Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Plays At Nationally-Ranked Maryland Sunday Night
1/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Game No. 16 / Comcast Center / College Park, MD
Wake Forest (11-4/0-2) at #21/23 Maryland (11-4/1-2)
Tip-Off: 7:35 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Net. Tim Brando (play-by-play), Mike Gminski (color) and Julie Donaldson (sidelines) call the action. Bob Steinfeld is the producer.
Radio: Wake Forest ISP Sports Network. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
Records: Wake Forest is 11-4 overall and 0-2 in the ACC after a 74-73 overtime loss at Clemson Wednesday night. Maryland is 11-4 and 1-2 following a 76-52 loss at No. 1-ranked Duke Wednesday night.
Rankings: Wake Forest is receiving votes for the Associated Press poll and for the ESPN/USA Today poll. Maryland is ranked 21st in the AP poll, 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 105-39 (.729) in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons, 270-117 (.698) in his 13th season overall.
Maryland coach Gary Williams (Maryland `68) is 345-182 in 17 seasons at his alma mater, 552-310 in 28 seasons overall.
Series: Maryland leads the all-time series, 57-54.
On Deck: Wake Forest hosts Georgia Tech Wednesday night. Maryland hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Officials: Announced on game day.
Deacons Face Another Stiff Road Test Sunday Night At Maryland
Wake Forest, coming off consecutive losses to begin the ACC season, travels to nationally-ranked Maryland Sunday night for a nationally-televised game (7:30 p.m./Fox Sports net).
Both teams enter Sunday's game with two-game losing streaks.
The Demon Deacons, 11-4 overall and 0-2 in the ACC, lost at home to No. 1 Duke last Sunday (82-64), followed by a 74-73 overtime loss at Clemson Wednesday night.
Wake Forest erased a 12-point second-half deficit to take a five-point lead at Clemson Wednesday, but the Tigers scored the final five points in regulation to send the game into overtime. The Deacons led by three in overtime, but Clemson later scored six straight points to take the 74-73 victory.
Maryland, 11-4 and 1-2, returns home after losing at Miami Saturday, and at No. 1 Duke Wednesday night. The Terrapins, ranked 21st in the Associated Press poll and 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today poll, have four players who average scoring in double figures.
For the second straight Sunday, Wake Forest will play on national television on Fox Sports Net.
Maryland leads the all-time series, 57-54. Wake Forest, which will play in the Comcast Center for the first time since 2004, has won three of the last four meetings with the Terrapins. More series information can be found on page three.
Sunday's Storylines
- Wake Forest will try to avoid its first 0-3 start in the ACC since the 1989-90 season when coach Dave Odom's first Deacon team lost its first 11 league games.
- Sunday's game will be the only regular season meeting this season between the Deacons and Terrapins. Wake Forest will not play at home against Maryland for the first time since 1953.
- Wake Forest has been out-rebounded just one time this season.
- The Deacons had been ranked in the Associated Press poll for a school record 60 straight weeks until this week. Wake Forest is receiving votes for both polls.
More From Wednesday's Loss At CU
Wake Forest out-rebounded Clemson, 52-36, held the Tigers to 40.6 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers. The Deacons, however, fell in overtime to the Tigers, 74-73. More from Wednesday's loss:
- Wake Forest played its ACC-high seventh game decided by five points or less.
- The Deacons earned a double-figure rebound margin for the seventh time this season.
- Wake lost to Clemson for just the second time in the last 14 meetings.
Williams Gets 22 Points, 20 Rebounds
Deacon senior Eric Williams may never get 31 rebounds in a game -- like his mother, Debra, once did -- but he keeps inching closer.
Williams pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds to go with 22 points Wednesday night at Clemson. More on his performance against the Tigers:
- Williams had more rebounds than any Deacon since Tim Duncan in Duncan's senior season of 1997. Previously, the most in the Skip Prosser era was 18 by Darius Songaila against NC State on March 2, 2002.
- His 20 rebounds were the most in the ACC this season (previously, Duke's Shelden Williams had 19 rebounds vs. Virginia Tech on Dec. 4).
- He is the first Clemson opponent to have 20 rebounds in a game since Al Young of Jacksonville on Dec. 16, 1975.
- Williams is the first Deacon player to have 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game since Tim Duncan had 21 points and 23 rebounds against Virginia on Feb. 22, 1997.
- He is just the seventh different Deacon player to have a 20-20 game. Players such as Dickie Hemric and Len Chappell had several 20-20 games, but Williams is just the seventh Deacon player to do so.
- He pulled down a career-high number of rebounds (previously 14 vs. Florida State on Feb. 12, 2005).
- Williams grabbed double-figure rebounds for the third time this season and the 18th time in his career.
- Williams scored in double figures for the 14th time this season (the 11th consecutive game), and the 80th of his career.
- His 14 defensive rebounds are the most by a Deacon in the Skip Prosser era (Songaila had 13 vs. NC State on March 2, 2002).
- He moved past both Josh Shoemaker and Dave Budd into 17th place on Wake's all-time career rebounds list.
- Williams took over the team lead in rebounding (8.6 rpg) from teammate Trent Strickland.
Most Rebounds In The Skip Prosser Era
20 Eric Williams at Clemson (ot) Jan. 11, 2006
18 Darius Songaila vs. NC State March 2, 2002
16 Trent Strickland vs. Texas Tech (2ot) Nov. 18, 2005
16 Kyle Visser vs. Texas Tech (2ot) Nov. 18, 2005
15 Jamaal Levy at Maryland Feb. 28, 2004
15 Josh Howard at Maryland Feb. 24, 2002
Deacons Playing Extra Minutes
There have been four overtime games this season involving ACC teams and Wake Forest has been a part of three of them.
The Deacons beat George Mason in overtime at home, topped Texas Tech in double-overtime in New York, and lost to Clemson in overtime Jan. 11.
More on Wake Forest and overtime games:
- This year's Wake Forest team has already done something last year's team did not do -- win an overtime game. Last year the Deacons went 0-3 in overtime games, including a double-overtime loss to West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- The Deacs have a long way to go to tie the school and ACC record of seven overtimes in one season, set in 1984. However, Wake Forest has won more than two overtime games in the same season just three times.
- Wake Forest is 46-48 all-time in overtime games, including a 5-5 mark under coach Skip Prosser.
- The Deacons have lost three straight road OT games.
Prosser: 105 Wake Wins & Counting
In just four-plus seasons at Wake Forest, head coach Skip Prosser's teams have accumulated 105 victories, meaning his Deacons have averaged 21 wins per season during his tenure.
Prosser's record at Wake Forest stands at 105-39 (.729). His career record is 270-117 (.698) in 13 seasons overall.
In each of Prosser's four previous seasons with the Deacons, Wake Forest has won at least 20 games, produced a winning record in the rugged ACC and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
Prosser will coach his 145th Wake Forest game Sunday. What his teams have accomplished statistically in his tenure is remarkable:
- Over the last four seasons combined (including this season), Wake Forest has won 35 ACC games. Only Duke, with 38 wins, has won more league games during that time.
- Wake Forest is 65-8 at home with just two losses coming to a non-conference opponent.
- Prosser's teams are 13-7 in games decided by three points or less.
- His teams are 99-6 when leading with 5:00 remaining.
- Wake Forest has out-rebounded its opponent in 109 of 144 games under Prosser.
- The Deacons have scored 100-plus points nine times under Prosser.
- Prosser is a combined 45-6 in games played in November and December.
Wake Forest, Kentucky Fall From Polls After Lengthy Stays
Wake Forest's streak of being ranked in the Associated Press top 25 ended this week after 60 consecutive weeks.
The Deacons are receiving votes for both the AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Wake was ranked in every AP poll from Dec. 23, 2002 through Jan. 2, 2006. Kentucky, which had been ranked in 83 consecutive AP polls, also fell out of the top 25. A lengthy Arizona streak also ended earlier this season.
In five seasons under coach Skip Prosser, Wake Forest has been ranked in the AP poll every week but five.
Earlier this season, Wake Forest broke the school record of 54 straight weeks ranked held by Deacon teams of the Tim Duncan era from 1995 to 1997.
Wake vs. Maryland: The Series History
- Maryland leads the all-time series, 57-54.
- Wake Forest has won three of the last four meetings, including an 81-66 win at Winston-Salem last season in the only meeting between the two teams.
- Maryland has won 33 of 50 previous meetings in College Park.
- The two teams have split two previous meetings in the Comcast Center. Wake Forest won the last meeting in the Comcast Center, 91-83, in 2004.
- The first meeting between the two teams took place during the 1952-53 season.
- Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser is 4-5 all-time against Maryland. That record includes an 0-1 mark while coaching at Loyola (MD), his first head-coaching job.
- Maryland coach Gary Williams is 19-18 against Wake Forest, including a 17-16 mark while at Maryland. His Boston College teams went 2-0 against the Deacons and his American teams went 0-2 against Wake.
- Wake Forest and Maryland met just once last year, ending a long run in the series. Prior to last season, the two teams had met at least twice each season since the ACC originated in 1953-54.
- Wake Forest is 67-63 all-time against teams from the state of Maryland.
Deacon-Terrapin Connections
- Wake's Eric Williams and Maryland's Travis Garrison played together in the 2002 McDonald's High School All-America Game.
- Maryland coach Gary Williams went 4-2 against Wake Forest as a player for the Terrapins from 1965-67.
- Terrapin assistant coach Rob Moxley coached a dozen years in the state of North Carolina as an assistant coach at Pfeiffer, Gardner-Webb and Charlotte.
On This Date In Deacon History
January 15th -- Wake Forest is 7-10 all-time on this date. The Deacons played on January 15th last season, beating third-ranked North Carolina, 95-82. Wake Forest set an ACC record by making 32-of-32 free throw attempts in the win over the eventual national champions.
On Jan. 15, 1970, Dickie Walker poured in 40 points in a 90-79 win over Virginia. On Jan. 15, 1968, Wake fell at No. 1 Duke, but the Deacons were whistled for just five personal fouls -- still a school record for fewest fouls.
Comparing The Campuses
Wake Forest Maryland
Winston-Salem, NC Location College Park, MD
1834 Founded 1856
4,037 Undergrad Enrollment 25,140
Private Private/Public Public
Eddie Timanus USA Today Sports Staffer Larry Weisman
Billy Packer Athlete Turned Broadcaster Len Elmore
Marc Blucas You've Seen Them On TV Larry David
Deacon Schedule Looking A Little More Difficult
Officially, Wake Forest has played just one game against a nationally-ranked opponent. That statistic is certainly misleading considering that two of Wake's three losses have come against teams currently ranked No. 1 (Duke) and No. 2 (Florida) in the national polls.
To clarify, Florida was not ranked when the Gators beat the Deacons back in November. Florida has since shot up the polls to No. 2.
More on the difficulty of Wake Forest's schedule:
- Wisconsin was not ranked in the top 25 when the Deacons beat the Badgers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Wisconsin is ranked this week.
- Seven Wake Forest opponents are ranked in the AP top 25 this week -- 1. Duke, 2. Florida, 15. Boston College, 18. NC State, 20. North Carolina, 21. Wisconsin and 23. Maryland.
-Another opponent, Florida State, is receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
- Wake Forest has 15 regular season games remaining. Seven of those games come against teams ranked this week in the AP top 25.
- DePaul, which beat Wake Forest Dec. 13, is not ranked, but the Blue Demons are 19th in the RPI.
- Two of Wake's next three games come against ranked teams -- at Maryland (Sunday) and at NC State (Jan. 21).
Close Games The Norm For Wake
If playing close games is good experience for March, Wake Forest should be well-prepared for the postseason.
The Demon Deacons have played seven games decided by five points or less. No other team in the ACC has played in more than four such games.
Wake is 4-3 in games decided by five points or less.
The Deacons have played in an ACC-high three overtime games.
Rebounding A Real Deacon Strength
Rebounding is always an emphasis of a Skip Prosser-coached team and this season is no different.
Wake Forest ranks second in the ACC and eighth nationally in rebound margin (+9.5). In 15 games this season, the Deacons have been out-rebounded just once.
More on the Deacons' rebounding:
- Eric Williams (8.6 rpg) ranks third in the ACC in rebounding and Trent Strickland (8.1) ranks fifth.
- Wake is producing a rebound margin of +9.0 or higher for just the third time in school history. In 2003, the Deacons led the nation in rebound margin (+9.7). In 1961, Wake used a +9.0 margin to help win its first ever ACC championship.
- On Dec. 17 against Princeton, Wake out-rebounded the Tigers 39-15, setting a school record for fewest rebounds by an opponent.
- Wisconsin entered its game against Wake with a +12.7 rebound margin. The Deacons out-rebounded the Badgers, 45-36.
- Against Texas Tech on Nov. 18, the Deacons pulled down 66 rebounds -- the second-most single-game boards in school history.
Defense Has Been Better This Season
The statistics show that Wake Forest is a much better defensive team this season.
The Deacons are holding opponents to 38.2 percent shooting, ranking second in the ACC and 13th nationally for field goal percentage defense. Last year Wake Forest opponents shot nearly 44 percent.
Only DePaul and Duke shot better than 48.1 percent against the Deacons. Wake has held eight of its opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, including three foes to less than 30 percent shooting.
Wake Forest's field goal percentage defense is its lowest since the 1996-97 season and the fifth-lowest in school history.
Drum Questionable For Sunday
Michael Drum bruised his back, hip and tailbone Wednesday night at Clemson and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Maryland.
Quick Player Updates
Michael Drum -- Jr., G, 6-6, Rural Hall, NC He scored four points at Clemson Wednesday, including an acrobatic, off-balance shot that somehow went in... Drum was injured on the play, bruising his back, hip and tailbone and did not return... looking for his first three-point field goal since Dec. 30... has not had a turnover since Jan. 4.
Shamaine Dukes -- Fr., G, 6-1, Cuthbert, GA Started the last four games at point guard... has taken just five shots over the last three games combined... has five assists and 10 turnovers in his last three games combined.
Chris Ellis -- Sr., F, 6-9, Marietta, GA Started the second half of the Clemson game... has played more than 20 minutes in each of the last three games... ranks second on the team with 18 blocked shots, but hasn't had a rejection since Dec. 17.
Justin Gray -- Sr., G, 6-2, Charlotte, NC His scoring average (18.4) is Wake's highest since Josh Howard averaged more than 19 points per game in 2003... has played an average of 38 minutes over the last three games... averaging 5.5 assists over the last two games... he was named ACC Player of the Week Dec. 5, an honor he has earned three times in his career... his 37 points against Wisconsin Nov. 29 tied a Lawrence Joel Coliseum record and also tied an ACC/Big Ten Challenge record.
Harvey Hale -- Fr.., G, 6-2, Albuquerque, NM Has played well in each of the last two games... has 12 points, has shot 50 percent and made two three-point field goals during that span.
Cameron Stanley -- r-Fr., F, 6-6, Raleigh, NC Stanley's playing time has increased recently... he played 14 minutes against both Duke and Clemson... helped the Deacs erase a 12-point second-half deficit Wednesday night... has seven rebounds over the last two games.
Trent Strickland -- Sr., G-F, 6-5, East Flat Rock, NC One of the ACC's most improved players, Strickland has doubled his scoring average from a year ago... he ranks 20th in the ACC at 12.9 points per game... shooting 54.5 percent from the field... has five double-figure rebound games this season including 16 against Texas Tech on Nov. 18... made his first six three-point field goal attempts of the season and is currently shooting 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from behind the arc... has already made 12 three-point field goals, compared to just 10 all of last season... playing an average of 32.8 minutes per game (compared to 16.9 last season)... named MVP of the 2k Classic Winston-Salem Regional... named ACC Player of the Week Nov. 14.
Kevin Swinton -- Fr., F, 6-7, Greensboro, NC Has been solid off the bench of late... played 15 minutes at Clemson and had three rebounds to go with a blocked shot... scored six points in a losing effort against Duke.
Kyle Visser -- Jr., C, 6-11, Grand Rapids, MI Played extremely well in November and early December, but has struggled in January... has scored just six points over the last three games while playing an average of 11 minutes per contest... Wake's leader in blocked shots with 25... made his only three-point field goal attempt of the year, at Elon.
Eric Williams -- Sr., C, 6-9, Wake Forest, NC Has scored in double figures in 32 of his last 33 games... coming off a 22-point, career-high 20-rebound performance against Clemson... his 20 rebounds were the most by a player in the ACC this season, the most by a Deacon since 1997 and the most by a Clemson opponent since 1975... is a respectable 7-of-11 from the free throw line over the last two games... has blocked seven shots over the last six games... has scored at least nine points in every game this season... averaging 36 minutes of playing time over the last three games.
Big E 3rd Nationally In FG Percentage
Deacon senior Eric Williams has always produced a high field goal percentage. This season, however, he has rarely missed.
Williams leads the ACC and ranks third nationally in field goal percentage (.669). He is one of just three players in the ACC shooting better than 60 percent.
Williams is a remarkable 101-of-151 from the field. It helps that Williams has 26 dunks this season and 152 dunks for his career.
His 67.9 field goal percentage, if it held throughout the season, would shatter the Wake Forest single-season record of 63.5 percent.
Williams' career field goal percentage (.595) ranks second in Wake Forest history and 13th in ACC history.
Statistically Speaking
- Wake Forest has an odd combination of defensive statistics... the Deacons rank second in the league in field goal percentage defense, 5th in the ACC (and 26th nationally) in blocked shots per game, but Wake ranks next-to-last in the ACC (and 296th nationally) in steals per game... the Deacons lead the ACC in rebounds per game and rank eighth nationally in rebound margin... Wake, however, ranks last in the ACC in turnover margin and 11th in free throw percentage.
- Justin Gray ranks in the top five in the ACC in four statistical categories... he is second in the ACC in scoring (18.4)... ranks third in the ACC in both three-point field goals per game (2.67) and three-point percentage (.367)... Gray is fourth in the ACC in free throw percentage (.825)... leads the team and ranks ninth in the league in assists per game (3.73)... averaging 34.8 minutes of action per game, which ranks fifth in the ACC.
- Eric Williams leads the ACC and ranks third nationally in field goal percentage (.669)... ranks second in the league in defensive rebounds (5.87)... ranks third in the ACC rebounding (8.6) and 10th in scoring (16.3).
- Trent Strickland ranks fifth in the ACC in rebounding (8.1) and fourth in defensive rebounds (5.3)... one of three Deacons in the top 20 in the ACC in scoring (20th at 12.9)... ranks fifth in the ACC with four double-doubles.
- Kyle Visser leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC in blocked shots per game (1.7).
Strickland Has Four Double-Doubles
Senior Trent Strickland, prior to this season, had never recorded a double-double. This season, he is tied for fifth in the ACC with four.
Strickland entered his senior season with a career-high of eight rebounds. This season he has five games with at least 10 rebounds, including a 16-rebound effort against Texas Tech.
Justin Gray One Of The Most Prolific Three-Point Shooters In ACC History
Senior guard Justin Gray has made 264 career three-point field goals -- the third-most in Wake Forest history and tied for the 10th-most in ACC history.
Gray is one three-point field goal away from passing Duke's Bobby Hurley for sole possession of 10th place on the all-time ACC career list. He has a chance to become just the ninth player in ACC history to sink 300 career three-pointers.
Gray has made at least one three-point field goal in 64 of his last 66 games.
He has attempted 706 career three-point field goals, ranking third in Deacon history.
More Milestones On The Horizon
- Eric Williams ranks 20th in Wake Forest scoring history with 1,428 career points... he can take over 19th place and pass Alvis Rogers with 14 points and he can move into 18th place and pass Jack Williams with 26 more points... he is the fifth-leading active career scorer in the ACC... he ranks 17th in Wake Forest career rebounding history but should move up that list quickly... he needs five rebounds to pass Chris King for 16th place and 10 boards to pass Sam Ivy for 15th place... he is 14 boards shy of his 700th career rebound... with 91 career blocked shots, Williams has a chance to become just the eighth player in Deacon history with 100 career blocks... with 102 career starts, he ranks ninth in Wake Forest history.
- Justin Gray is the third-leading active career scorer in the ACC with 1,621 points... he ranks 15th on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list... he needs 17 points to pass Bob Leonard for 14th place on that list... he ranks fourth among active players in the ACC for career assists with 297... he ranks 10th on Wake's all-time career assists list... he is just three assists shy of becoming the 10th Deacon all-time to record 300 career assists.
- Trent Strickland is nine rebounds away from his 400th career board... he is eight assists shy of 100 for his career... has played in 107 career games.
Dukes Tied Record In First Start
Freshman Shamaine Dukes went from benchwarmer to starter Dec. 30 against Charleston Southern and he did so in impressive fashion.
Dukes entered the game with one point in 44 career minutes. All he did against Charleston Southern was score 11 points, tie a Wake Forest freshman record by dishing out 10 assists, make the first two three-point field goals of his career and record three steals.
Dukes' 10 assists tied the school freshmen record held by both Chris Paul (at Maryland on Feb. 28, 2004) and Derrick McQueen (vs. New Mexico on Dec. 28, 1988). His 10 assists were the most by a Deacon since Chris Paul had 12 assists on Dec. 18, 2004.
Dukes was named the ACC co-Rookie of the Week for his efforts.
Not Bad For A Non-Scholarship Guy
Junior transfer Michael Drum may be a non-scholarship player, but he's not your typical walk-on. Drum played two seasons at Presbyterian College before transferring to Wake Forest, where his mother is employed.
Drum started in the season opener, becoming the first non-scholarship player to start for the Deacons since Jim Fitzpatrick in 1999-00. Drum started the first four games of the season. Fitzpatrick made five starts as a walk-on senior.
Even when coming off the bench, Drum has been solid. He averages 5.2 points per game and has made 11 three-point field goals. Drum is one of Wake's best free throw shooters at 80.6 percent.
Not Quite Like Dad, But Pretty Good
Senior Chris Ellis isn't the perimeter shooter his dad, Dale, was at Tennessee and in the NBA. Then again, few are.
Chris, however, has emerged as a dangerous three-point shooter, despite a somewhat awkward shot. He is 13-of-26 (.500) from three-point range this season.
Ellis had no three-pointers as a freshman or sophomore, and he made 11 all of last season as a junior.
Ellis would lead the ACC in three-point percentage, but does not have enough attempts to qualify. He ranks second on the team with 18 blocked shots.
Gray, Williams Are Wooden Candidates
Wake Forest seniors Justin Gray and Eric Williams were named two of the 50 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, which goes annually to the nation's top college player.
Gray and Williams are two of eight ACC players on the list, joining Maryland's Nik Caner-Medley, Miami's Guillermo Diaz, Boston College's Jared Dudley and Craig Smith, and Duke's J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams.
Season Tickets All Gone
Wake Forest established a first this season by completely selling out of season tickets. Capacity at Lawrence Joel Coliseum is 14,665.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Wake Forest and Lawrence Joel Coliseum will host NCAA Tournament 1st and 2nd round games in March of 2007.
- Wake Forest saw its 21-game home court win streak end Dec. 13 against DePaul.
- The Deacons have won their last five non-conference road games.
- Wake Forest has won 12 straight season openers dating back to a Nov. 25, 1993 loss to Alaska-Anchorage in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout.
- The Deacons have not lost a home opener since Nov. 28, 1988, against Richmond, 74-61.
Wake Forest Is Undefeated When...
... leading at halftime (11-0) and the Deacons are 0-4 when trailing at intermission.
... leading with 10:00 remining in the game (10-0).
... when shooting 50 percent or better (6-0).
... when shooting 40 percent or better from three-point range (6-0).
Three Walk-Ons Added To Roster
Three freshmen non-scholarship walk-on players, including two with local ties, were added to the Wake Forest 2005- 06 men's basketball roster.
Joining the Deacons are 6-7 forward Bobby Hoekstra (Lewisville, NC), 6-2 guard Matt Smith (Advance, NC) and 6-1 guard Mike Lepore (Flemington, NJ).
Hoekstra is a local product who enjoyed an outstanding prep career at Forsyth Country Day. A basketball and baseball standout for the Furies, Hoekstra averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game last season.
Smith played his prep basketball at Davie County High School, where he was all-conference and offensive team MVP.
Lepore played on the high school level at Lawrenceville Prep in New Jersey, where he lettered in both basketball and golf.
Deacon Basketball Calendar
January
13 - practice TBA
14 - 9-noon, practice at Miller Center, depart for Maryland
15 - 7:30, Wake Forest at Maryland (Fox Sports Net)
16 - no practice scheduled
17 - 3-6, practice at Joel Coliseum
18 - 9:00, Wake Forest vs. Georgia Tech, Joel Coliseum
19 - 4-7, practice at Miller Center
20 - 3-6, practice at Miller Center
21 - 4:00, Wake Forest at NC State (JP Sports)
22 - 3-6, practice at Miller Center
23 - 3-6, practice at Joel Coliseum
24 - 7:00, Wake Forest vs. Florida State, Joel Coliseum
25 - no practice scheduled
26 - 6-9, practice at Joel Coliseum
27 - 3-5, practice at Joel Coliseum
28 - 3:00, Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech, Joel Coliseum
29 - 12-3, practice at Miller Center
30 - 3:30-6:60, practice at Miller Center
31 - 9:00, Wake Forest at Miami (RSN)
Deacons Continue ACC/Big Ten Challenge Success
Aside from last year's thrashing by eventual NCAA runner-up Illinois, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge has been a highly successful event for Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons are 6-1 all-time in the Challenge, including a 4-0 record at home and a 2-1 mark on the road.
Only Duke, which is 7-0, has produced a better record in the Challenge than Wake Forest.
Wake Forest beat Wisconsin, 91-88, Nov. 29 behind Justin Gray's ACC/Big Ten Challenge record-tying 37 points.
The ACC has won all seven Commissioner's Cups, including a narrow 6-5 margin this year. The ACC is 40-24 all-time in the Challenge. Newcomer Boston College is the only ACC team that did not participate this year.
Challenge Opponent Date Result
vs. Wisconsin Nov. 29, 2005 W, 91-88
at Illinois Dec. 1, 2004 L, 73-91
vs. Indiana Dec. 2, 2003 W, 100-67
at Wisconsin Dec. 4, 2002 W, 90-80
vs. Minnesota Nov. 27, 2001 W, 85-79
at Michigan Nov. 28, 2000 W, 71-60
vs. Wisconsin Nov. 30, 1999 W, 67-48
