Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Takes Top Seed Into ACC Tournament
3/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 11, 2003
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#9 Wake Forest (23-4/13-3) 2003 ACC Tournament Quick Facts
March 13-16, 2003 Greensboro, NC / Greensboro Coliseum (23,733)
Thursday's practice/interviews: The Deacons will practice (open to the media) from 10-11 a.m., followed by a 30-minute interview session in the south end zone stands. Friday's game: Wake Forest will play Friday at Noon against the winner of Thursday night's game between No. 8 seed Clemson and No. 9 Florida State. The winner advances to Saturday's semifinal game at 1:30 p.m.
TV: Every ACC Tournament game will be televised by Jefferson-Pilot Sports and ESPN2 or ESPN. Radio: The Deacon Radio Network, produced and distributed by ISP. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
Website: wakeforestsports.com, theacc.com.
The Record: Wake Forest finished the regular season 23-4 overall and 13-3 (first place) in the ACC. The Deacons closed the regular season with a 78-72 win at NC State on March 8.
The Seed: Wake Forest is seeded No. 1 for the first time since 1995.
The Rankings: WFU is ranked ninth in the Associated Press poll and ninth in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
WFU Coach Skip Prosser: Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy '72) is 44-17 in his second season at Wake Forest, 209-95 (.688) in 10 years overall. Prosser coached one season at Loyola (MD) and seven seasons at Xavier before coming to Wake Forest
Tournament history: Wake Forest is 38-45 all-time in 49 years of ACC Tournament play, including a 24-24 record in the quarterfinals.
Tournament titles: The Deacons own four titles -- 1996, 1995, 1962 and 1961. WFU contact: Assistant AD/Media Relations Dean Buchan. Cell phone (336.287.8954).
Wake Forest takes top seed into 50th ACC Tournament
Wake Forest, one of college basketball's biggest surprises in 2002-03 and the outright ACC regular season champion for the first time in 41 years, takes the No. 1 seed into this week's ACC Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum. The ninth-ranked Deacons, 23-4 overall and 13-3 in the ACC, are the tournament's top seed for the first time since 1995. By beating NC State on the road Saturday, 78-72, Wake Forest claimed its first regular season crown since 1995 and its first outright title since 1962 -- the same year WFU made its only Final Four appearance. The Deacons finished first in the ACC by two full games. Wake Forest, searching for its first ACC Tournament championship since winning back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996, opens quarterfinal play Friday at noon (Jefferson-Pilot/ESPN2). The Deacons will play the winner of Thursday night's game between No. 8 seed Clemson and No. 9 seed Florida State. The Deacons swept the regular season series with both Clemson and Florida State. The winner of Friday's game advances to Saturday's semifinal game at 1:30 p.m. against either Georgia Tech or NC State. Quick tournament notes: - Wake Forest is the No. 1 seed for just the third time in the 50-year history of the ACC Tournament. The previous two times the Deacons were the top seed -- in 1962 and 1995 -- Wake Forest won the tournament title. - Since winning back-to-back ACC Tournament titles in 1995 and 1996, the Deacons have gone just 3-6 in ACC Tournament play. - Coach Skip Prosser is vying to win a conference tournament in three different leagues. His Loyola team won the 1994 MAAC Tournament and his Xavier club won the 1998 A-10 Tournament.
Wake Forest highlights, milestones from a record-setting year
Wake Forest, picked sixth in the ACC preseason poll, exceeded all expectations in 2002-03, finishing on top of the ACC standings for the first time since 1995 and winning the regular season title outright for the first time since 1962. More on Wake's 2002-03 regular season: - Wake Forest broke a school record for the most conference wins in a season (13). - The Deacons' 23 wins tie for the fourth-most in school history. WFU is now three wins away from tying the record of 26 wins held by the 1995 (26-6) and 1996 (26-6) teams. - WFU's winning percentage (.852) is the second-highest in school history, trailing only the 1926-27 team that finished 22-3 (.880). - The Deacons closed the season by winning 11 out of 12 ACC games -- its best run in more than 40 years. - Wake Forest didn't crack the Associated Press top 25 until sneaking in at No. 25 on Dec. 23. The Deacons enter postseason play ranked in the top 10 for the second straight week. - This is the 12th year that the ACC has played a 16-game conference schedule. Wake Forest is the 13th team during that span to win at least 13 games. - Wake Forest reached the 20-win plateau for the 17th time in school history. The Deacons have won 20-plus games in each of the last two seasons and in eight of the last 11 seasons. - For coach Skip Prosser, winning 20 games has become commonplace. Prosser's teams have won 20 games or more in seven consecutive seasons. Prosser is two wins shy of tying his personal single-season high of 25 wins posted by his 1999 Xavier team (25-11). - Prosser has won 22 ACC games in his first two seasons in the league. Only one other coach -- UNC's Bill Guthridge -- won more games in his first two seasons in the league. - Senior Josh Howard emerged as one of the nation's best players. He is considered a solid choice to be named ACC Player of the Year. He became Wake Forest's first All-American since Tim Duncan in 1997 after he was named to the NABC first team. - Wake Forest lost to just one unranked team (at Virginia on Jan. 23) and the Deacons beat three of six nationally-ranked opponents. - The Deacs enjoyed their best record ever (16-0) in the 14-year history of Lawrence Joel Coliseum and stretched their homecourt winning streak to 17 games. - Wake Forest went 7-4 on the road, including a 5-3 mark on the ACC road. The last time the Deacons were above .500 on the road came in 1996-97. - The Deacons lead the nation in rebound margin (+9.8) and are vying to be the first ACC team ever to finish the season ranked first in rebounding.
Josh Howard named first team NABC All-America
Wake Forest senior Josh Howard, who helped lead the Demon Deacons to a first-place finish in the ACC, was named first team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches March 10. Howard, 6-6, is joined on the first team by T.J. Ford (Texas), David West (Xavier), Nick Collison (Kansas) and Hollis Price (Oklahoma). "It's an honor to be selected as an All-American," Howard said. "It's nice to be recognized in the same group with some outstanding players and I give all the credit to my coaches and my teammates." Howard is the 11th All-American in WFU history and the first since Tim Duncan in 1996 and 1997. Other Deac All-Americans: Randolph Childress (1995), Rodney Rogers (1993), Frank Johnson (1981), Rod Griffin (1977, 1978), Skip Brown (1975, 1977), Charlie Davis (1971), Len Chappell (1961, 1962), Jackie Murdock (1957) and Dickie Hemric (1954, 1955).
Howard unanimous first team All-ACC
Josh Howard was a unanimous first team All-ACC selection announced March 10 by the Associated Press. Howard is the first Deacon to be named first team All-ACC since Tim Duncan. Duncan is also the last Deac to be chosen unanimously, in 1996 and 1997. Howard was second team All-ACC in 2001 and third team in 2002. Nineteen Wake Forest players, including Howard, have been named first team All-ACC a total of 31 times. Howard is joined on the first team by Dahntay Jones (Duke), Steve Blake (Maryland), Julius Hodge (NC State) and Edward Scott (Clemson).
Danelius nabs second team All-ACC honors
Sophomore Vytas Danelius, one of the ACC's most improved and consistent performers, was named second team All-ACC. Danelius is averaging 13.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 78.3 percent from the free throw line. Danelius is joined on the second team by Drew Nicholas (Maryland), Travis Watson (Virginia), Chris Bosh (Georgia Tech) and Tim Pickett (Florida State). The All-ACC third team includes J.J. Redick (Duke), Ryan Randle (Maryland), Chris Duhon (Duke), Raymond Felton (North Carolina) and B.J. Elder (Georgia Tech).
Gray named to ACC's All-Freshman team
Deacon guard Justin Gray, who overcame a broken jaw and emerged as a clutch performer, was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. Gray averages 11.9 points per game and has scored in double figures six times in eight games since returning from his one-month absence. He was joined on the All-Freshman team by Chris Bosh (Georgia Tech), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), J.J. Redick (Duke) and Rashad McCants (UNC).
Howard leading vote-getter for All-Defense Team
Josh Howard, one of the ACC leaders in rebounds, steals and blocked shots, was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team. Howard was the leading vote-getter for the All-Defensive team, joining Tim Pickett (Florida State), Chris Bosh (Georgia Tech), Dahntay Jones (Duke) and Clifford Crawford (NC State).
Howard a Wooden, Naismith Awards finalist
Wake Forest senior Josh Howard has made the cut for two of the nation's most prestigious individual awards. Howard is one of 22 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award and one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Award.
Demon Deacons are ranked No. 9 in both major polls
Wake Forest remained at No. 9 this week in the Associated Press poll and the Deacons earned their highest ranking of the season in the ESPN/USA Today poll, also at No. 9. WFU, which has won six straight games, has been in the AP top 10 three times in the last four weeks. The Deacons are in the AP top 25 for the 12th consecutive week after making their first appearance on Dec. 23. WFU has been ranked in 26 of 35 weeks under Skip Prosser. Wake is in the AP poll for the 204th time. Four Wake Forest opponents are in the AP poll -- No. 8 Marquette, No. 12 Duke, No. 14 Maryland and No. 18 Wisconsin. The Deacons went 3-3 against those four teams this season. In other polls, Wake Forest is ranked in the top 10 by Fox Sports, Sagarin, The Sporting News, College RPI and CBS Sportsline.
Deacs lead the nation in rebounding
With two of its top rebounders off of last year's team gone via graduation, rebounding was a big concern for Skip Prosser heading into 2002-03. So, you might say it's been a pleasant surprise that Wake Forest leads the nation in rebound margin (+9.8). More on WFU's rebounding: - The Deacons are attempting to be the first ACC team ever to lead the nation in rebounding. - The Deacons have out-rebounded every opponent but two (Maryland on Feb. 17 and Virginia on Feb. 23) this season. - Wake Forest has out-rebounded its opponent by 10 boards or more 17 times this season. - WFU's largest rebound margin in the last 10 seasons was +6.2 in 1997 -- Tim Duncan's senior year. - The Deacs aren't exactly a group of giants with no starter taller than 6-9 and their leading rebounder standing 6-6. It helps that bookend 6-2 guards Taron Downey and Justin Gray combine for 6.8 boards per game. - WFU averages more rebounds per game (41.9) than any Deacon team since 1968-69 (46.7). - Three of the ACC's top eight rebounders are Deacons -- Josh Howard (8.0/3rd), Vytas Danelius (7.6/4th) and Jamaal Levy (6.6/8th). - Howard leads the ACC in offensive rebounds while Danelius and Jamaal Levy rank in the ACC's top nine. - In ACC games only, three of the league's top six rebounders are Deacons -- Howard (3rd), Levy (4th) and Danelius (tied for 5th). - Howard, Levy and Danelius are WFU's most productive rebounding trio since Tim Duncan, Loren Woods and Ricky Peral in 1997.
Deacons go cold from the line, but still among nation's best
Despite a recent cold streak (61.4 percent over last two games), Wake Forest remains one of the nation's best free-throw shooting teams: - Wake ranks second in the ACC and 23rd nationally in free throw percentage (.749): - WFU's free throw percentage is the eighth-highest in school history and the highest since 1994-95. - Wake Forest has a history of good free throw shooting. The Deacons led the nation in 1954 and 1955 and former Deac Dickie Hemric is the NCAA all-time leader in free throws made and attempted. - The Deacons have made more free throws (534) than their opponents have attempted (495) for the first time since 1993. - Three of the ACC's top nine in free throw percentage are Deacons -- Taron Downey (4th/.856), Josh Howard (6th/.838) and Vytas Danelius (9th/.783). - Trent Strickland (.780), Justin Gray (.774) and Steve Lepore (.750) give the Deacons six regulars shooting at least 75 percent from the line. - One key has been consistency. The Deacons have shot less than 70 percent from the line in a game just seven times in 27 games.
Deacons get it done on defense
Wake Forest is holding opponents to just 39.3 percent shooting. That ranks the Deacons 11th nationally in field goal percentage defense. The Deacons have held nine of their last 13 opponents to less than 40 percent shooting. WFU's field goal percentage defense is its lowest since 1997.
Demon Deacons rank 17th nationally in scoring margin
Wake Forest's scoring margin (+11.5) ranks 17th nationally and is its highest since outscoring opponents by 11.7 points per game in 1996-97.
What they've done lately
Over the last five games -- all Deacon victories -- Wake Forest has made more three-point field goal attempts and at a higher percentage. The Deacons, over the last five games, have made 7.2 three-pointers per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from behind the arc. WFU has also taken better care of the basketball, earning more assists than turnovers. On the negative side, the Deacs' free throw percentage has dropped off since being ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Category Overall Last 5 Games Record 23-4 5-0 Field Goal Percentage 46.0% 46.9% Defensive Field Goal Percentage 39.3% 39.6% Free Throw Percentage 74.9% 69.2% Three-Point Field Goals Per Game 6.1 7.2 Three-Point Field Goal Percentage 34.4% 39.1% Assists Per Game 14.7 15.4 Turnovers Per Game 15.4 15.0
Deacons turn it up a notch in 2nd half
Wake Forest has become a second-half team: - In the March 8 game at NC State, the Deacons trailed by 11 points at halftime before rallying for a six-point victory. - The win at NC State marked Wake's largest halftime deficit erased for a win since rallying from an 11-point deficit against Evansville on Dec. 7, 1988. - WFU led North Carolina by four at half on March 5, then outscored the Tar Heels by 11 in the second stanza. - On Feb. 23 against Virginia, the Deacons trailed by five points at half, but rallied for a four-point win. - Over the last five games, Wake Forest has outscored opponents by an average of just 0.4 points in the first half. In the second half, however, WFU has outscored foes by an average of 8.4 points. - All season long, Wake has shot better in the second half (.463) than the first half (.449). - Over the last five games, the Deacons have shot a sizzling 53.8 percent in the second half, compared to just 41.0 percent in the first half.
Deacons streaks & trends
0-0 in neutral site games. 3-0 in WFU's last three road games. 3-0 in games decided by five points or less. 5-0 when playing on Saturday. 11-0 when scoring at least 80 points. 11-1 in WFU's last 12 ACC games. 12-0 when Josh Howard scores more than 20 points. 13-0 when Josh Howard shoots at least 50 percent. 14-0 when Eric Williams scores more than six points. 16-0 at home this season (17-game homecourt win streak overall). 16-0 when Jamaal Levy shoots at least 40 percent. 20-0 when leading with 10:00 remaining. 20-1 when Wake Forest has more free throw attempts than the opponent. 21-0 when shooting a higher percentage than the opponent. 22-0 when leading with 5:00 remaining.
Howard has led Deacons to an average of more than 21 wins per season
Josh Howard, the only fourth-year senior on the roster (Steve Lepore, a Northwestern transfer, is the only other senior), has helped Wake Forest to one of its best four-year runs ever. Here are a few of Wake Forest's accomplishments over the last four years: - Eighty-five wins (85-42, .669) -- the fifth-most wins over a four-year period in Wake Forest history (see box at left) and an average of 21.3 wins per season. - A winning record (37-27) in ACC play. - Four consecutive postseason appearances (assuming WFU will be invited to the NCAA Tournament this season), including the NIT championship in 2000 and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2002. - Ten wins over nationally-ranked teams including four wins over top 10 teams.
Lepore's knee acting up again
Senior Steve Lepore aggravated his knee Feb. 9 at Marquette and has missed the last eight games (he did play one minute on Senior Night March 5). Lepore, who suffered a ruptured patella tendon last March in the ACC Tournament, is questionable for this year's event. It was more than one year ago (March 8, 2002) when Lepore originally suffered the knee injury against Georgia Tech.
Deacons eye 13th consecutive postseason appearance
Wake Forest entered the 2002-03 season having appeared in postseason play 12 consecutive seasons. That's the longest current streak among all teams in the ACC. Maryland, with nine straight postseason appearances, is second. The Deacons earned NCAA Tournament bids every year from 1991 to 1997, then played three straight years in the NIT. In 2000, WFU won the NIT title. WFU went back to the NCAAs in 2001 and 2002. Coach Skip Prosser has led his teams to postseason play every season but one in his 10-year coaching career. Prosser has led three different teams to the NCAA Tournament.
