the ACC in blocked shots (2.43 per game) and he leads Wake Forest with 20 dunks. More on Scott: - He leads all Wake starters and ranks eighth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.569). - Scott leads the team in minutes played (30.9). - He ranks 17th in the ACC in scoring (12.1 ppg.) and 12th in rebounding (6.4 rpg.). - With 110 career blocked shots, Scott ranks sixth in Wake Forest history and is closing in on Rod Griffin (113 blocks) for fifth place.
Antwan Scott This Season Last Season Minutes Per Game 30.9 16.2 Points Per Game 12.1 6.8 Rebounds Per Game 6.4 3.6 Field Goal Percentage 56.9 48.7 Blocks Per Game 2.4 1.3
Consistent Songaila Continues To Climb In Deacon Record Books
Wake Forest senior Darius Songaila continues his rise in the Wake Forest record books. Songaila ranks 18th in Wake Forest history with 1,365 career points and he will likely pass Jerry Schellenberg (1,366 points from 1974-77) for 17th place Friday night. And with 588 career rebounds, he ranks 20th on Wake's all-time rebounds chart. More on Songaila: - Songaila played in his 103rd career game and started in his 93rd career game Tuesday against Kansas. - His career free throw percentage (.817) is tied for the eighth highest in WFU history. - He is just the 11th player in Wake history to accumulate 1,300 career points and 500 career rebounds. Songaila is approaching both 1,400 points and 600 rebounds. - Songaila ranks ninth in Wake Forest history for career blocked shots with 75. - Only eight players in school history have made more free throws than Songaila (416), who was 13-of-13 from the free throw line Nov. 27 against Minnesota. - He has scored in double figures 80 times in his career and he is the only Deacon to score in double digits in every game this season. - Songaila has produced 12 career double-doubles including three this season. - He has scored 20 or more points in a game 12 times, including twice this season. - His senior season is shaping up to be his best yet. He leads the team and ranks eighth in the ACC in scoring (16.1 ppg.). He ranks 11th in the ACC in rebounding (7.6 rpg.), 13th in the ACC in field goal percentage (.513), 11th in the ACC in free throw percentage (.773) and 11th in offensive rebounds (2.57). - Songaila was named to the Preseason NIT All-Tournament team after his performances against Fresno State and Syracuse.
Versatile Josh Howard Putting Up Big Numbers
Junior Josh Howard is proving to be one of the ACC's most versatile players. He ranks among the ACC leaders in six different statistical categories: - Howard ranks fourth in the ACC in steals (2.43 per game) and will soon be ranked in the top 10 in Wake Forest history for career steals. - He ranks seventh in the ACC in rebounding (7.9 rpg.). Howard also ranks third in the league for offensive rebounds (3.86) and 12th in defensive rebounds (4.0). He has recorded two double-figure rebound games this season and one double-double. - Howard ranks 14th in the ACC in scoring (13.1 ppg.). - He ranks 14th in the league in field goal percentage (.513).
Murray, Dawson Rank High In ACC Statistics
Senior Ervin Murray, who led the ACC last season in assist-to-turnover ratio, currently ranks fourth in that category (2.08). Senior Broderick Hicks ranks 12th (1.13). Senior Craig Dawson ranks third in the ACC for three-point field goals (3.0). Dawson has made at least two three-pointers in every game this season. Hicks ranks 15th in the same category with 1.43 three-pointers per game. Dawson ranks 12th in the ACC for three-point field goal percentage (.396).
Freshman Trio Making Immediate Impact For The Deacons
Wake Forest's three freshmen -- forwards Vytas Danelius and Jamaal Levy and guard Taron Downey -- are becoming more and more a part of the regular rotation. Danelius has provided instant offense off the bench. He scored eight points in 19 minutes at 4th-ranked Kansas Tuesday night. He scored a career-high 14 points earlier this season against Elon. Danelius leads the Deacons in field goal percentage (.633). He is 19-of-30 from the field this season. Downey has seen action in all seven games, and although he is averaging just 1.4 points per game, he has provided valuable minutes at point guard. Downey has not committed a turnover since Nov. 21. Levy played 10 solid minutes at Kansas Tuesday and pulled down four rebounds.
No Big Surprise: Seniors Leading The Way So Far In 2001-02
Wake Forest is hoping the experience of its five fourth-year seniors pays big dividends in 2001-02. And so far, it has. Four of Wake's top five scorers -- Darius Songaila (16.1 ppg.), Craig Dawson (12.1 ppg.), Antwan Scott (12.1 ppg.) and Broderick Hicks (9.1 ppg.) -- are all seniors. Seniors lead Wake in every statistical category except for steals and minutes played, which junior Josh Howard leads. The five seniors have combined to play in 510 career games.
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- ) 104 Darius Songaila (1998- ) 103 Antwan Scott (1998- ) 102 Craig Dawson (1998- ) 101 Ervin Murray (1998- ) 100
Deacons Win For Third Straight Year In ACC/Big Ten Challenge
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge, now in its third year, has been an enjoyable event for Wake Forest. The Deacons beat Minnesota Nov. 27 to improve to 3-0 all-time in the event. In 1999-00, Wake Forest beat visiting and eventual Final Four participant Wisconsin in the inaugural event. Last year, the Deacons traveled to Ann Arbor to beat Michigan. Wake Forest and Duke are the only teams that have won three games in the Challenge.
Josh Howard Is Second Team Preseason All-ACC
Junior 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. He received 11 first team votes. The preseason All-ACC first team includes Jason Williams (Duke), Mike Dunleavy (Duke), Carlos Boozer (Duke), Juan Dixon (Maryland) and Lonny Baxter (Maryland).
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
Miscellaneous Deacon Items
- Antwan Scott is just the sixth player in WFU history to block 100 career shots. He has 110 career rejections. - Seniors Broderick Hicks and Darius Songaila are serving as team co-captains in 2001-02. - With a 79-78 win over UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 12, Wake Forest is 69-28 all-time 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 Forest added three walk-ons to the roster in October: Alan Williams (6-3), Brett Hickman (6-6) and Walt Chancellor (6-1). - In Wake's Oct. 26 Black/Gold scrimmage game, Craig Dawson canned a remarkable 11 consecutive shots, including nine from three-point range, without a miss. Dawson scored 43 points in the game. - Football player R.D. Montgomery, a Deacon linebacker, practiced with the basketball team on Thursday.
Hicks Serving On Student Basketball Council
For the second year now, Broderick Hicks will voice his opinions about college basketball and being a student-athlete to a group that truly cares. Hicks is part of the National Association of Basketball Coach's Student Basketball Council. The Council is comprised of 40 student-athletes from all over the country. The group meets periodically throughout the year via teleconference to discuss issues such as monthly stipends for student-athletes. Hicks is the only ACC player on the Council.
Postseason Streak At 11
Wake Forest enters the 2001-02 season with a streak of 11 consecutive postseason tournament appearances. The last time the Deacons failed to play in the postseason came in 1989-90. In fact, Deacon freshman Jamaal Levy was seven years old the last time Wake Forest didn't play past the ACC Tournament. Wake's streak of 11 consecutive postseason appearances ranks second among ACC schools. Only North Carolina, which has a streak of 35 straight postseason appearances, owns a longer streak.
Good Bloodlines
Deacon senior Craig Dawson is the nephew of NBA standout Jerry Stackhouse. Dawson spent part of last year's Christmas break at "Uncle Jerry's" wedding. Wake Forest senior guard Ervin Murray has a sister, Nicole, who is a junior guard on the UNC Greensboro women's team. Wake junior Steve Lepore's brother, Chris, was an All-American football player at Navy last year.
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, performed 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.