Wake Forest Athletics
Wake's Tough Schedule Continues Sunday At No. 2 Maryland
2/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2002
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#20 Wake Forest (18-9/8-5) at #2 Maryland (22-3/12-1)
Game #28 / Feb. 24, 2002 Cole Field House (14,500) College Park, MD
Tip-Off: 2:05 p.m.
Television: ESPN2. Mike Patrick (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (color analysis) call the action. Aaron Owens produces.
Television: Jefferson-Pilot. Tim Brandt (play-by-play) and Mike Gminski (color analysis) call the action. Rob Riechley produces.
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 18-9 overall and 8-5 in the ACC after a 90-61 loss to visiting third-ranked Duke Thursday night. Maryland is 22-3 and 12-1 following a 84-68 win at Clemson Wednesday night.
The Rankings: Wake Forest is ranked 20th in the Associated Press poll and 21st in the ESPN/USA Today. Maryland is ranked second in both major polls.
WFU Coach Skip Prosser: Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy '72) is 18-9 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 183-87.
Maryland Coach Gary Williams: Williams (Maryland '68) is 271-142 in 13 seasons at his alma mater, 471-270 in 24 seasons overall.
The Series History: Maryland leads, 54-50. More series information on page two.
The Officials: Announced on game day.
Difficult Schedule Continues At No. 2 Maryland Sunday Afternoon
Wake Forest, which has played arguably its best and worst games of the season in a span of five days, plays its second straight top-five ranked opponent Sunday at No. 2 Maryland (2:05 p.m./ESPN2 & Jefferson Pilot). The Demon Deacons, 18-9 overall and 8-5 in the ACC, turned in perhaps their best performance of the year last Sunday in a 92-70 win over 15th-ranked Virginia. But on Thursday night, Wake had perhaps its worst effort of the year in a 90-61 loss to third-ranked Duke. Wake, currently third in the ACC standings, has gone 1-3 since all-conference candidate Josh Howard suffered a high ankle sprain. Howard is questionable for Sunday's game. Maryland, 22-3 and 12-1, sits atop the ACC standings and the Terrapins own a nine-game winning streak. The Terps won on the road, 84-68, at Clemson Wednesday night. Sunday's game is the next-to-last contest at Maryland's Cole Field House. Maryland leads the all-time series, 54-50, including an 85-63 win in Winston-Salem on Jan. 23. The Terrapins have won the last six meetings. What's at stake for Wake Sunday: - Wake Forest (8-5 in the ACC) likely needs a win Sunday to remain in third place in the league standings. NC State (8-6) hosts North Carolina on Sunday. - The Deacons, who will play their 11th ranked opponent, look for a win on the road against a ranked team for the first time since Jan. 9, 1999.
A Quick Look At The Deacons
Wake Forest is led by a pair of candidates for the All-ACC team -- senior forward Darius Songaila and junior forward Josh Howard -- and a supporting cast mix of seniors and freshmen. The Deacons, 18-9 overall and 8-5 in the ACC, are a veteran team with five seniors in the rotation. Three freshmen, including starting point guard Taron Downey, play significant roles. But the leaders are Songaila and Howard, who team to give Wake Forest one of the best frontcourt duos in college basketball. Howard, however, has played in just one of Wake's last four games because of a high ankle sprain. He is questionable for Sunday's game. Songaila (17.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game) ranks among the ACC leaders in 10 statistical categories and he's been Wake's most consistent player. He has scored in double figures in every game but one this season and he owns 12 double-doubles. Howard (14.3 ppg. and 7.7 rpg.) did not play in Sunday's game against Virginia or against Duke on Thursday. Before the injury, Howard averaged 20.0 points in his four previous games. Senior Craig Dawson (12.0 ppg.) saw his hot-shooting streak end Thursday. He was 16-of-26 from three-point range in his previous two games before going 0-for-4 from behind the arc on Thursday. Senior Antwan Scott (10.5 ppg. and 5.0 rpg.) ranks second in the ACC with 44 blocked shots and he shoots 54.8 percent from the field. Senior Broderick Hicks (9.5 ppg.) has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. With Howard's injury, Hicks has seen most of his recent action at big guard. Freshman Taron Downey (4.3 ppg.), who has started the last eight games at point guard, hit a pair of three-pointers and scored eight points against Duke on Thursday. Junior transfer Steve Lepore (4.5 ppg.) has been a key reserve off the bench. Freshman Vytas Danelius (6.7 ppg. and 4.2 rpg.) is coming off a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) against Duke.
More From Wake's 90-61 Loss To No. 3 Duke Thursday Night
Wake Forest shot its lowest field goal percentage of the season (.327), allowed its highest percentage of the season (.632) and went 10 minutes without a field goal in the first half on the way to a 90-61 loss to No. 3 Duke Thursday night. Wake, playing without injured starter Josh Howard, trailed 48-29 at the half and never recovered. Duke shot 75.0 percent (18-of-24) in the second half. Mike Dunleavy scored 30 points and Jason Williams 26 points to lead the Blue Devils. Darius Songaila scored 12 points for Wake Forest and freshman Vytas Danelius came off the bench for his second career double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds). The Deacons shot just 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from three-point range and tied a season-high with 21 turnovers. More from Thursday's loss to Duke: - The 29-point defeat was Wake's largest since a 102-71 loss at Duke on Feb. 13, 1999. It was WFU's largest defeat margin at home since an 88-52 loss to Duke on Jan. 14, 1997. - Wake Forest entered the game ranked third in the ACC in field goal percentage defense, but allowed a season-high 63.2 percent. - Deacons Craig Dawson and Broderick Hicks, who own a combined career 334 three-point field goals, went a combined 0-for-7 from three-point range. - Wake used its fifth different starting lineup over the last five games. - The Deacons had season-lows for field goals (18), field goal percentage (.327), defensive rebounds (17) and assists (six). Wake tied a season-low with three three-point field goals and 14 three-point attempts. - Lawrence Joel Coliseum was filled to capacity (14,665) for the first time this season.
Wake-Maryland Series History
- Maryland leads the all-time series, 54-50. - Entering last season the series was tied, 50-50, before Maryland beat Wake Forest three times in one season for the first time ever. The Terrapins also beat Wake 85-63 in Winston-Salem on Jan. 23. - The Terrapins have won the last six meetings, sweeping the season series in each of the previous two years. Wake's last win in the series was an 85-72 victory in Winston-Salem on Jan. 31, 1999. - The Deacons have lost three straight in Cole Field House but are 3-3 in Cole over the last six seasons. The road team, in fact, has won six of the last 11 meetings. - Wake Forest is 30-19 at home against Maryland. The two teams have split the last 10 meetings at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. - Just two of the last 10 meetings have been decided by less than 10 points. - Sunday's game will be the 10th straight against the Terrapins when they were nationally-ranked. Maryland will bring its highest ranking into a game against Wake Forest since the No. 2 Terrapins beat the Deacons, 92-69 on Dec. 3, 1998 in College Park. Sunday's game will be the fifth straight when both teams were ranked. - The two teams first met in 1952-53 and have met at least twice each season since 1953-54. - Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser is 0-2 all-time against Maryland. In his first season as a head coach, at Loyola (MD) in 1993-94, his Greyhounds fell to the Terrapins, 94-71, in College Park. - Maryland's Gary Williams is 14-12 versus Wake Forest while coaching the Terrapins. Williams is 16-14 all-time versus the Deacons including a 2-0 record while at Boston College and an 0-2 mark while at American. He did not coach against Wake while at Ohio State.
Deacon-Terrapin Connections
- Wake Forest junior Josh Howard and Maryland senior Lonny Baxter both attended Hargrave Military Academy. - Wake freshman Taron Downey and Maryland's Chris Wilcox were once teammates on the Raleigh (NC) Razorbacks AAU team. - Maryland coach Gary Williams went 3-5 against Wake Forest as a player for the Terrapins from 1964-67. - Wake Forest will play its second game in the state of Maryland this season having already played at Navy.
Deacon Streaks
- Wake is 6-1 in games decided by six points or less. - The Deacons have won six of their last nine ACC road games. - Wake Forest has made at least one three-point field goal in 282 consecutive games. - WFU is 17-0 this season when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent and 11-0 when shooting 50 percent or better. - Darius Songaila has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games.
Deac, Terp Statistical Stuff
Maryland (83.8 points per game) and Wake Forest (82.0) rank 2-3 in the ACC for scoring offense... Wake Forest (.474) and Maryland (.472) rank 2-3 in the ACC in field goal percentage... In ACC games, Maryland's Juan Dixon (.908) and Wake's Darius Songaila (.905) are the only players in the league shooting better than 90 percent from the free throw line.
Deacons Putting Up The Points
When coach Skip Prosser arrived at Wake Forest, he promised an up-tempo game. And while the Deacons don't play at a breakneck speed, they are averaging a lofty 82.0 points per game. The last time Wake Forest averaged more than 82 points per game came in 1977-78 (83.2). Over the last five games Wake has averaged 90.2 points per contest and that includes a 61-point performance against Duke Thursday. The Demon Deacons rank third in the ACC and 10th nationally in scoring. Wake has gone over the 100-point mark twice this season. Prior to coach Skip Prosser's arrival, the Deacons scored 100 points just once between Feb. 10, 1993 and the end of the 2000-01 season -- a string of 267 games.
30-Point Games Suddenly Commonplace For Deacons...
Wake Forest went 127 games without a player scoring 30 points. Last week, however, a Deacon player reached the 30-point mark in consecutive games. When Craig Dawson erupted for 38 points Feb. 13 at Clemson, it marked the first time since Feb. 19, 1998 (when Robert O'Kelley scored 31 at Maryland) that a Deacon has eclipsed 30 points. Last Sunday against Virginia, Darius Songaila scored a career-high 30 points to give Wake Forest back-to-back 30-point games for the first time since March 7 and March 8, 1997 (when Tim Duncan scored 31 and 33 points in the ACC Tournament against Florida State and North Carolina). Dawson's 38 points were the most by a Deacon since March 10, 1995 when Randolph Childress scored 40 against Duke in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.
... And For The Opposition, Too
In the first 23 games of the season, no Deacon opponent had scored 30 points against Wake Forest. Now, it's happened five times over the last four games. The 30-point streak started Feb. 9 when Cincinnati's Steve Logan scored 30 against Wake Forest. On Feb. 13 at Clemson, both Tony Stockman and Edward Scott scored 30 points for the Tigers. Last Sunday, Virginia's Roger Mason, Jr. erupted for 31 points, tying for the 10th-most single-game points in Lawrence Joel Coliseum history. Finally, Duke's Mike Dunleavy scored 30 points Thursday against the Deacs.
Deacons Remain In National Polls For The 13th Straight Week
An upset loss at Clemson and a home win over 15th-ranked Virginia last week caused Wake Forest to slip in both major national polls. Wake dropped from 19th to 20th in the Associated Press poll and from 17th to 21st in the ESPN/USA Today poll. The ESPN/USA Today poll collected votes before the end of Sunday's win over Virginia. The Deacons have been in the AP poll in 32 of the last 33 weeks. They have been ranked in both polls for 13 consecutive weeks. Wake Forest is 19th by Basketball America, 20th by CBS Sportsline, 22nd by College RPI.com, 25th in the Sagarin Ratings and 29th in the Sporting News.
Milestones Within Reach
- Senior Darius Songaila (1,720 career points) needs just two points to move into the top 10 on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list. He would pass Chris King (1,721 points from 1988-92) for 10th place. Ten more points would give Songaila 100 career double-figure scoring games. - Senior Craig Dawson (1,245 career points) can move into 22nd place on Wake's all-time scoring chart, passing Kenny Green, with eight more points - Dawson (233 career three-pointers) needs four three-pointers to rank 13th in ACC history. - Senior Broderick Hicks (262 career assists) needs two assists to pass Jerry Schellenberg for 10th place on Wake's all-time assists list.
Deacs Approach Impressive Marks
n Wake Forest, 8-5 in the ACC, has already matched its conference win total from last season and the Deacons have surpassed their ACC win total from 1998, 1999 and 2000 when they went 7-9 three consecutive years. - Wake Forest's 8-5 record through 13 ACC games is its best start in league play since starting 9-4 in 1996-97 (Tim Duncan's senior year). The Deacons, in fact, have been below .500 after 13 ACC games in each of the four previous seasons. - The Deacons, 3-3 on the ACC road, have already matched the total produced in each of the previous two seasons. The last time WFU finished .500 or better on the ACC road came in 1996-97 when it went 6-2. - Wake Forest is guaranteed its 12th consecutive winning season. - Wake Forest has secured at least a fifth-place finish in the ACC for the 10th consecutive year. If North Carolina (48 straight years of finishing fifth or better in the ACC) suffers one more loss, or if Virginia gains one more win, the Deacons will have the longest current streak. - The Deacons appear to be a lock for their 12th consecutive postseason bid.
Skip Prosser Already In Select ACC Coaching Fraternity
Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser has an 8-5 record in his first ACC season. Only three first-year coaches in the 49-year history of the league have won more ACC games in their rookie season. North Carolina's Matt Doherty (2001) and Bill Guthridge (1998) share the record for most wins by a first-year ACC coach with 13. NC State's Press Maravich, in 1965, earned a 10-3 record. More on Prosser's first season at Wake Forest: - Prosser has accomplished what no other first-year coach in Deacon history has done since 1927 -- produce a winning season. Prosser is 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. He is the first rookie WFU coach ever to win on the road against UNC and NC State in the same season. - Prosser's Deacons have remained in the national polls for 13 consecutive weeks. - Wake Forest has won more games against nationally-ranked teams (three) than any Deacon team since 1996-97.
Howard's Absence, Tough Schedule, Make For 1-3 Stretch
Wake Forest enters the Maryland game having lost three of its last four games. And there are several factors in the recent slump: - Not coincidentally, the 1-3 stretch has come since junior Josh Howard went down with a high ankle sprain. Howard averages 14.3 points per game but his presence has been missed mostly on defense. He ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds and he may be one of the nation's best perimeter defenders. - And it's defense that has hurt the Deacons. Over the last four games, Wake opponents have averaged 95.2 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field. - Three out of the last four games have come against teams ranked in the top 15, including a win over 15th-ranked Virginia and losses to No. 6 Cincinnati and No. 3 Duke.
Wake Forest Over The Last Four Games WFU Opponents Points Per Game 90.5 95.2 Field Goal Percentage 45.6 52.3 3-Point Field Goal Percentage 40.2 42.2 Steals Per Game 4.8 7.0
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 10 different statistical categories. More on Songaila: - Over his last seven games, Songaila has averaged 19.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 93.5 percent (43-of-46) from the free throw line and 54.7 percent from the field. - He leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC in scoring (17.3 points per game). - Songaila has scored in double figures in every game but one this season and he has scored in double figures 99 times in his career. - He ranks third in the ACC in free throw percentage (.862). In ACC games only, he ranks second at 90.5 percent. - His career free throw percentage (.829) is the sixth-highest in Wake Forest history. - Songaila leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC in rebounding (8.0 rpg.). - He ranks eighth in Wake Forest history with 754 career rebounds. - He ranks eighth in Wake history with 93 career blocked shots. - He ranks 14th in the ACC in blocked shots (0.89). - Songaila has 12 double-doubles this season, including one in six of the last 10 games. Only Virginia's Travis Watson (15) has as many in the ACC. Only five different players in WFU history had more single-season double-doubles. - Songaila owns 21 career double-doubles, which ranks fifth in school history. - He ranks third in the ACC in field goal percentage (.519). - He ranks 11th in Wake Forest career scoring history with 1,720 points. - Songaila is just the sixth player in Wake Forest history to accumulate 1,500 points and 700 boards. - Only four players in school history have made more free throws than Songaila (538) and only five players have attempted more free throws (647). - He has scored 20 or more points in a game 19 times, including nine times this season and five times in his last seven games. - In ACC games, Songaila ranks 12th in the league in assists (2.85) and 14th in steals (1.31). - Songaila was named to the Preseason NIT All-Tournament team after his performances against Fresno State and Syracuse.
Songaila's Last Seven Games Opponent PTS REB FT-A AST ST vs. Duke 12 4 6-7 2 1 vs. Virginia 30 11 8-8 2 0 at Clemson 24 7 4-4 4 1 vs. Cincinnati 22 12 9-10 1 1 vs. North Carolina 10 8 2-2 3 3 at Florida State 20 10 8-9 2 2 at NC State 20 9 6-6 0 0
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. - In Wake's 82-81 win at NC State Jan. 30, Songaila hit two free throws with 1:35 left.
All-ACC Candidate Josh Howard Battling High Ankle Sprain
Junior Josh Howard was playing the best basketball of his career until he suffered a high left ankle sprain in practice on Feb. 7. Since the injury, the All-ACC candidate has played in part of just one of Wake's last four games. He sat out last Sunday's win over Virginia and Thursday's loss to Duke. He is questionable for Sunday's game at Maryland. Howard (14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game) had averaged 20.0 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals over his last four games before the injury. At 6-6, Howard ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds and he ranks among the ACC leaders in eight statistical categories. More on Howard: - In the Feb. 6 win over North Carolina, Howard tied a career-high with 24 points and made a career-best four three-point field goals. - He has scored 20 or more points in a game 10 times in his three-year career -- three of those have come in his last five games. - Nearly half of Howard's 185 rebounds have come on the offensive boards (85). - He is second on the team and 13th in the ACC in scoring (14.3 ppg.). - He ranks fifth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.515). - Only eight players in the ACC have more double-doubles this season than Howard (four). - Just a junior, Howard has already scored 1,072 career points to rank 33rd in WFU history. - He ranks eighth in the ACC in steals (1.67 spg.). - His seven steals against Georgia Tech on Jan. 26 were one shy of tying Muggsy Bogues' single-game record. - Howard ranks seventh among Wake's all-time leaders in steals with 142. - Howard ranks 10th in the ACC in blocked shots (1.00 bspg.). - He ranks among Wake's all-time leaders in blocked shots (89).
Hicks On A Roll As A Starter, Sixth Man, Point Guard Or Wing
After starting the first 19 games of the season, senior Broderick Hicks was replaced by freshman Taron Downey in the starting lineup. Not only did Hicks show character in the demotion, he has played his best basketball since then. "I look at it more as an opportunity," Hicks said. Hicks moved back into the starting lineup Feb. 13 at Clemson albeit at the big guard position. Downey still holds down the point guard position. Hicks has played perhaps the best basketball of his four-year career recently. Over his last six games, Hicks has averaged 14.7 points and 3.3 assists per game. He scored a then-career high 23 points Feb. 2 at Florida State, then topped that with 24 points one week later against Cincinnati. Hicks has played in 124 career games -- the fourth-most in Wake Forest history. He ranks ninth in Wake history for career three-point field goals (101) and 11th in school history for career assists (262).
Hicks' Last Six Games Opponent PTS 3P-A FT-A AST TO vs. Duke 10 0-3 4-4 1 2 vs. Virginia 5 1-1 0-2 6 3 at Clemson 16 2-11 4-6 6 3 vs. Cincinnati *24 3-5 5-7 4 0 vs. North Carolina 10 0-1 2-3 1 0 at Florida State 23 1-1 12-13 1 2 * career high
Three 1,000-Point Scorers On The Same Deacon Team
Wake Forest has three players on its roster -- Darius Songaila (1,720 career points), Craig Dawson (1,245 points) and Josh Howard (1,072 points) -- who have all reached the 1,000-point mark in their respective careers. The last time Wake had three 1,000-point scorers on the same team came in 1991-92 with Chris King, Rodney Rogers and Anthony Tucker. In all, it has happened just five times in Wake Forest history. The 1981-82 team had four 1,000-point scorers -- Alvis Rogers, Mike Helms, Guy Morgan and Jim Johnstone.
Craig Dawson Shows Why He's One Of The ACC's Top Distance Shooters
If you weren't sure if Craig Dawson was one of the nation's best three-point shooters, then watch tape of Wake's Feb. 13 game at Clemson. Dawson tied an ACC single-game record and broke the Wake Forest school by making 11 three-point field goals (on 17 attempts). He scored 10 points in the final 1:02 of regulation. He will leave Wake Forest as one of the most prolific three-point shooters in school and ACC history. More on Dawson: - He followed his record-breaking performance at Clemson by going 5-of-9 from three-point range last Sunday against Virginia. - Dawson has 78 three-point field goals this season -- the fourth-most single-season three-pointers in Wake Forest history. - He ranks fourth in Wake Forest history and 14th in ACC history with 233 career three-point field goals. - He leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.424). Dawson is vying to become the first Deacon to lead the ACC in three-point field goal percentage since Ricky Peral in 1996. - Dawson ranks third in the ACC for three-point field goals per game (2.89). He could become the first Deacon to lead the ACC in three-point field goals since Randolph Childress in 1994. - His career three-point field goal percentage (.390) is the eighth-highest in WFU history. - He has made at least one three-point field goal in every game but one this season and he has made at least two three-pointers in 19 of 27 games. - Dawson has made three or more three-pointers in a game 12 times this season, 32 times in his career. - Dawson ranks 19th in the ACC in scoring (12.0 ppg.). - He ranks 23rd in Wake Forest career scoring history with 1,245 points. - Dawson's assist-to-turnover ratio (69 assists, 34 turnovers) is the best on the team.
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, making him one of the ACC's most improved players. More on Scott: - Scott did not start last Sunday against Virginia for the first time all season, but came off the bench for 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. - He ranks second in the ACC in blocked shots (1.63 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 (.548) would be the third-highest in the ACC, but he does not have the minimum number of field goals made to qualify. - He ranks 26th in the ACC in scoring (10.4 ppg.) and 19th in rebounding (5.0 rpg.). - Scott ranks fifth on Wake Forest's all-time blocked shots list with 137 career rejections. - Scott has more dunks this season (51) than the rest of the Deacon team combined (41).
Antwan Scott This Season Last Season Minutes Per Game 29.0 16.2 Points Per Game 10.4 6.8 Rebounds Per Game 5.0 3.6 Field Goal Percentage 54.8 48.7 Blocks Per Game 1.63 1.3
Hicks Likely To Break All-Time Games Played Record
Barring injury, senior Broderick Hicks should graduate as Wake Forest's all-time leader in games played. Hicks is fourth on that list with 124 games played. Wake Forest has three regular season games remaining. If the Deacs play a minimum of one ACC Tournament game and one other postseason tournament game, he will own the all-time record held by Tim Duncan (128 games). Darius Songaila (123 games played) is one game behind Hicks. Antwan Scott (122 games played) and Craig Dawson (121) are in pursuit as well.
Cotten, Voice Of The Deacons, Wins Broadcasting Honor
Congratulations are in order to Stan Cotten, the play-by-play voice for Wake Forest sports. Cotten was named the North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year recently by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
Freshman Taron Downey Settles Into Starting Point Guard Role
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. More on Downey: - In November and December, Downey played an average of just 6.8 minutes per game. But since Jan. 1, the rookie southpaw has played 23.5 minutes per contest. - In each of his last two games -- vs. Virginia and Duke -- he scored eight points and he dished out a career-high seven assists and committed just one turnover against the Cavaliers. - In the Feb.13 game at Clemson, Downey's clutch three-pointer with one second remaining sent the game into overtime. He finished the game with 13 points, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes. - Jan. 7 at Navy, he came off the bench for a career-high 15 points, including three three-point field goals.
Taron Downey Category First 12 Games Last 13 Games Minutes Per Game 6.8 25.5 Points Per Game 1.7 7.5 Three-Point Field Goals 0.3 1.4 Rebounds 0.5 1.5 Assists 0.7 2.3 Total Steals 2 6
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. Danelius is shooting a team-best 60.2 percent from the field. More impressively, Danelius has shot less than 50 percent in a game just three times in 27 games. More on the Lithuanian rookie: - He has scored in double figures in each of the last two games. - Danelius is coming off his second career double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) versus Duke. - Jan. 12 against Clemson, he recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. - Last Sunday against 15th-ranked Virginia, Danelius made his first career start and responded with 13 points and eight rebounds.
