Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Begin 16th Straight Season Of Postseason Play Wednesday
3/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2006
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Game No. 34 / Williams Arena / Minneapolis, MN / NIT
Wake Forest (17-16) at Minnesota (15-14)
Tip-Off: 6:00 p.m. (Central)/7:00 p.m. (Eastern)
TV: ESPN2.
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 17-16 overall after losing to third-ranked Duke, 78-66, in Saturday's semifinals of the ACC Tournament. Minnesota is 15-14 following a 67-57 loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Rankings: Wake Forest is not ranked. Minnesota is not ranked.
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 111-51 (.685) in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons, 276-129 (.681) in his 13th season overall.
Minnesota coach Dan Monson (Idaho `85) is 115-100 in his seventh season with the Golden Gophers, 167-117 in nine seasons overall.
Series: Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 3-2.
On Deck: The winner of Wednesday's game will play either Cincinnati, Charlotte or Georgia Southern on Tuesday.
Officials: Announced on game day.
Deacons Carry Momentum Into NIT; Play At Minnesota Wednesday Night
Wake Forest, which won three of its last four games, begins its 16th consecutive year of postseason play Wednesday night at Minnesota in the NIT (6 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Eastern/ESPN2).
The Demon Deacons, 17-16 overall, won the NIT in their last appearance in 2000. Wake Forest is making its sixth NIT appearance.
Wake Forest closed out the regular season March 4 with a win over No. 22 NC State, then beat Florida State and NC State again in the ACC Tournament last week. The Deacons' improbable run ended Saturday with a 78-66 loss to now No. 1-ranked Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Seniors Justin Gray (18.4 ppg) and Eric Williams (16.6 ppg and 9.0 rpg) lead Wake Forest. Gray was a second team All-ACC selection and Williams was named to the third team.
Minnesota, 15-14, won four of its final five home games, including victories over Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa. The Golden Gophers lost in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Iowa, 67-57, last Friday.
The Gophers are led by Charlotte (NC) native Vincent Grier (15.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg). Seniors Maurice Hargrow (11.3 ppg) and North Carolina transfer Adam Boone (10.1 ppg) average scoring in double figures.
Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 3-2. The Deacons won the last meeting, 85-79, on Nov. 27, 2001. That game was part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and was played in Winston-Salem.
Wednesday's Storylines
- Wake Forest has wrapped up a non-losing season, but with a win Wednesday, the Deacs would secure its 16th straight winning season.
- The Deacons are one of six ACC teams in the NIT.
- The teams' leading scorers -- Wake's Justin Gray and Minnesota's Vincent Grier -- are both from Charlotte and played against each other in high school.
-n Wake Forest women's basketball coach Mike Petersen is a former men's assistant coach under Dan Monson at Minnesota.
Wake Forest's NIT History Includes A Championship In 2000
- Wake Forest will appear in the NIT for the sixth time.
- The Deacons are 10-4 all-time in the NIT, including a tournament championship in 2000.
- Wake has advanced to the semifinal round in New York twice -- in 1983 and in 2000.
- The Deacons are 3-2 all-time in NIT road games, 5-1 in home games, and 2-1 in the semifinals and finals.
- Wake Forest has never previously played a Big Ten team in the NIT.
- Of the Deacons' 14 NIT games, three have come against Vanderbilt.
Skip Prosser In The NIT
- Deacon head coach Skip Prosser will coach in the NIT for the third time.
- In 1999, Prosser led Xavier to the NIT semifinals.
- In 2000, Prosser's Xavier team went to the second round of the NIT.
- Prosser's career NIT record is 5-2.
Deacons Playing Their Best Basketball In March
Wake Forest entered March with a bleak picture concerning any postseason play. The Deacons, however, have won three of four games in March, including two wins over nationally-ranked NC State.
The biggest statistical difference has been in rebounding. Wake Forest entered March as a solid rebounding club, but the Deacs own a +15.2 rebound margin over the last four games.
Wake Forest has also played better on defense, especially on the perimeter, where the Deacons are holding opponents to 25.7 percent shooting from three-point range.
"Role" Players Making The Deacons Click In March
As they have done all season, Wake Forest's senior duo of Eric Williams and Justin Gray are leading the way for the Deacons offensively. However, it is a group of "role" players who have stepped up so far in March.
Williams is averaging 19.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and is shooting 66.7 percent in March. Gray, in March, is averaging 18.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.
While Wake's third-leading scorer Trent Strickland has struggled on offense (5.8 ppg), juniors Michael Drum and Kyle Visser, senior Chris Ellis and redshirt freshman Cameron Stanley all played exceptionally well in the ACC Tournament:
- Drum, a non-scholarship player, had scored in double figures just five times entering the ACC Tournament. He scored 10 points against Florida State and 12 points versus NC State, and he tied a career-high with five assists against the Wolfpack.
- Visser came off the bench last Friday against NC State for 10 rebounds in 18 minutes -- his most rebounds since Nov. 18. A 64 percent free throw shooter, he was 4-of-4 from the line against the Wolfpack.
- Ellis entered the ACC Tournament with four double-figure scoring games on the season, including an 11-point effort in the regular season finale March 4 vs. NC State. He scored 10 points against Florida State, poured in a career-high 15 points against NC State and had 13 points and nine rebounds against Duke on Saturday. He also made eight three-point field goals during the ACC Tournament.
- Stanley matched a career-high with 10 points last Friday against NC State. He had career highs for free throws (6) and attempts (8) against the Wolfpack. In addition, Stanley entered last Friday's game with two career steals. He had four pilfers against the Wolfpack.
Senior Class Is One Of The Most Successful In Deacon History
Five Wake Forest seniors -- four-year walk-on John Buck, Chris Ellis, Justin Gray, Trent Strickland and Eric Williams -- are playing in their final postseason tournament.
The 2006 senior class will go down as one of the most successful in Wake Forest history. They own a combined record of 90-37, making it the fifth-winningest class in Deacon history.
As freshmen, this group played on the 2003 ACC regular season championship team -- Wake's first outright regular season title in more than 40 years. As sophomores in 2004, they played on a team that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Last season as juniors, they led Wake Forest to a school-record 27 wins and the first No. 1 national ranking in school history.
Wake's five seniors have combined for nearly 5,000 points (4,969).
Buck is a tireless worker who has earned a roster spot as a walk-on for four years. One of the most popular walk-ons to play at Wake Forest, Buck emerged this season as a senior leader.
Ellis, who has overcome a major foot injury, has played in 110 career games. A consistent player for four years as both a starter and key reserve, Ellis has also emerged as a threat from the perimeter, where he is shooting nearly 42 percent this season. He ranks 15th in Wake Forest history with 68 career blocked shots.
Gray will leave Wake Forest as one of the most prolific three-point shooters in ACC history and one of the top scorers in school history. He has 317 career three-point field goals, which ranks second all-time at Wake Forest and seventh all-time in the ACC. He ranks eighth in Deacon history with 1,935 career points and he also ranks in the top 10 all-time in assists and steals. Gray has been named to the All-ACC team in each of his last three seasons and he was a member of the ACC all-freshman team in 2003. Gray also spent the last two summers representing the United States in world championship competition.
Strickland, after playing three seasons as a key reserve and part-time starter, has emerged as one of the most improved players in the ACC. Known for his high-flying dunks, Strickland has scored nearly 900 points and grabbed nearly 500 rebounds. He has played in 125 career games, which ranks 11th in school history.
Williams, who turned down a chance to go to the NBA to return for his senior year, is one of the all-time leading scorers and rebounders in Wake Forest history. An honorable mention All-American and two-time All-ACC selection, Williams owns one of the highest career field goal percentages in ACC history. Only three players in Wake Forest history have started more games than Williams, and only nine players have played in more games.
Several Impressive Streaks Done
Wake Forest will have to continue its magical run the remainder of the NIT to keep its streak of winning at least 20 games alive. The Deacons have won at least 20 games in each of the previous four seasons.
The Deacons enter NIT play 17-16.
Several streaks have already ended this season:
- The Deacons had appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments.
- The Deacons finished last in the ACC for the first time since 1989-90, when they finished ACC play 3-11.
- The Deacons finished below .500 in the ACC for the first time since going 7-9 in 1999-00.
- Wake Forest 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 had finished fifth or higher in the ACC standings every year since 1993.
- Wake lost six home games for the first time since 1990 (the first year of Joel Coliseum).
Eleven Deacon Games This Season Decided By Five Points Or Less
Wake Forest played more than its share of barn-burners in 2005-06. The Deacons have played 11 games decided by five points or less, or in overtime, earning a 6-5 record. No other team in the ACC has played in as many close games. The Deacons have played in an ACC-high four overtime games.
Wake's Close Calls In 2005-06
Result Opponent Site Date
W, 74-68 (ot) Clemson H Feb. 22, 2006
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-Minnesota Series History
- Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 3-2.
- The two teams have met just once in the last 40 years -- an 85-79 Wake Forest victory on Nov. 27, 2001. That game, part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, was played in Winston-Salem.
- The previous meeting between the Deacons and Gophers came in Minneapolis in the 1962-63 season -- a 78-66 Minnesota victory.
- Wake Forest is 0-2 all-time against the Gophers in Minneapolis.
- The first meeting came in Minneapolis in 1954-55 -- an 81-73 Gopher win.
- Wake Forest has won eight of its last nine games with Big Ten opponents, including a 91-88 win over Wisconsin on Nov. 29 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
- The Deacons are 14-14 all-time against teams currently in the Big Ten.
- Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser is 1-0 all-time against Minnesota.
- Gopher head coach Dan Monson is 0-1 all-time against Wake Forest.
The Last Deacon-Gopher Meeting
Only one active player -- Minnesota's Maurice Hargrow -- played in the last meeting between the Gophers and Wake Forest.
Wake Forest beat Minnesota, 85-79, on Nov. 27, 2001 in Winston-Salem.
Hargrow, a senior guard for the Gophers, played four minutes in that game.
Wake's Broderick Hicks made a go-ahead three-point field goal with 58 seconds left -- his only field goal of the game -- as the Demon Deacons rallied over the final minute to pull out the win. Current Chicago Bull Darius Songaila scored 23 points and current Dallas Maverick Josh Howard added 21 points.
Wake Forest was just 4-of-24 from three-point range before Hicks' bucket.
Minnesota led 79-74 with 1:30 remaining, but Wake Forest scored the final 11 points.
Dusty Rychart scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half to lead the Golden Gophers.
Wake Forest's Gray, Minnesota's Grier Go Way Back
When Wake Forest found out Sunday night it would play at Minnesota, Deacon senior Justin Gray picked up the phone to get his personal scouting report on the Gophers.
Gray called Minnesota senior Vincent Grier, the Gophers' leading scorer. Gray and Grier are both Charlotte (NC) natives. They played together briefly on the same AAU team and went head-to-head in high school.
Gray originally attended West Charlotte High School and Grier attended South Mecklenburg. Gray eventually transferred to Oak Hill Academy and Grier ultimately played for Bonner Academy and the two met on the hardwood once again.
What did Grier tell Gray? To hurry and get to Minneapolis before the snow falls.
More Deacon-Gopher Connections
- Wake Forest's Justin Gray was a member of the USA Under-21 team that participated in the World Championship qualifying tournament in Nova Scotia in the summer of 2004. Minnesota head coach Dan Monson was an assistant coach on that USA team.
- Deacon head women's basketball coach Mike Petersen came to Wake Forest after serving five seasons as associate head coach for the Minnesota men's team under Monson.
- Veteran Minnesota assistant coach Bill Walker is the brother of Wake Forest Senior Associate Athletic Director Barbara Walker.
- Minnesota senior guard Adam Boone previously played in the ACC at North Carolina before transferring to the Gophers.
Quick Player Updates
Michael Drum -- Jr., G, 6-6, Rural Hall, NC The non-scholarship junior started all three ACC Tournament games and responded with two double-figure scoring games... he has 13 starts overall this season... he had five points, two assists and two steals Saturday against Duke... Drum scored 12 points and matched a career high Friday with five assists against NC State... scored 10 points and went 2-of-3 from three-point range against Florida State on Thursday... his free throw percentage is up to 79.7 percent... ranks third on the team with 28 three-pointers... has the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team with 62 assists and 45 miscues.
Shamaine Dukes -- Fr., G, 6-1, Cuthbert, GA His playing time dwindled late in the season... did not play the first two games of the ACC Tournament... played five minutes against Duke on Saturday, scoring two points... started at the point five times earlier this season.
Chris Ellis -- Sr., F, 6-9, Marietta, GA The senior has started the last four games and he has scored in double figures in each... playing the best basketball of his four-year career... scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds and matched a career-high with three 3-point field goals Saturday against Duke... scored a career-high 15 points, went 6-of-8 from the field, had four dunks, seven rebounds and a blocked shot Friday against NC State... matched a career-high with 3 three-point field goals en route to 10 points and he added two blocked shots against Florida State on Thursday... plays an average of 19.6 minutes per game... shooting 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from three-point range... has made more three-pointers this season than he did in his previous three seasons combined... has 35 blocked shots.
Justin Gray -- Sr., G, 6-2, Charlotte, NC The second team All-ACC selection leads the team in scoring (18.4 ppg) and he averaged 19.7 ppg in ACC contests... has scored in double figures in 31 of his 32 games this season... averaging 19.8 ppg in March... had 24 assists and just 10 turnovers in the ACC Tournament... scored 15 points and dished out six assists Saturday against Duke... scored 19 points, dished out a career-high 10 assists and went 8-of-8 from the free throw line in Friday's win over NC State... scored a game-high 25 points and made 12-of-15 free throw attempts Thursday against Florida State... did not play against Virginia Tech Jan. 28 because of a stomach virus... is the target of opposing defenses... leads the team in scoring, three-point field goals, free throws, free throw percentage and assists... ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in six different statistical categories... 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 1,900 career points, 300 assists, 200 three-point field goals and 100 steals... 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 he emerged this season as a candidate for the ACC All-Freshman team... struggled in the ACC Tournament... scored just five points on 1-of-6 shooting... scored five points and dished out a pair of assists Thursday against Florida State... averaged 7.8 ppg in ACC play... has started 16 games... played an average of 24 minutes in ACC games.
Cameron Stanley -- r-Fr., F, 6-6, Raleigh, NC The southpaw has developed into an important cog in the Deacon rotation... his three highest-scoring efforts of the season have come over the final five games.. matched a career-high with 10 points and had career-highs for free throws (6) and attempts (8) against NC State Friday... he also recorded a career-high four steals after entering Friday's game with just two career pilfers... scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and made a three-point field goal in the regular season finale against NCSU... five of his six three-point field goals have come since Feb. 8.
Trent Strickland -- Sr., G-F, 6-5, East Flat Rock, NC One of the ACC's most improved players this season... has struggled on the offensive end in March (5.8 ppg)... played well in Saturday's loss to Duke with eight points and 11 rebounds... had 10 rebounds and just one turnover in 37 minutes Thursday against Florida State... has 22 three-point field goals over the last 14 games and is 39-of-86 (.453) from behind the arc this season... has four double-doubles on the season... has doubled his scoring average from a year ago... has seven double-figure rebound games this season including 16 against Texas Tech on Nov. 18... has made 39 three-point field goals, compared to just 10 all of last season... playing an average of 32.4 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 The athletic freshman has started seven times this season and usually plays important minutes... however, he did not see action Saturday against Duke and played just two minutes Friday against NC State... was very active in Thursday's win over Florida State... had five points and five rebounds in 10 minutes... gives the Deacons strength and athleticism in the paint... the freshman's numbers -- 2.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg -- don't accurately reflect how valuable he has been... struggles at the free throw line (43.8 percent), but has made seven of his last 10 attempts.
Kyle Visser -- Jr., C, 6-11, Grand Rapids, MI Came off the bench for 10 rebounds Friday against NC State -- his most rebounds since Nov. 18... also went 4-of-4 from the line and had a blocked shot... made his only field goal attempt, scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in 12 minutes Thursday against Florida State... 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 39... made his only three-point attempt of the year, at Elon.
Eric Williams -- Sr., C, 6-9, Wake Forest, NC The third team All-ACC selection is playing the best basketball of his career... named second team All-ACC Tournament... has scored in double figures in 50 of his last 51 games and in 29 straight contests... scored 23 points, had 12 rebounds and blocked three shots against Duke and Blue Devil All-American Shelden Williams... scored a team-high 20 points, pulled down eight rebounds, blocked two shots and held State's Cedric Simmons to four points on Friday... had 14 points, went 6-of-9 from the field, and grabbed nine rebounds Thursday against Florida State... has 10 double-doubles on the year including nine over his last 19 games... leads the ACC and ranks 12th nationally in field goal percentage (.622)... enjoyed a 22-point, career-high 20-rebound night 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.
