Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Hosting #23 Tar Heels Sunday Afternoon
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2006
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Game No. 26 / Lawrence Joel Coliseum
Wake Forest (13-12/1-10) vs. #23/23 North Carolina (16-6/7-4)
Tip-Off: 1:30 p.m.
TV: ABC. Brent Musburger (play-by-play) and Steve Lavin (color) call the action. Kim Belton is the producer.
Radio: Wake Forest ISP Sports Network. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
Live Stats: WakeForestSports.com.
Records: Wake Forest is 13-12 overall and 1-10 in the ACC after a 93-70 loss at No. 2-ranked Duke Tuesday night. North Carolina is 16-6 and 7-4 following an 82-75 win over visiting Georgia Tech Wednesday night.
Rankings: Wake Forest is not ranked. North Carolina is ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 107-47 (.695) in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons, 272-125 (.685) in his 13th season overall.
North Carolina coach Roy Williams (North Carolina `72) is 67-21 in his third season at his alma mater, 485-122 in 18 seasons overall.
Series: North Carolina leads the all-time series, 147-63.
On Deck: Wake Forest will host Clemson Wednesday night. North Carolina travels to NC State Wednesday night.
Officials: Announced on game day.
Demon Deacons, #23 North Carolina Meet Sunday At Lawrence Joel Coliseum
Wake Forest, hoping to get hot as March approaches, hosts 23rd-ranked North Carolina in a Sunday afternoon matinee at Lawrence Joel Coliseum (1:30 p.m./ABC).
The Demon Deacons, 13-12 overall and 1-10 in the ACC, have lost seven consecutive conference games since beating Georgia Tech on Jan. 18. Wake Forest is coming off a 93-70 loss at 2nd-ranked Duke Tuesday night.
Wake Forest is led by the senior trio of Justin Gray (19.0 ppg), Eric Williams (15.8 ppg and 8.8 rpg) and Trent Strickland (13.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg). All three rank among the top 20 scorers in the ACC.
North Carolina, 16-6 and 7-4, has won five out of its last six games including a 82-75 victory over visiting Georgia Tech Wednesday night. The defending NCAA champions are tied for third in the ACC standings.
The Tar Heels are led by Tyler Hansbrough (19.0 ppg and 7.7 rpg), one of the top candidates for national freshman of the year, and Winston-Salem native Reyshawn Terry (14.0 ppg and 6.1 rpg).
Wake Forest has won six out of the last seven meetings with North Carolina, including a 95-82 win over the Tar Heels in Winston-Salem last season. UNC leads the all-time series, 147-63. More series information can be found on page three.
Sunday's Storylines
- The addition of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College to the ACC over the last two years resulted in a quirk in Wake Forest's and North Carolina's league schedules. Sunday's game marks the second straight year that the two teams' only regular season meeting comes in Winston-Salem.
- Wake Forest will try to remain above .500 on Sunday. The Deacons have not been at .500 since starting the 1998-99 season with a 1-1 record.
- Sunday's game features two of the best rebounding teams in the ACC -- if not the nation. North Carolina (+8.8 rebound margin) ranks fifth nationally and Wake Forest (+6.5) ranks 16th.
Deacons Will Turn Back The Clock Sunday Against North Carolina
Wake Forest will look to its past when it hosts North Carolina Sunday afternoon.
The Demon Deacons will wear throwback uniforms -- replicas of Wake's 1962 Final Four team. The throwback uniforms are part of Wake Forest's celebration of 100 seasons of basketball.
Wake Forest vs. NCAA Champions
North Carolina didn't lose many games en route to winning NCAA championships in 2005, 1993 and 1982. However, each of those Tar Heel teams did lose a game to Wake Forest on the way to the national crown.
Wake Forest has beaten the eventual NCAA champion six times in school history, including four times in the 17-year history of Joel Coliseum. Perhaps Wake's most surprising win over the eventual national champ came in 1982 when it stunned North Carolina at Carmichael Auditorium.
Wake Wins vs. Eventual NCAA Champions
Season NCAA Champion WFU Win
2005 North Carolina WFU, 95-82
1993 North Carolina WFU, 88-62
1992 Duke WFU, 72-68
1991 Duke WFU, 86-77
1983 NC State WFU, 91-73
1982 at North Carolina WFU, 55-48
The Deacons vs. Defending Champs
Wake Forest has faced the defending NCAA champion 18 times in school history, posting a 6-12 record.
The last time the Deacons took on the defending champions -- in 2003 vs. Maryland -- Wake beat the Terrapins in Joel Coliseum and lost to the Terps at Cole Field House.
Wake Forest has not fared well against North Carolina teams that won the NCAA title the previous season, posting a 1-5 mark against the Tar Heels. Wake's only win came in Joel Coliseum in March of 1994.
Date Defending Champion WFU Result
1/4/58 at North Carolina L, 71-45
2/13/58 vs. North Carolina L, 60-57
1/3/75 vs. NC State W, 83-78
1/25/75 at NC State L, 106-80
1/27/83 vs. North Carolina (at Greensboro) L, 80-78
2/24/83 at North Carolina L, 100-85
1/21/84 vs. NC State L, 80-69
3/3/84 vs. NC State (at Greensboro) W, 84-75
1/25/92 at Duke L, 84-68
2/23/92 vs. Duke W, 72-68
1/13/93 vs. Duke L, 86-59
2/13/93 at Duke W, 98-86
1/30/94 at North Carolina L, 85-61
3/2/94 vs. North Carolina W, 68-61
1/19/02 at Duke L, 103-80
2/21/02 vs. Duke L, 90-61
1/15/03 vs. Maryland W, 81-72
2/17/03 at Maryland L, 67-90
Wake And UNC In The National Polls
- In last year's only meeting between Wake Forest and North Carolina, the Deacons were ranked fourth (AP) nationally and the Tar Heels third.
- Wake Forest is looking for its first win against a nationally-ranked team this season (0-5).
- Wake Forest is 16-27 against ranked teams under Skip Prosser.
On This Date In Deacon History
February 19th -- Wake Forest is 4-13 all-time on this date. The Deacons last played on February 19th in 2000 -- a 73-67 loss to visiting Maryland.
Wake and North Carolina have met on this date just once before -- a 74-60 Tar Heel victory in 1997.
On Feb. 19, 1977, Rod Griffin scored 37 points in an overtime win against Virginia Tech.
On Feb. 19, 1972, the Deacons were credited with just one assist in a loss at NC State.
On Feb. 19, 1955, Dickie Hemric made a school-record 20 free throws at Duke.
On Feb. 19, 1952, Deacon freshman Dickie Hemric scored 37 points in an overtime loss at Clemson.
WFU Must Work To Keep Streaks Alive
Wake Forest has five regular season games remaining to keep some impressive streaks alive:
- The Deacons have appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments.
- Including the NIT, Wake Forest has participated in postseason play an ACC-best 15 consecutive years.
- Wake Forest has finished fifth or higher in the ACC standings every year since 1993.
- The Deacons have won 20 games or more in each of the last four seasons.
- Wake Forest has not endured a losing season since 1990.
- The Deacons have remained above .500 since 1998-99 when it started the season 1-1.
- Wake is trying to avoid losing six home games for the first time since 1990 (the first year of Joel Coliseum).
Streaks that have already ended:
- The Deacons will finish below .500 in the ACC for the first time since going 7-9 in 1999-00.
- Wake Forest has lost double-figure conference games for the first time since going 3-11 in 1989-90. That was the longest current streak in the league.
Don't Count `Em Out Just Yet
While it has been 16 years (the 1989-90 season) since Wake Forest has struggled like it has this ACC season, the Deacons have rallied from lengthy slumps in the past:
- As recently as the 2003-04 season, Wake Forest suffered a significant losing skid. The Deacons lost six of eight games in January and early February that season, but Wake rallied to finish 9-7 in the ACC and ultimately advance to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
- In 2001-02, Skip Prosser's first season at Wake Forest, the Deacons lost eight of 13 games in January and February, but scrapped their way to a 9-7 ACC record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
- In 1993-94, Wake lost four of five January games but finished 9-7 in the ACC and went to the NCAA Tournament.
- The 1976-77 Deacons lost four consecutive February games, but rallied to go 8-4 in the ACC and advance all the way to the NCAA regional championship game.
- The 1960-61 Wake Forest team dropped four of five February games, but managed to win the ACC championship and advance to within one game of the Final Four.
Wake vs. UNC: The Series History
- North Carolina leads the all-time series, 147-63.
- Wake Forest has won six out of the last seven meetings.
- Four out of the last five meetings have been decided by six points or less.
- The two teams meet just once in the regular season for the second straight year. Last year's lone meeting was also played at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
- With 210 previous meetings, the Wake Forest-North Carolina is the fifth-most frequently-played rivalry in the ACC.
- Wake Forest won last year's meeting, 95-82 -- the sixth time the Deacons beat a team that went on to win the NCAA championship later that same season.
- The Deacons and Tar Heels have split the previous 16 meetings in Joel Coliseum.
- The two teams have not met in the ACC Tournament since 2000.
- The Deacons and Tar Heels first met on the hardwood in the 1910-11 season.
- Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser is 6-1 all-time against North Carolina.
- North Carolina coach Roy Williams is 3-3 all-time versus Wake Forest, including a 2-1 mark while at Kansas.
- North Carolina is one of seven in-state opponents on the Wake Forest schedule. Others include: UNC-Asheville, Appalachian State, Elon, Charlotte, Duke and NC State.
Deacon-Tar Heel Connections
- The Miller Center, located on the Wake Forest campus and home to the Deacons' practice facility (Budd Gymnasium), is named after Ken Miller. Ken is the father of North Carolina junior guard Wes Miller.
- Wes Miller and Wake's Justin Gray are both from Charlotte.
- Sunday is a homecoming of sorts for UNC's Reyshawn Terry and Mike Copeland, both of whom are from Winston-Salem and attended Reynolds High School.
- WFU's Cameron Stanley and UNC's Surry Wood both hail from Raleigh.
- Wake Forest (9) and North Carolina (7) combine to have 16 players from North Carolina on their rosters.
- Former Deacon Josh Howard and former Tar Heel Jerry Stackhouse are teammates with the Dallas Mavericks. Stackhouse is the uncle of former Deacons Craig Dawson and Jeremy Ingram.
- Deacon freshman David Weaver attended the same high school (Owen HS in Black Mountain, NC) as former Tar Heel Brad Daugherty.
Justin Gray One Of The Nation's Best
Lost in Wake Forest's recent skid is the play of senior guard Justin Gray, who is putting up numbers similar to those of recent Deacon greats Josh Howard and Tim Duncan.
"There is not a tougher player, mentally and physically, in the ACC than Justin Gray, and he should be given proper attention for being what he is -- one of the best players in the conference and one of the best guards Wake Forest has had," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said.
More on Gray:
- Over his last 10 games, Gray has averaged 20.7 points, 4.2 assists, 3.6 three-point field goals and 1.4 steals while shooting 43.4 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent from the free throw line.
- Gray has scored in double figures in 23 of 24 games.
- Earlier this season he scored 38 points at Maryland and 37 points vs. Wisconsin.
- He ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in six different statistical categories -- scoring, free throw percentage, assists, three-point field goals, three-point percentage and minutes played.
- In conference games only, Gray averages 22.0 points and 3.7 three-point field goals per game.
- Gray and senior teammate Eric Williams form one of the most prolific scoring duos in Wake Forest history. Gray (1,801 career points) and Williams (1,579) have combined for nearly 3,400 points.
Gray's Chance Of Making All-ACC First Team May Not Be Hurt By Record
Wake Forest will finish no better than 6-10 in the ACC this season, but if history is an indicator, the Deacons' record should not hinder senior Justin Gray from making first team All-ACC.
Gray, who ranks second behind Duke's J.J. Redick in scoring and three-point field goals, ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in six different statistical categories. He is one of four ACC players on the list of Wooden Award candidates.
Since the first year of the ACC (1954), 23 players have made first team All-ACC despite playing on teams that finished at least two games under .500 in league play. Most recently, Florida State's Tim Pickett made first team despite his team's 6-10 record.
In 1997, Matt Harpring of 3-13 Georgia Tech was selected first team. In 1996, Todd Fuller of 3-13 NC State tied Tim Duncan for the most first-team votes.
Even Derrick Lewis, who played for 0-14 Maryland in 1987, earned first team All-ACC honors.
Visser Named Academic All-District
Wake Forest junior Kyle Visser was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 3 first team, announced Feb. 9.
Visser, a communication major, is the second Deacon men's basketball player to earn Academic All-District honors in as many years. Chris Paul was named last year.
Visser advances to the national ballot for Academic All-America.
He was joined on the Academic All-District first team by Lee Humphrey (Florida), Will Emerson (Mercer), Alex Loughton (Old Dominion), Jack Leasure (Coastal Carolina) and Chris Chalko (Elon).
Prosser Owns Impressive Numbers
In just five seasons at Wake Forest, Skip Prosser's teams have accumulated 107 victories, meaning his Deacons have averaged 21.6 wins per season during his tenure.
He will coach his 400th career game Feb. 25 at Georgia Tech.
Prosser's record at Wake Forest stands at 107-47 (.695). His career record is 272-125 (.685) 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 ACC and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
Prosser will coach his 155th 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 36 ACC games. Only Duke has won more league games during that time.
- Wake Forest is 67-11 at home with just two losses coming to a non-conference opponent.
- Prosser's teams are 14-8 in games decided by three points or less.
- His teams are 101-6 when leading with 5:00 remaining.
- Wake Forest has out-rebounded its opponent in 115 of 154 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.
- Last season Wake Forest earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history en route to winning a school-record 27 games.
More From Tuesday's Loss At Duke
Wake Forest received a double-double from senior Eric Williams, and Justin Gray overcame a sore shooting elbow to score 18 points, but the Deacons could not overcome No. 2 Duke in Durham Tuesday night. More from the 93-70 Blue Devil victory:
- Duke set Wake Forest opponent season-highs for points (93), field goals (35) and field goal percentage (.574).
- Wake suffered its largest margin of defeat since losing by 23 at Maryland on Feb. 17, 2003, and tying for the second-largest margin of defeat in the Skip Prosser era.
- The Deacons had their largest halftime deficit of the season (14 points).
- The top two individual scoring efforts by a Deacon opponent this season both belong to J.J. Redick, who scored 32 and 33 points in two outings against Wake.
- A Deacon opponent has scored 30 points or more 12 times against Wake Forest in the Skip Prosser era; four of those have been by Redick.
- Duke shot 57.4 percent (35-for-61) for the game which is the highest field goal percentage by a Wake Forest opponent this season and the highest since Cincinnati shot 58.1 percent on Feb. 9, 2002.
Comparing The Wins And Losses
When Wake Forest has won this season, the Deacons have usually been superior on the boards, shot a solid percentage from the perimeter and kept the opponents off the free throw line. In Wake's 12 losses, the opposite has usually happened.
In Wake's 13 wins, the Deacons have out-rebounded opponents by 9.8 boards per game. In losses, the rebound margin is just +2.9.
Deacon opponents, in Wake Forest's 12 losses, are shooting nearly 41 percent from three-point range, compared to just 32.9 percent in Wake victories.
Another glaring statistic is opponent free throw attempts. Deacon opponents go the line an average of 10 more times in Wake losses.
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 40.7 percent shooting, ranking second in the ACC and 29th nationally for field goal percentage defense. Last year Wake Forest opponents shot nearly 44 percent.
Only five teams shot better than 48.1 percent against the Deacons. Wake has held nine opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, including four foes to less than 30 percent.
Williams Seeing Double-Double
Senior Eric Williams has six double-doubles in his last 10 games and seven for the season, which ranks fourth in the ACC.
Williams has 21 career double-doubles, which ranks tied for 11th in Wake Forest history. He has pulled down double-figure rebounds eight times this season and 23 times in his career.
Williams has scored in double figures in 21 consecutive games, 24 times overall this season and 90 times in his career.
Wake Strong Again On The Boards
In 2003, Wake Forest became the first ACC team to ever lead the nation in rebounding. While this year's Deacon team has been less consistent than the 2003 team, it's been nearly as strong on the boards.
Wake Forest owns a rebound margin of +6.4, which ranks second in the ACC and 16th nationally. Wake has been out-rebounded just five times this season. More on the Deacons' rebounding:
- Three of the top six rebounding teams in Wake Forest history have come under coach Skip Prosser.
- Eric Williams (8.8 rpg) ranks second in the ACC in rebounding and Trent Strickland (6.9) ranks 10th. In ACC games only, Williams is second in the league in rebounding (9.5 rpg).
- Against Princeton (Dec. 17), 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.
Ten Deacon Games This Season Decided By Five Points Or Less
Wake Forest has played more than its share of barn-burners in 2005-06. The Deacons have played 10 games decided by five points or less, earning a 5-5 record. No other team in the ACC has played in more than eight such games. The Deacons have played in an ACC-high three overtime games.
Wake's Close Calls In 2005-06
Result Opponent Site Date
W, 59-56 Charlotte H Feb. 11, 2006
L, 73-75 Virginia A Feb. 4, 2006
L, 86-90 Maryland A Jan. 15, 2006
L, 73-74 (ot) Clemson A Jan. 11, 2006
W, 58-54 East Carolina H Jan. 3, 2006
L, 81-84 DePaul H Dec. 13, 2005
W, 91-88 Wisconsin H Nov. 29, 2005
W, 78-73 (2ot) Texas Tech ny Nov. 18, 2005
L, 72-77 Florida ny Nov. 17, 2005
W, 83-78 (ot) George Mason H Nov. 11, 2005
Wake Playing Extra Minutes
There have been 10 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 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 NCAA Tournament.
- Wake Forest is 46-48 all-time in overtime games, including a 5-5 mark under coach Skip Prosser.
Big E 6th 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 sixth nationally in field goal percentage (.630). Williams and Georgia Tech's Ra'Sean Dickey (.609) are the only players in the ACC shooting better than 60 percent. Williams is a remarkable 160-of-254 from the field. It helps that he has 43 dunks this season and 169 dunks for his career.
His 63.0 field goal percentage is the highest by a Deacon player in 24 years and just short of the school record of 63.5 percent held by Jim Johnstone in 1982.
Williams' career field goal percentage (.593) ranks second in Wake Forest history and 14th in ACC history.
Quick Player Updates
Michael Drum -- Jr., G, 6-6, Rural Hall, NC The non-scholarship junior has started seven times this season... in a scoring slump of late with just four points over his last three games... free throw percentage is up to 79.6 percent and he hasn't missed from the line in almost a month (Jan. 24)... scored two points in 14 minutes at Duke Tuesday... ranks third on the team with 18 three-pointers... has the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team with 38 assists and 27 miscues.
Shamaine Dukes -- Fr., G, 6-1, Cuthbert, GA His playing time has dwindled, but he did play 13 minutes Tuesday at Duke... scored one point, had one assist and one steal... has not played in three of the last five games... started at the point five times earlier this season.
Chris Ellis -- Sr., F, 6-9, Marietta, GA Played just nine minutes in each of the last two games... had one assist and did not score at Duke Tuesday... hit a three-point field goal, grabbed three rebounds and blocked two Charlotte shots last Saturday... in a scoring slump recently with just 15 points over the last seven games... plays an average of 19.0 minutes per game... shooting 42.1 percent (16-of-38) from three-point range... has made more three-pointers this season than he did in his previous three seasons combined... ranks second on the team with 26 blocked shots.
Justin Gray -- Sr., G, 6-2, Charlotte, NC An All-American candidate... ranks second in the ACC behind J.J. Redick in scoring (19.0) and scoring in conference games (22.0)... had his streak of scoring in double figures snapped at 22 games last Saturday against Charlotte when he was held to four points... did not play against Virginia Tech Jan. 28 because of a stomach virus... is the target of opposing defenses... averaging 20.7 points, 4.2 assists and 3.6 three-point field goals over his last 10 games... leads the team in scoring, three-point field goals, free throws, free throw percentage and assists... scored a career-high 38 points at Maryland Jan. 15... his 38 points tied for the most by a Deacon player in the Skip Prosser era... his assists are up too, ranking third in the ACC in league games only... he is in elite Deacon company with more than 1,800 career points, 300 assists, 200 three-point field goals and 100 steals... going to the free throw line frequently -- he is 49-of-56 (.875) from the stripe over his last 10 games... his scoring average (19.0) is Wake's highest since Tim Duncan averaged 20.8 ppg in 1997... 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 Joel Coliseum record and an ACC/Big Ten Challenge record.
Harvey Hale -- Fr., G, 6-2, Albuquerque, NM Has been a pleasant surprise for the Deacons and has emerged as a candidate for the ACC All-Freshman team... has scored in double figures in six of his last 10 games... coming off a 10-point effort at Duke Tuesday... averaging 9.6 ppg in ACC play... has started 15 games... playing an average of 26 minutes in ACC games... has 12 three-point field goals over the last 12 games.
Cameron Stanley -- r-Fr., F, 6-6, Raleigh, NC The redshirt freshman is riding a roller-coaster recently... did not play at Virginia, then scored a career-high nine points against Boston College... went scoreless the next game against Charlotte, then played well at Duke Tuesday with four points and five rebounds in 18 minutes.
Trent Strickland -- Sr., G-F, 6-5, East Flat Rock, NC Overcame an early January slump to return to his form as one of the ACC's most improved players... held to 10 points and a season-low one rebound at Duke Tuesday... has 13 three-point field goals over the last six games and is 30-of-62 (.484) from behind the arc this season... has four double-doubles on the season... has doubled his scoring average from a year ago... ranks 19th in the ACC at 13.0 points per game... shooting 49.3 percent from the field... has five double-figure rebound games this season including 16 against Texas Tech on Nov. 18... has made 30 three-point field goals, compared to just 10 all of last season... playing an average of 32.9 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 Made his fourth career start Tuesday at Duke... scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Blue Devils... two of his top three rebounding games of the season came in his last two games... scored a career-high eight points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out two assists and blocked a career-best three shots last Saturday against Charlotte... gives the Deacons strength and athleticism in the paint... the freshman's numbers -- 2.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg -- don't reflect how valuable he has been... struggles at the free throw line (36.8 percent).
Kyle Visser -- Jr., C, 6-11, Grand Rapids, MI The talented junior needs a shot of confidence... played 10 minutes Tuesday at Duke... scored two points and grabbed four rebounds, breaking a streak of two straight scoreless games... has not scored in double figures since Dec. 30... started the first 16 games of the season... played extremely well in November and early December, but has struggled since... Wake's leader in blocked shots with 35... made his only three-point attempt of the year, at Elon.
Eric Williams -- Sr., C, 6-9, Wake Forest, NC Has scored in double figures in 42 of his last 43 games and in 21 straight contests... recorded his seventh double-double (his second consecutive) Tuesday at Duke with 17 points and 13 rebounds against the Devils and All-American candidate Shelden Williams... had 18 points and 13 rebounds last Saturday against Charlotte... has six double-doubles over his last 11 games... leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage (.630)... enjoyed a 22-point, career-high 20-rebound performance against Clemson Jan. 11... his 20 rebounds were the most by a player in the ACC this season, the most by a Deacon since 1997... has scored at least nine points in every game this season.
Justin Gray One Of The Most Prolific Three-Point Shooters In ACC History
Senior guard Justin Gray has made 298 career three-point field goals -- the second-most in Wake Forest history and the ninth-most in ACC history.
Only Randolph Childress, who made 329 three-point field goals between 1991 and 1995, owns more career three-pointers than Gray. Gray needs 31 three-pointers to tie Childress and the Deacons have five regular season games remaining.
Gray will soon 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 72 of his last 75 games. He has made at least two three-point field goals in 19 of his last 22 games.
He has attempted 783 career three-point field goals, ranking third in Deacon history.
Statistically Speaking
- Wake Forest ranks first statistically in the ACC in two categories -- rebound average (40.2) and defensive rebounds (26.2)... Wake is second in the ACC and 16th nationally in rebound margin (+6.5)... the Deacons rank second in the ACC and 29th nationally in field goal percentage defense (.407)... in ACC games, the Deacons rank first in offensive rebounds... the Deacs rank last in the ACC in just one category -- turnover margin (-3.40)... the Deacons are 11th in the league in scoring defense, steals and scoring margin... Wake Forest has two of the top 12 scorers in the ACC (Justin Gray and Eric Williams) and two of the top 10 rebounders (Williams and Trent Strickland).
- Justin Gray ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in six statistical categories... he is second in the ACC and 40th nationally in scoring (19.0)... ranks second in the ACC and 27th nationally in three-point field goals per game (3.1)... averaging 3.7 three-point field goals per game in conference play... he ranks fifth in the ACC in free throw percentage (.846)... leads the team and ranks ninth in the league in assists per game (3.79)... averaging 4.5 assists per game in league play, which ranks third... averaging 34.92 minutes of action per game, which ranks fifth in the ACC... averaging 22.0 points in ACC games only (2nd in the ACC).
- Eric Williams leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally in field goal percentage (.630)... ranks second in the ACC in rebounding (8.8) and 12th in scoring (15.8)... ranks second in the league in defensive rebounds (5.8) and fourth in offensive rebounds (3.0)... in conference games, Williams averages 9.5 boards per game... ranks fourth in the ACC with seven double-doubles.
- Trent Strickland ranks 10th in the ACC in rebounding (6.9) and eighth in defensive rebounds (4.6)... one of three Deacons in the top 20 in the ACC in scoring (19th at 13.0)... ranks tied for ninth in the ACC with four double-doubles.
- Kyle Visser ranks ninth in the ACC in blocked shots per game (1.4).
Justin Gray A Midseason Candidate For Wooden Award
Senior Justin Gray is one of 30 players named to the midseason list of candidates for the John R. Wooden Award and Wooden All-America team.
Gray is one of just four ACC players on the midseason list of 30, joining Duke's J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams and Boston College's Craig Smith.
Deacons Broke School Record After
Earning 60th Straight Ranking
Wake Forest's streak of being ranked in the Associated Press top 25 ended Jan. 9 after 60 consecutive weeks.
Wake was ranked in every AP poll from Dec. 23, 2002 through Jan. 2, 2006. In five seasons under coach Skip Prosser, Wake Forest has been ranked in the AP poll every week but eight. Earlier this season, Wake broke the school record of 54 straight weeks ranked held by Deacon teams of the Tim Duncan era from 1995 to 1997.
Deacon Schedule A Strong One
Wake Forest has played five games against a nationally-ranked opponent this season. That statistic does not include a loss to Florida, which was not ranked when it beat the Deacons, but rose to as high as No. 2 in the polls. It also does not include Wisconsin, a team that was not ranked in November when the Badgers lost to the Deacons.
How difficult is the Deacon schedule? Eight opponents are either ranked or receiving votes for the national polls, including No. 2 Duke and No. 10 Florida. Of Wake's five remaining regular season games, three come against teams ranked in the top 25.
Deacons Shuffle Starting Lineup
Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser continues to tinker with the starting lineup. The Deacons have used eight different starting fives this season. Nine different players have started at least one game.
Only senior Eric Williams has started all 25 games. Senior Justin Gray has started 24 games (he missed one game with a virus). Juniors Kyle Visser and Michael Drum and freshmen Harvey Hale, Shamaine Dukes and Kevin Swinton have also started at least three games each.
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 16-of-38 (.421) 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.
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, has made 18 three-point field goals, is one of Wake's best free throw shooters at 79.5 percent and he owns the team's best assist-to-turnover ratio.
Dukes Tied Record In First Start
Freshman Shamaine Dukes made his first career start Dec. 30 against Charleston Southern and he did so in impressive fashion. Dukes scored 11 points and tied a Wake Forest freshman record by dishing out 10 assists. His 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). Dukes was named the ACC co-Rookie of the Week for his efforts.
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.
