Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Tries To Get Back On Winning Track Wednesday
2/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2006
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Game No. 27 / Lawrence Joel Coliseum
Wake Forest (13-13/1-11) vs. Clemson (15-10/4-8)
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
TV: Tape-delay broadcast by WAKE-TV.
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 13-13 overall and 1-11 in the ACC after an 83-72 loss to visiting No. 23-ranked North Carolina Sunday afternoon. Clemson is 15-10 and 4-8 following a win over visiting Maryland last Tuesday night.
Rankings: Wake Forest is not ranked. Clemson is not ranked.
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 107-48 (.690) in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons, 272-126 (.683) in his 13th season overall.
Clemson coach Oliver Purnell (Old Dominion `75) is 41-44 in three seasons with the Tigers, 297-235 in 18 seasons overall.
Series: Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 93-51.
On Deck: Wake Forest will travel to Georgia Tech for a Saturday afternoon game. Clemson will entertain Virginia Saturday afternoon.
Officials: Announced on game day.
Wake Forest Tries To Get Back On Winning Track Wednesday Against Clemson
Wake Forest, looking to get back above .500 and earn some momentum before the ACC Tournament, hosts Clemson Wednesday night at Lawrence Joel Coliseum (7 p.m./no live TV).
The Demon Deacons, 13-13 overall and 1-11 in the ACC, lost at home to 23rd-ranked North Carolina Sunday afternoon, 83-72. The loss was Wake Forest's eighth in its last nine games.
Despite Wake's record, seniors Justin Gray (19.0 ppg) and Eric Williams (16.0 ppg and 8.7 rpg) are both having all-conference-type seasons. Gray (20 points) and Williams (19 points) combined for 39 points in Sunday's loss to the Tar Heels.
Clemson, 15-10 and 4-8, should be well-rested. The Tigers have not played since last Tuesday when they beat visiting Maryland, 89-77.
The Tigers are a balanced team with seven players averaging at least 6.2 points per game.
Clemson won the previous meeting with Wake Forest, 74-73 in overtime, on Jan. 11.
Wake Forest has won 12 of the last 14 meetings with the Tigers and leads the all-time series, 93-51. More series information can be found on page three.
Wednesday's Storylines
- Wake Forest, at .500 (13-13) for the first time since starting the 1998-99 season 1-1, is looking to avoid sinking below .500 for the first time since the 1989-90 season when the Deacons finished 12-16.
- The 1989-90 season was also the last time Wake Forest lost a two-game regular season series with Clemson. The Tigers beat the Deacons twice in 1997-98, but one win came in the ACC Tournament.
- Wake Forest, which has four regular season games remaining and at least one game in the ACC Tournament, needs three victories to secure a non-losing season. Again, 1989-90 was the last time the Deacons finished a season with a losing record.
- Eric Williams is two points shy of his 1,600th career point. Justin Gray is 21 three-pointers away from tying the school single-season record of 100 three-point field goals by Craig Dawson in 2002.
More From Sunday's 83-72 Loss To No. 23 North Carolina
- The Deacons had a season-low number of free throw attempts (10) and tied a season-low for free throws made (6).
- Wake was out-rebounded for just the seventh time this season.
- The Deacons used their ninth different starting lineup combination (Justin Gray, Michael Drum, Eric Williams, Trent Strickland, Kevin Swinton).
- Justin Gray's third three-point field goal -- the 301st of his career --tied him with Tony Akins for the eighth-most three-pointers in ACC history. He finished the game with five three-pointers.
- Gray had more three-point field goal attempts (14) than any Deacon this season -- the most by a Deacon since Feb. 25, 2004 when Gray attempted 14 against Florida State.
On This Date In Deacon History
February 22nd -- Wake Forest is 14-5 all-time when playing on this date. The Deacons last played on February 22nd in 2004 -- an 80-76 win at 18th-ranked Georgia Tech.
The Deacons are 2-1 all-time against Clemson on this date. The two teams met on Feb. 22 in 1994, 1989 and 1987.
On Feb. 22, 1997, Tim Duncan pulled down 23 rebounds in a win at Virginia.
On Feb. 22, 1978, the Deacs turned in one of their worst all-time free throw shooting efforts, going 11-of-26 (.423) from the line against Maryland.
On Feb. 22, 1968, Wake Forest scored just eight second-half points in a 50-41 loss to 8th-ranked Duke.
WFU Must Work To Keep Streaks Alive
Wake Forest has four regular season games and the ACC Tournament 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.
- 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 not finished last in the ACC since 1989-90 when they finished league play 3-11.
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.
- Wake Forest has finished fifth or higher in the ACC standings every year since 1993. The Deacons can finish no higher than ninth place this year.
- The Deacons have slipped to .500 since 1998-99 when it started the season 1-1.
- Wake has lost six home games for the first time since 1990 (the first year of Joel Coliseum).
- The Deacons will play in a Thursday first-round game at the ACC Tournament for the first time.
Deacons Hope To Be Cinderella At The ACC Tournament
When Wake Forest takes to the floor March 9 at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, the Deacons will most likely be in the unfamiliar role of having to win the tournament to get an NCAA Tournament bid.
Wake has gone to the NCAA Tournament each of the five previous seasons despite advancing no further than the ACC Tournament semifinals.
The Deacons have won the ACC Tournament four times -- 1961, 1962, 1995 and 1996. In each of those seasons, Wake Forest was seeded first or second.
While Wake has never won the ACC Tournament seeded lower than second, the Deacons have historically made plenty of noise in the tournament as a low seed:
- In 1987, the No. 7 seeded Deacons stunned No. 2 seed Clemson in the opening round of the ACC Tournament in Landover, MD. Wake went on to lose in double-overtime in the semifinals to NC State.
- In 1978, Wake Forest was seeded fifth out of seven teams in the ACC. The Deacons, however, beat Virginia in the opening round, then shocked No. 1 seed North Carolina in the semifinals. Wake lost to Duke in the championship game.
- In 1973, seventh-seed Wake Forest pulled off one of the biggest first-round upsets in tournament history when it beat North Carolina in overtime.
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
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).
Wake vs. Clemson: The Series History
- Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 93-51.
- Clemson won the previous meeting this season, 74-73 in overtime, at Clemson on Jan. 11.
- The Demon Deacons have won five of the last six meetings and 12 out of the last 14 meetings.
- Wake is 14-1 all-time against Clemson in Lawrence Joel Coliseum. The Deacons have won 14 straight against the Tigers at home. Clemson's only win at The Joel came in 1989-90 -- the first season the building was open. The two teams did not play in Winston-Salem last season.
- The first meeting between the two teams took place during the 1925-26 season.
- Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser is 6-3 all-time against Clemson, including a 6-2 mark while coaching the Deacons (his Xavier teams went 0-1 against Clemson).
- Clemson coach Oliver Purnell is 1-3 all-time against the Deacons.
- Wake Forest and Clemson 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 1946-47.
- Wake Forest is 189-84 all-time against teams from South Carolina, including a win over Charleston Southern earlier this season.
Deacon-Tiger Connections
- Wake Forest's Trent Strickland and Kyle Visser and Clemson's Shawan Robinson were teammates last summer on an Athletes in Action team that toured East Asia.
- Deacon junior Michael Drum previously played college ball in South Carolina. He played two seasons at Presbyterian College before transferring to Wake Forest.
- Both head coaches -- Wake Forest's Skip Prosser (Xavier) and Clemson's Oliver Purnell (Dayton) -- previously coached in the Atlantic 10.
- Clemson has five players on its roster from North Carolina. The Palmetto State produced no current Deacs.
- Wake's Justin Gray and Clemson's K.C. Rivers followed similar paths to the ACC. Both are from Charlotte and both attended Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before landing at their respective school.
- WFU's Cameron Stanley and Tigers Troy Mathis and Shawan Robinson are all from Raleigh.
- CU's Sam Perry is a sophomore forward. Wake's Sam Perry is an assistant in the media relations office.
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:
- He ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in six different statistical categories -- scoring (2nd), three-point field goals (2nd), free throw percentage (4th), three-point percentage (4th), minutes played (5th) and assists (8th).
- Gray has turned his game up a notch the second half of the season. Since Jan. 11, Gray has averaged 20.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 three-point field goals and 1.5 steals while shooting 42.3 percent from three-point range and 86.2 percent from the free throw line.
- Gray has scored in double figures in 24 of 25 games.
- Earlier this season he scored 38 points at Maryland and 37 points vs. Wisconsin.
- In conference games only, Gray averages 21.8 points and 3.8 three-point field goals per game.
- Even though he has played point guard on a limited basis, he ranks sixth in the ACC in assists. In league games only, he ranks second in the ACC in assists.
- Gray and senior teammate Eric Williams form one of the most prolific scoring duos in Wake Forest history. Gray (1,821 career points) and Williams (1,598) have combined for nearly 3,400 points.
Gray's Chance Of Making All-ACC First Team Should Not Be Hurt By Record
Wake Forest will finish no better than ninth place 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.
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 41.0 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 six 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.
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 Saturday at Georgia Tech.
Prosser's record at Wake Forest stands at 107-48 (.690). His career record is 272-126 (.683) 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 156th Wake Forest game Wednesday. 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 and NC State have won more league games during that time.
- Wake Forest is 67-12 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 155 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.
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 13 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 +2.5
Deacon opponents, in Wake Forest's 13 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.
When Wake Forest loses, opponents have scored nearly 81 points per game, compared to just 62.5 points per game in Deacon victories.
Williams Seeing Double-Double
Senior Eric Williams has six double-doubles in his last 11 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 22 consecutive games, 25 times overall this season and 91 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, rebounding is always a focus of Skip Prosser-coached teams.
Wake Forest owns a rebound margin of +6.2, which ranks third in the ACC and 16th nationally. Wake has been out-rebounded just six 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 (8.7 rpg) ranks second in the ACC in rebounding and Trent Strickland (6.9) ranks 10th. In ACC games only, Williams is third in the league in rebounding (9.4 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.
Deacons Shuffle Starting Lineup
Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser continues to tinker with the starting lineup. The Deacons have used nine different starting fives this season. Nine different players have started at least five games.
Only senior Eric Williams has started all 26 games. Senior Justin Gray has started 25 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 five games each.
Wake Playing Extra Minutes
There have been 11 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.
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 (.626). Williams and North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (.607) are the only players in the ACC shooting better than 60 percent. Williams is a remarkable 169-of-270 from the field. It helps that he has 45 dunks this season and 171 dunks for his career.
His 62.6 field goal percentage is the highest by a Deacon player since.... well, since Williams himself shot 63.0 percent last season.
Williams' career field goal percentage (.592) ranks second in Wake Forest history and 14th in ACC history.
Statistically Speaking
- Wake Forest ranks first statistically in the ACC in two categories -- rebound average (40.0) and defensive rebounds (25.88)... Wake is third in the ACC and 16th nationally in rebound margin (+6.2)... the Deacons rank second in the ACC and 29th nationally in field goal percentage defense (.410)... in ACC games, the Deacons rank first in offensive rebounds... the Deacs rank last in the ACC in just one category -- turnover margin (-3.2)... the Deacons are 11th in the league in scoring defense, steals, scoring margin and assist/turnover ratio... 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 (3.2)... averaging 3.8 three-point field goals per game in conference play... he ranks fourth in the ACC in free throw percentage (.840)... leads the team and ranks eighth in the league in assists per game (3.9)... averaging 4.64 assists per game in league play, which ranks second... averaging 34.9 minutes of action per game, which ranks fifth in the ACC... averaging 21.8 points in ACC games only (2nd in the ACC)... in ACC games he has the sixth-best assist-turnover ratio in the league.
- Eric Williams leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally in field goal percentage (.626)... ranks second in the ACC in rebounding (8.7) and 12th in scoring (16.0)... ranks second in the league in defensive rebounds (5.7) and fifth in offensive rebounds (3.0)... in conference games, Williams averages 9.4 boards per game... ranks fourth in the ACC with seven double-doubles.
- Trent Strickland ranks 10th in the ACC in rebounding (6.9) and ninth in defensive rebounds (4.5)... one of three Deacons in the top 20 in the ACC in scoring (20th at 12.7)... 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).
Quick Player Updates
Michael Drum -- Jr., G, 6-6, Rural Hall, NC The non-scholarship junior started for the eighth time Sunday against North Carolina... played one of his best games against the Tar Heels... had 10 points, went 2-of-3 from three-point range and dished out five assists... free throw percentage is up to 79.6 percent and he hasn't missed from the line in almost a month (Jan. 24)... ranks third on the team with 20 three-pointers... has the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team with 43 assists and 29 miscues.
Shamaine Dukes -- Fr., G, 6-1, Cuthbert, GA His playing time has dwindled, but he did play 13 minutes last Tuesday at Duke... scored one point, had one assist and one steal... has not played in four of the last six games... started at the point five times earlier this season.
Chris Ellis -- Sr., F, 6-9, Marietta, GA Came off the bench for four points, four rebounds and three blocks Sunday against North Carolina... in a scoring slump recently with just 19 points over the last eight games... plays an average of 19.0 minutes per game... shooting 41.0 percent (16-of-39) 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 29 blocked shots.
Justin Gray -- Sr., G, 6-2, Charlotte, NC The All-American candidate ranks second in the ACC behind J.J. Redick in scoring (19.0) and scoring in conference games (21.8)... has scored in double figures in 24 of his 25 games this season... poured in 20 points, made five three-pointers and dished out six assists Sunday against North Carolina... did not play against Virginia Tech Jan. 28 because of a stomach virus... is the target of opposing defenses... averaging 20.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.7 three-point field goals over his last 11 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 second 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 50-of-58 (.862) from the stripe since Jan. 11... 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 11 games... had a 10-point effort at Duke last Tuesday... averaging 9.1 ppg in ACC play... has started 15 games... playing an average of 26 minutes in ACC games.
Cameron Stanley -- r-Fr., F, 6-6, Raleigh, NC Played six minutes against North Carolina Sunday... his only field goal was a dunk... the redshirt freshman played well at Duke last Tuesday with four points and five rebounds in 18 minutes... seeing limited but important minutes for the Deacons.
Trent Strickland -- Sr., G-F, 6-5, East Flat Rock, NC One of the ACC's most improved players this season... did not put up Strickland-like numbers Sunday against North Carolina... was held to five points and seven rebounds... has 14 three-point field goals over the last seven games and is 31-of-64 (.484) from behind the arc this season... has four double-doubles on the season... has doubled his scoring average from a year ago... ranks 20th in the ACC at 12.7 points per game... shooting 49.1 percent from the field... has five double-figure rebound games this season including 16 against Texas Tech on Nov. 18... has made 31 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 Made his fifth career start Sunday against North Carolina... had four points, three rebounds and one block... scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds against Duke last Tuesday... gives the Deacons strength and athleticism in the paint... the freshman's numbers -- 2.5 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 Played 10 minutes off the bench Sunday against North Carolina... scored five points and grabbed two boards... played 10 minutes last Tuesday at Duke... 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 43 of his last 44 games and in 22 straight contests... scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots Sunday against North Carolina... scored Wake's first seven points of the game... recorded his seventh double-double last Tuesday at Duke with 17 points and 13 rebounds against the Devils and All-American candidate Shelden Williams... has six double-doubles over his last 12 games... leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage (.626)... 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 303 career three-point field goals -- the second-most in Wake Forest history and the eighth-most in ACC history.
Only Randolph Childress, who made 329 three-point field goals between 1991 and 1995, owns more Wake Forest career three-pointers than Gray. Gray needs 26 three-pointers to tie Childress and the Deacons have four regular season games remaining.
Gray is just the ninth player in ACC history to sink 300 career three-pointers. He needs 11 three-pointers to pass Duke's Jason Williams for seventh place on the ACC's all-time three-point field goals list.
Gray has made at least one three-point field goal in 73 of his last 76 games. He has made at least two three-point field goals in 20 of his last 24 games.
He has attempted 797 career three-point field goals, ranking third in Deacon history.
Milestones On The Horizon
Justin Gray #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
3pt FGs/WFU Career 303 2nd 27 1st place Randolph Childress
3pt FGAs/WFU Career 795 3rd 7 2nd place Robert O'Kelley
3pt FGs/WFU Season 79 7th 7 6th place Robert O'Kelley (`99)
3pt FGs/ACC Career 303 8th 11 7th place Jason Williams (DU)
FG Attempts/WFU Career 1,406 8th 48 7th place Randolph Childress
3pt FGAs/WFU Season 198 9th 7 8th place Randolph Childress
Scoring/WFU Career 1,821 10th 39 9th place Darius Songaila
Assists/WFU Career 338 10th 19 9th place Tony Rutland
Steals/WFU Career 133 12th 2 11th place Jerry Schellenberg
Minutes/WFU Career 3,420 12th 26 11th place Alvis Rogers
FT Percentage/WFU Season .840 17th +0.4% 16th place Chris Paul (`04)
3pt FG%/WFU Season .399 20th +0.2% 19th place Tony Rutland (`96)
FT Percentage/WFU Career .803 nr +0.3% 13th place Delaney Rudd
Free Throws/WFU Career 376 nr 16 10th place two players
3pt FG%/WFU Career .381 nr +0.6% 11th place Robert Siler
3pt FGs/NCAA Career 303 nr 35 25th place G. Buchanan (Vill.)
Assists/WFU Season 97 nr 5 25th place Frank Johnson
Eric Williams #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
FG Percentage/WFU Season .626 3rd +0.5% 2nd place Eric Williams (`05)
FG Percentage/WFU Career .592 2nd +1.4% 1st place Jim Johnstone
Fouls/WFU Career 359 4th 5 3rd place Guy Morgan
Games Started/WFU Career 113 5th 4 4th place Frank Johnson
FT Attempts/WFU Career 615 7th 48 6th place Charlie Davis
Blocked Shots/WFU Career 103 8th 11 7th place Rod Griffin
Rebounds/WFU Career 784 10th 30 9th place Darius Songaila
Double-Doubles/WFU Career 21 13th 1 11th place two players
Games Played/WFU Career 121 14th 1 12th place two players
FG Percentage/ACC Career .592 14th +0.4% 13th place Rodney Dobard (FS)
Scoring/WFU Career 1,598 16th 40 15th place Bob Leonard
Field Goals/WFU Career 622 nr 27 10th place Randolph Childress
Free Throws/WFU Career 354 nr 38 10th place two players
Steals/WFU Career 121 nr 10 12th place Tony Rutland
FG Percentage/ACC Season .626 nr +1.7% 10th place Greg Manning (MD)
Kyle Visser #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
Blocked Shots/WFU Career 69 14th 6 13th place Rodney Rogers
Blocked Shots/WFU Season 35 23rd 2 21st place two players
Chris Ellis #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
Blocked Shots/WFU Career 62 15th 13 13th place Rodney Rogers
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 nine. 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 six games against nationally-ranked opponents 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? Six teams in the ESPN/USA Today top 25 are on the Deacon schedule -- 1. Duke, 9. Florida, 13. Boston College, 14. NC State, 21. North Carolina and 25. George mason.
Wake's last two regular season games -- at Boston College next Tuesday and at home against NC State March 4 -- come against ranked teams.
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-39 (.410) 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 5.4 points per game, has made 20 three-point field goals, is one of Wake's best free throw shooters at 79.6 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.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Former Deacon Scott Benken, a walk-on who graduated in the spring of 2004, has re-surfaced in college basketball. A graduate student at the University of Cincinnati, Benken has joined the Bearcat squad for his final year of eligibility.
- 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 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.
Deacon Basketball Calendar
February
21 - 3:00-5:00, practice at Joel Coliseum
22 - 7:00, Wake Forest vs. Clemson, Lawrence Joel Coliseum
23 - 3:30-6:30, practice at Miller Center
24 - depart for Georgia Tech
25 - 1:00, Wake Forest at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
26 - 3:00-6:00, practice at Miller Center
27 - 3:30-6:30, practice at Miller Center
28 - 7:00, Wake Forest at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
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.
