Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons, Wolfpack Meet Wednesday In Raleigh
1/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2002
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#24 Wake Forest (14-6/4-3) at NC State (16-4/5-2)
Game #21 / Jan. 30, 2002 Entertainment & Sports Arena (19,722) Raleigh, NC
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m.
Television: ESPN2. Mike Patrick (play-by-play) and ?? (color analysis) call the action. Kim Belton is the producer.
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 14-6 overall and 4-3 in the ACC after an 87-74 victory over visiting Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon. NC State is 16-4 and 5-2 following an 80-61 non-conference home victory over Temple on Saturday.
The Rankings: Wake Forest is ranked 24th in the Associated Press poll and 19th in the ESPN/USA Today poll. NC State was not ranked but received votes in both polls.
WFU Coach Skip Prosser: Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy '72) is 14-6 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 179-84.
NC State Coach Herb Sendek: Sendek (Carnegie Mellon '85) is 102-78 in six seasons with the Wolfpack, 165-104 in nine seasons overall.
The Series History: NC State leads, 122-88. More series information on page two.
The Officials: Announced on game day.
Deacons, Wolfpack Meet In Key ACC Battle Wednesday In Raleigh
Wake Forest and NC State, two teams trying to claw their way near the top of the ACC standings, meet Wednesday night at Raleigh's Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESPN 2/7:30 p.m.). The Demon Deacons, 14-6 overall and 4-3 in the ACC, snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday with an 87-74 win over visiting Georgia Tech. Wake's losing streak came against three teams ranked in the top 10 -- No. 10 Virginia, No. 1 Duke and No. 3 Maryland. In Saturday's win over Georgia Tech, junior Josh Howard scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds, recorded a career-high seven steals, dished out five assists and blocked two shots. Senior Darius Songaila earned his third consecutive double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Wolfpack, 16-4 and 5-2, is one of the ACC's hottest teams. NC State has won four straight and six of its last seven, including an 80-61 win over visiting Temple Saturday. NC State leads the all-time series, 122-88. Wake Forest has won the last four meetings. What's at stake for Wake Wednesday: - A Wake Forest win could put the Deacons in a tie for third place in the ACC standings. A loss would put the Deacons alone in fifth place. - The Deacons look to avoid losing three straight road games since losing five straight on the road last season. - Wake looks for its fifth straight win over NCSU for the first time since 1995-1997.
A Quick Look At The Deacons
Wake Forest tinkered with the starting lineup Saturday for the first time all season and it helped result in an end to its three-game losing streak. Freshman Taron Downey replaced Broderick Hicks at the starting point guard position. Downey played a career-high 31 minutes and dished out five assists in the 87-74 win over Georgia Tech. Hicks came off the bench to hit two three-point field goals for six points. The Demon Deacons are led by a pair of All-ACC candidates -- senior Darius Songaila and junior Josh Howard. Songaila (16.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game) has nine double-doubles this season, including three straight. He ranks among the ACC leaders in nine statistical categories including field goal percentage (.507) and free throw percentage (.837). Howard (14.1 ppg. and 8.0 rpg.) scored his 1,000th career point Saturday in one of his best all-around performances. The 6-6 Howard scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds, recorded a career-high seven steals, dished out five assists and blocked two shots against the Yellow Jackets. Senior Craig Dawson (11.3 ppg.), who ranks among the ACC leaders in three-point field goals (55) and three-point percentage (.417), broke out of a shooting slump Saturday by going 4-of-6 from three-point range. Senior Antwan Scott (10.7 ppg. and 5.2 rpg.) scored 12 points in both games last week and he is shooting 53.9 percent from the floor. Downey (3.4 ppg.) has played like one of the ACC's top rookies since Jan. 1 and is called WFU's best on-the-ball defender by his head coach. Hicks (8.3 ppg.) leads the team in assists (62) and ranks second in three-pointers (25). Freshman Vytas Danelius (6.4 ppg. and 4.0 rpg.) has been Wake's steadiest reserve all season and he shoots 64.2 percent from the floor. Northwestern transfer Steve Lepore (4.4 ppg.) plays just under 13 minutes per game.
Howard Scores 1,000th Point, Just Misses Record With Seven Steals
Saturday's win over Georgia Tech was one junior Josh Howard should remember. The junior became the 41st player in Wake Forest history to score 1,000 career points. His 20 points were one point shy of tying a season-high. Howard tied a season-high with five assists and he pulled down nine rebounds for the second straight game. But perhaps Howard's most impressive statistic from the win over Georgia Tech was his career-high seven steals. He came within one steal of tying a school record that has stood for 17 years. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues owns the school single-game steals record with eight, which he reached twice. The seven steals tied for the most ever in a WFU ACC game.
Most Single-Game Steals/WFU History
8, Tyrone Bogues vs. Georgia Southern, 12-17-85 8, Tyrone Bogues vs. Davidson, 12-5-84 7, Josh Howard vs. Georgia Tech, 1-26-01
More From Saturday's 87-74 Win Over Georgia Tech
Josh Howard (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Darius Songaila (17 points, 10 rebounds) combined for 37 points and 19 boards to lead Wake Forest to an 87-74 win over visiting Georgia Tech Saturday. The Deacons out-rebounded Tech, 38-32, and Wake was 24-of-34 from the free throw line. Wake Forest shot 57.1 percent in the second half and 47.5 percent for the game. Wake Forest recorded a season-high 12 steals, paced by a career-high seven steals by Howard.
Wake Forest-NC State Series History
- NC State leads the all-time series, 122-88. - Wednesday's game will be the 211th meeting between the two schools. Wake Forest has played only Duke more often (218 meetings) than NC State. - Wake Forest swept the regular season series last season -- 74-69 in overtime in Winston-Salem and 76-58 in Raleigh -- the first time either school has swept the series since 1998. - The Demon Deacons have won the last four meetings including a win over the Wolfpack in the semifinals of the 2000 NIT. - Wake has won 12 out of the last 16 meetings and 15 out of the last 20. - The Deacs have won 10 out of the last 11 meetings in Winston-Salem. - NC State leads the all-time series in Raleigh, 85-52. The two teams have split two meetings at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. - The two teams first met in 1910-11. The two schools have met at least once each season since 1911 with the exception of the 1914-15 season. - Wake Forest's Skip Prosser has never coached against NC State, but he did go 1-1 against Herb Sendek-coached Miami (Ohio) teams while coaching at Xavier. - NC State's Sendek is 4-8 all-time against Wake Forest.
Deacon-Wolfpack Connections
- Two NC State players -- Illian Evtimov and Clifford Crawford -- are from Winston-Salem. - Both head coaches -- Wake's Skip Prosser and State's Herb Sendek -- are from Pittsburgh. - Five of the six assistant coaches Wednesday were born in the state of Ohio -- Wake's Dino Gaudio and Chris Mack and NCSU's Larry Harris, Larry Hunter and Mark Phelps. - Wake's Prosser and NCSU's Hunter previously went head-to-head. Prosser's Xavier teams went 1-1 against Harris' Ohio University teams. - Former Deacon Rodney Rogers and former Wolfpack Tom Gugliotta are teammates on the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix assistant coaches include former Deacon Frank Johnson and former Wolfpack Phil Weber.
Deacon Streaks
- Wake Forest saw its nine-game homecourt winning streak come to an end last Wednesday against No. 3 Maryland. - Wake Forest has won 23 consecutive non-conference home games. Wake's last non-conference loss at home came against 19th-ranked Arkansas on Dec. 23, 1998. - The Deacons have lost two straight road games (at Virginia and at Duke). - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 275 consecutive games. - The Deacons are 5-0 this season in games decided by six points or less. - Wake Forest is 9-0 when scoring more than 80 points. - WFU is 13-0 this season when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent. - The Deacons are 7-0 when shooting 50 percent or better. - Wake Forest is 5-0 when it shoots 40 percent or better from three-point range. - WFU is 9-0 when it has more free throw attempts than its opponent. - Dawson has made at least one three-point field goal in every game this season. Throw out the game against Maryland in last year's ACC Tournament when Dawson played just one minute before getting injured, he has made at least one three-pointer in 30 straight games. - Darius Songaila has produced three straight double-doubles.
Darius Songaila Nears 1,600 Points, 700 Rebounds
Darius Songaila enters the NC State game with 1,582 career points and 693 career rebounds. With 18 points, he will become just the 13th player in Wake Forest history with 1,600 points. And with seven boards, he will be just the 12th player in WFU history with 700 career rebounds. When Songaila grabs his 700th rebound, he will join elite company. Only five players in Wake Forest history -- Len Chappell, Dickie Hemric, Tim Duncan, Rod Griffin and Rodney Rogers -- accumulated 1,500 points and 700 rebounds. Songaila needs 13 points to pass Lefty Davis for 13th on Wake's all-time scoring list.
Deacons Approach Halfway Point Of ACC Schedule
Following Wednesday's game at NC State, Wake Forest will either be 5-3 or 4-4 midway through the ACC schedule. A 5-3 record would be Wake Forest's best at the halfway point since going 7-1 in 1996-97. In addition, the last time Wake Forest was 5-3 at the halfway mark, the Deacons went on to go 7-1 the second half of the ACC season and finish in a tie for first place in the league standings. Since 1991, Wake Forest has been 4-4 through eight ACC games four times. In each of those seasons, the Deacons went on to play in the NCAA Tournament. Wake Forest is hoping to keep a pair of consistency streaks alive. The Deacons can finish fifth or higher in the ACC standings for the 10th straight year and they can earn their 12th consecutive postseason bid.
Other Milestones Within Reach - Josh Howard needs just one rebound to become the 27th player in Wake Forest history to grab 500 career rebounds. - Darius Songaila needs three rebounds to pass former Deacon Sam Ivy for 12th place on Wake's all-time rebound chart. - Songaila needs to make five free throws to become the sixth player in WFU history to make 500 career free throws. - Songaila should start for the 107th time, which will put him alone in sixth place on Wake's all-time games started list. - Songaila is five assists shy of 200 for his career. - Craig Dawson (210 career three-point field goals) needs two three-point field goals to move into 19th place in ACC history for career three-pointers. - Dawson is one assist shy of 200 for his career. - Hicks needs six three-point field goals to become the ninth player in WFU history to sink 100 career three-pointers.
Deacons Slip, But Remain In Both Polls For 10th Straight Week
A loss to No. 3 Maryland and a win over Georgia Tech last week caused Wake Forest to drop, but remain in both major polls for the 10th consecutive week. Wake Forest slipped to 24th (down from 21st) in the Associated Press poll and to 19th (down from 16th) in the ESPN/USA Today poll. The Deacons have been in the AP poll in 29 of the last 30 weeks. More on Wake Forest and the national polls: - Wake Forest is 2-5 against ranked foes this year with four of the losses coming against top 10 teams. The Deacons beat No. 25 Marquette and No. 23 Fresno State and lost to No. 18 Syracuse, No. 4 Kansas, No. 10 Virginia, No. 1 Duke and No. 3 Maryland. - Wake Forest is ranked 17th by Basketball America, 22nd by CollegeRPI.com, 28th in the Sagarin Ratings and 34th by The Sporting News. The Deacons fell out of the CBS Sportsline power poll.
Songaila Gaining Reputation As Clutch Performer
Senior Darius Songaila is the type of player who wants the ball in his hands at crunch time. And almost each time, the results have been great for Wake Forest: - 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. - 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. - Songaila's two free throws with 3:37 remaining broke a 57-57 tie with 19th-ranked Marquette on Dec. 29. The Deacons led the rest of the way en route to a 64-59 win over the Golden Eagles. - Wake's Schedule One Of The Nation's Most Difficult Slates
Wake Forest is facing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. Consider: - The Deacons recently completed a three-game stretch against teams ranked in the top 10. The last time Wake played three straight ranked opponents came in 1994-95. The last time the Deacs played three straight top 10 teams came in 1985-86. - Using the ESPN/USA Today poll, each of the nation's five-highest ranked teams are on the Wake Forest schedule -- No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Kansas, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Cincinnati and No. 5 Virginia. - Wake Forest has played, or will play, 14 regular season games against teams currently ranked 36th or better in the RPI ratings. - Wake is 2-5 this season against ranked teams. Last season the Deacons won two games against ranked teams all year. Another win over a ranked team would give the Deacons their most wins over ranked teams since 1996-97. - Four of Wake's five losses against ranked teams this season have come on the road or at a neutral court. Three of Wake's losses have come on the road against top 10 teams (No. 4 Kansas, No. 10 Virginia and No. 1 Duke). - The Deacons are looking to beat a ranked team on the road for the first time since beating No. 21 Clemson on Jan. 9, 1999. - Wake will look for its first win on the road against a top 10 team since beating four teams in the top 10 in 1996-97. - Seven of Wake's final 14 games come against teams currently ranked in the AP top 25. - Wake's schedule, according to College RPI.com, is the most difficult in the ACC. - In November and December, Wake Forest played four nationally-ranked teams. The last time the Deacs played four ranked opponents before Jan. 1 came in the 1953-54 season. - Wake's last non-conference game -- Feb. 9 versus No. 4 Cincinnati -- comes against a Bearcat team that owns the nation's longest winning streak (19 games).
Senior Darius Songaila Enjoying An All-ACC-Type Season
Perhaps senior Darius Songaila is motivated because he was left off the preseason All-ACC team, or maybe he's flourishing in coach Skip Prosser's system. Regardless, Songaila is enjoying his finest season as a Deacon. Songaila ranks among the ACC leaders in nine different statistical categories. More on Songaila: - He leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC in scoring (16.5 points per game). - Songaila has scored in double figures in every game but one this season and he has scored in double figures 92 times in his career. - He ranks fourth in the ACC in free throw percentage (.837) and he has shot an even higher percentage (.868) in ACC games. - His career free throw percentage (.823) is the sixth-highest in Wake Forest history. - Songaila is second on the team and ranks seventh in the ACC in rebounding (7.8 rpg.). - He ranks 13th in Wake Forest history with 693 career rebounds and will move into 12th place with three more boards. - He ranks eighth in Wake history with 91 career blocked shots. - He ranks 10th in the ACC this season in blocked shots (1.1). - Songaila has nine double-doubles this season, including one in each of the last three games. Only Virginia's Travis Watson (10) has more in the ACC. Songaila owns 17 career double-doubles. - He ranks fifth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.507). - He ranks 14th in Wake Forest career scoring history with 1,582 points and will take over 13th place with 13 more points. - Songaila is just the ninth player in Wake history with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds. - When he gets his 700th rebound, he will be just the sixth player in Wake Forest history to accumulate 1,500 points and 700 boards. - Only five players in school history have made more free throws than Songaila (495) and only five players have attempted more free throws (601). - He has scored 20 or more points in a game 14 times, including four times this season. - He ranks 12th in the ACC in steals (1.35). - He ranks 14th in the ACC in assists (2.75). Songaila and North Carolina's Jason Capel are the only frontcourt players to rank among the top 15. - Songaila was named to the Preseason NIT All-Tournament team after his performances against Fresno State and Syracuse.
Where Songaila Ranks In The ACC
Double-Doubles 2nd (9) Free Throw Percentage 4th (.837) Field Goal Percentage 5th (.507) Defensive Rebounds 5th (5.60) Scoring 6th (16.5) Rebounding 7th (7.8) Blocked Shots 10th (1.10) Steals 12th (1.35) Assists 14th (2.75)
Josh Howard One Of The ACC's Most Versatile Players
All you need to know about junior Josh Howard's athleticism and versatility is that at 6-6, he leads the ACC in offensive rebounds. Howard ranks among the ACC leaders in seven different statistical categories. And since mid-December, Howard has been Wake's most consistent performer. More on Howard: - Howard is coming off one of his finest games: 20 points, nine rebounds, a career-high seven steals, five assists and two blocked shots Saturday against Georgia Tech. - Since Dec. 19 (the last 11 games), Howard has averaged 15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. - Nearly half of Howard's 160 rebounds have come on the offensive boards (78). - He is second on the team and 14th in the ACC in scoring (14.1 ppg.). - He ranks sixth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.507). - Only five players in the ACC have more double-doubles this season than Howard (four). - Just a junior, Howard scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday and now ranks 40th in Wake scoring history. - He ranks 8th in the ACC in steals (1.7 spg.). - Howard ranks seventh among Wake's all-time leaders in steals with 136. - Howard ranks 11th in the ACC in blocked shots (1.05 bspg.). - He ranks among Wake's all-time leaders in blocked shots (86).
Howard vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 26) Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks 20 9 5 *7 2 * career high
Where Howard Ranks In The ACC
Offensive Rebounds 1st (3.90) Field Goal Percentage 6th (.507) Rebounding 6th (8.0) Steals 8th (1.70) Blocked Shots 11th (1.05) Defensive Rebounds 13th (4.10) Scoring 14th (14.1)
Antwan Scott One Of The ACC's Most Improved Players
Senior Antwan Scott, in his first year as a starter, is making the most of his final season. He has nearly doubled his statistics from a year ago, easily making him one of the ACC's most improved players. Scott is not at 100 percent. He suffered a severely dislocated middle finger on his non-shooting (left) hand in the Jan. 15 game against Virginia. He will wear a splint for another week. More on Scott: - He ranks second in the ACC in blocked shots (1.75 bspg.). Scott is trying to become the first Deacon to lead the ACC in blocked shots since Tim Duncan, who led the ACC in blocks for four seasons (from 1994-97). - Scott ranks second on the team in minutes played (29.0). - His field goal percentage (.539) would be the fourth-highest in the ACC, but he does not have the minimum number of field goals made to qualify. - He ranks 24th in the ACC in scoring (10.7 ppg.) and 19th in rebounding (5.2 rpg.). - Scott ranks fifth on Wake Forest's all-time blocked shots list with 128 career rejections. - He has scored in double figures 13 times this season. - Scott has more dunks this season (45) than the rest of the Deacon team combined (33).
Antwan Scott This Season Last Season Minutes Per Game 29.0 16.2 Points Per Game 10.7 6.8 Rebounds Per Game 5.2 3.6 Field Goal Percentage 53.9 48.7 Blocks Per Game 1.75 1.3
Freshman Taron Downey Makes First Career Start
In November and December, freshman guard Taron Downey was a solid reserve in the Deacon backcourt. But since Jan. 1, the rookie point guard has emerged as one of the ACC's top freshmen. Over the last six games, Downey has averaged 7.5 points and 22.3 minutes per game. A quick look at how Downey has emerged: - In the final two games of December (vs. St. John's and Marquette), Downey played a combined six minutes, scored no points and had no assists. - In the first game of January (vs. Richmond), Downey played a then career-high 17 minutes and grabbed a career-best six rebounds. - Jan. 7 at Navy, he came off the bench for a career-high 15 points, including three three-point field goals. - Jan. 19 at No. 1 Duke, Downey started the second half when Broderick Hicks was injured. He finished the game with 30 minutes played, seven points and no turnovers against the Blue Devil pressure defense. - Jan. 23 against No. 3 Maryland, Downey went 2-of-2 from three-point range. - Jan. 26 against Georgia Tech, he made his first career start, played 31 minutes and dished out five assists.
Taron Downey Category First 12 Games Last 6 Games Minutes Per Game 6.8 22.3 Points Per Game 1.7 7.5 Three-Point Field Goals 0.3 1.3 Rebounds 0.5 1.5 Assists 0.7 2.3
Downtown Dawson One Of ACC's Most Prolific 3-Point Shooters
Senior Craig Dawson continues to prove why he is one of the nation's most dangerous perimeter shooters. Dawson ranks fifth among the ACC leaders in three-point field goals (55) and second in three-point field goal percentage (.417). More on Dawson: - He has made at least one three-point field goal in every game this season and he has made at least two three-pointers in every game but four. - Dawson has made three or more three-pointers in a game nine times this season, 29 times in his career. - He ranks fourth in Wake Forest history with 210 career three-point field goals. - He ranks 21st in ACC history for career three-point field goals. - Dawson ranks 21st in the ACC in scoring (11.3 ppg.). - He ranks 29th in Wake Forest career scoring history with 1,146 points.
Vytas Danelius Emerging As One Of The ACC's Top Freshmen
Freshman forward Vytas Danelius, who was a highly-touted recruit last year, has many skills. But the rookie's best talent is simply putting the ball in the basket. Not that Danelius is a huge scorer -- he's averaging 6.4 points per game (the most of any non-starting Deacon) and he has scored in double figures just four times. But when Danelius shoots, it usually goes in. Danelius is shooting 64.2 percent from the field, which leads the team but does not qualify for the ACC rankings because he doesn't have enough field goal attempts. More impressively, Danelius has shot less than 50 percent in a game just twice this season and he has yet to shoot below 40 percent in a game. More on Danelius: - He started the second half of two recent games (at Virginia and at Duke). - Jan. 12 against Clemson, he recorded his first career double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds). - His 13 rebounds against the Tigers were the most single-game rebounds by any Deacon player this season. - His numbers in ACC games (6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game) are higher than his stats in non-league games.
Vytas Danelius Category First 12 Games Last 8 Games Minutes Per Game 14.1 16.4 Points Per Game 6.0 6.9 Double-Figure Scoring 2 2 Free Throw Percentage 60.9 64.3 Rebounds Per Game 3.6 4.6 Total Steals 2 4
Prosser Enjoying Success In First Season At Wake
Wake Forest first-year coach Skip Prosser is trying to accomplish what no other first-year coach in Deacon history has done since 1927 -- produce a winning season. With three more victories this season, Prosser will become the first rookie coach at Wake Forest to earn a winning record since James Baldwin led the Deacons to a 22-3 record in his first season in 1927. Prosser, in fact, has already earned more wins in his initial season than any other first-year Deacon coach, with the exception of Baldwin. By beating North Carolina 84-62 on Jan. 5, Prosser became the first Deac first-year coach to win in Chapel Hill since R.S. Hayes in 1926.
Coaches In First Season At WFU Coach (Season) Thru 20 Games Final Record Skip Prosser (2002) 14-6 ? Dave Odom (1990) 8-12 12-16 Bob Staak (1986) 6-14 8-21 Carl Tacy (1973) 9-11 12-15 Jack McCloskey (1967) 7-13 9-18 Jack Murdock (1966) 7-13 8-18 Bones McKinney (1958) 6-14 6-17
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 14-6. His career record, in nine seasons, is 179-84. 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 Two Wins Vs. No. 1
Wake Forest's Skip Prosser has coached against the nation's No. 1-ranked team four 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 losses to a No. 1-ranked team was an overtime decision to No. 1 Massachusetts in 1995-96 and the loss at No. 1 Duke on Jan. 19. 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.
Senior Class' Accomplishments Continue To Grow
With five fourth-year seniors on its roster, Wake Forest has one of the ACC's most experienced groups. Four of Wake's top five scorers -- Darius Songaila (16.5 ppg.), Craig Dawson (11.3 ppg.), Antwan Scott (10.7 ppg.) and Broderick Hicks (8.3 ppg.) -- are all seniors. Seniors lead Wake in basically every statistical category. Those five seniors -- Songaila, Dawson, Hicks, Ervin Murray and Scott -- have enjoyed much success over the last four years. Consider: - Wake's senior class has appeared in postseason play every season, including an NCAA Tournament appearance last season. - Over the last four seasons, Wake Forest is a combined 72-45 (.615). The Class of 2002 is trying to become the seventh senior class to win 80 games or more over four seasons. - The seniors have been a part of three wins over teams ranked in the top 10. - In 2001, Wake Forest won the postseason NIT championship. - The five seniors have combined to play in 572 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. Broderick Hicks (1998- ) 117 12. Darius Songaila (1998- ) 116 Lee Garber (1982-85) 116 14. Antwan Scott (1998- ) 115 Trelonnie Owens (1991-94) 115 Jerry Braswell (1995-98) 115 17. Craig Dawson (1998- ) 114 nr. Ervin Murray (1998- ) 110
Wake Travels To FSU Saturday
Wake begins the second half of ACC play Saturday at Florida State (3:00 p.m./ Jefferson Pilot TV). The Deacons beat the Seminoles, 93-72, Dec. 16 in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest has won the last three meetings.
