Wake Forest's ACC Tournament Media Guide
3/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Game No. 31 / Greensboro Coliseum 53rd Annual ACC Tournament
#12 Wake Forest (15-15/3-13) vs. #5 Florida State (19-8/9-7)
Tip-Off: 2:20 p.m. (approximately)
TV: Raycom/Jefferson-Pilot and ESPN Full Court.
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 15-15 overall and 3-13 in the ACC after a 76-63 win over visiting 22nd-ranked NC State on Saturday. Florida State is coming off a 67-64 road win at Miami Sunday afternoon.
Rankings: Wake Forest is not ranked. Florida State is not ranked (through March 5).
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 109-50 (.686) in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons, 274-128 (.682) in his 13th season overall.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton (Tennessee-Martin `71) is 64-56 in four seasons with the Seminoles, 264-266 in 18 seasons overall.
Series: Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 19-14.
On Deck: The winner of Thursday's game will play No. 4 seed NC State on Friday at approximately 2:20 p.m.
Officials: Announced on game day.
Wake Forest Begins 53rd ACC Tournament Thursday Against Florida State
Wake Forest, which closed out the regular season with a 76-63 win over nationally-ranked NC State on Saturday, opens play in the 53rd annual ACC Tournament Thursday against Florida State at the Greensboro Coliseum (approximately 2:20 p.m./J-P Sports TV).
The Demon Deacons, 15-15 overall and 3-13 in the ACC, are the 12th seed. Miami, 16-13 and 8-8, is the tournament's 5th seed. The winner of Thursday's game takes on No. 4 seed NC State Friday at approximately 2:20 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Wake Forest, which owns four ACC Tournament championships (1961, 1962, 1995, 1996), is in the position of having to win four games in four days to earn its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.
Wake closed out the regular season with one of its best performances of the season -- a 76-63 win over 22nd-ranked NC State in the final home game of the season. Senior Eric Williams led the Deacons with 22 points and 16 rebounds.
Florida State, 19-8 and 9-7, closed out the regular season Sunday with a 67-64 victory at Miami. The Seminoles, who defeated then-No. 1 Duke last week, are a very balanced club, paced by junior Al Thornton (16.8 ppg).
Florida State won the only regular season meeting between the two teams, 75-68 in Winston-Salem on Jan. 24.
Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 19-14. Wake Forest is 2-0 all-time against the Seminoles in the ACC Tournament.
Deacon Storylines
- Wake Forest needs a win Thursday to avoid its first losing season since 1989-90.
- The Demon Deacons' streak of playing in the NCAA or NIT for 15 consecutive years is in jeopardy.
- Wake will try to win an ACC Tournament game for the first time since beating Florida State in the 2003 quarterfinals.
- The Deacons will play in the Greensboro Coliseum for the second time this season. Wake Forest beat Elon in the Greensboro Coliseum, 78-59, on Dec. 3.
Deacons Hope To Be Cinderella At The ACC Tournament
When Wake Forest takes to the floor Thursday at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, the Deacons will 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 previous five 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.
Deacon ACC Tournament History, Facts & Figures
- Wake Forest owns four ACC championships -- 1961, 1962, 1995 and 1996.
- The Demon Deacons are 39-48 all-time in ACC Tournament play.
- Wake, for the first time ever, will play in a Thursday first-round game.
- Wake Forest is 25-26 all-time in quarterfinal play, 10-16 in the semifinals and 4-6 in championship games.
- The Deacons are 14-18 all-time in ACC Tournament games played in Greensboro.
- Wake Forest's ACC championships in 1995 and 1996 were both played in the Greensboro Coliseum.
- Wake is 2-4 in ACC Tournament play under coach Skip Prosser.
- The Deacons have not won an ACC Tournament game since beating Florida State in the 2003 quarterfinals.
- Wake hasn't played in the ACC championship game since 1996.
Florida State Beat Wake Forest 75-68 In Only Regular Season Meeting
Andrew Wilson had a season-high 18 points and Alexander Johnson added 14 before fouling out, helping Florida State hold off Wake Forest 75-68 Jan. 24 in Winston-Salem. Justin Gray had 16 of his 19 points in the first half for the Demon Deacons.
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 -- will play in their final ACC Tournament this week.
The 2006 senior class will go down as one of the most successful in Wake Forest history. They own a combined record of 88-36, making it the fifth-winningest senior 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 4,800 points, 2,000 rebounds, 603 assists, 406 three-point field goals and 263 games started.
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 has emerged this season as a senior leader.
Ellis, who has overcome a major foot injury, has played in 108 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 40 percent this season. He ranks 15th in Wake Forest history with 65 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 310 career three-point field goals, which ranks second all-time at Wake Forest and eighth all-time in the ACC. He ranks ninth in Deacon history with 1,876 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 two 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 122 career games, which ranks 13th in school history, and he has made more than 60 career three-pointers.
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 second team All-ACC selection in 2005, 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.
On This Date In Deacon History
March 9th -- Wake Forest is 3-5 all-time on this date. The Deacons last played on March 9 in 2002, a 79-64 loss to Duke in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte.
One of the most memorable Deacon games on March 9th came in 1967 -- a 63-61 double-overtime win against Clemson in Greensboro.
March 10th -- Wake Forest is 4-3 all-time on this date and the Deacons have won four straight games played on March 10th. Wake last played on March 10th in 2000, a 58-52 win over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament.
The Deacons have played one non-ACC Tournament game on this date -- a 73-57 win over Alabama in the 1999 NIT.
March 11th -- Wake Forest is 2-5 all-time on this date. The Deacons last played on March 11 last season -- a 81-65 loss to NC State in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
March 12th -- Wake Forest is 4-3 all-time on this date. The Deacons last played on March 12 in 2004, an 87-86 loss to Maryland in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. In 1977, the Deacons beat Arkansas on March 12 in the NCAA Tournament.
Several Impressive Deacon Streaks Coming To A Close
Wake Forest will have to make a magical run in the ACC Tournament -- and even the NCAA Tournament -- to keep some of these 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 has not endured a losing season since 1990.
Streaks that have ended:
- The Deacons finished last in the ACC for the first time since 1989-90, when they finished league 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.
- The Deacons are below .500 for the first time since the 1989-90 season.
- Wake 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.
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, 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 Playing Extra Minutes
There have been 13 overtime games this season involving ACC teams and Wake Forest has been a part of four of them.
Wake is 3-1 in overtime games this season. The Deacons own overtime wins against George Mason, Texas Tech (double-OT) and Clemson. Wake also lost an overtime game at Clemson Jan. 11.
Wake's four overtime games are the most in one season by a Deacon team since 1987.
This year's Wake Forest team did 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-OT loss to West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest is 47-48 all-time in overtime games, including a 6-5 mark under coach Skip Prosser.
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 in field goal percentage defense. Last year Wake Forest opponents shot nearly 44 percent.
Wake has held 10 opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, including four foes to less than 30 percent.
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 +5.5, which ranks second in the ACC and 18th nationally. Wake has been out-rebounded just nine times this season. More on the Deacons' rebounding:
- Two of the top four rebounding teams in Wake Forest history have come under coach Skip Prosser.
- 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 has used 10 different starting fives this season, one short of tying the school record. Ten different players have started at least one game. Only senior Eric Williams has started all 30 games. Gray has started 29 games (he missed one game with a virus). Kyle Visser, Michael Drum, Harvey Hale, Shamaine Dukes and Kevin Swinton have also started at least five games each.
Justin Gray One Of The Nation's Best
Does any team ask more from one player than Wake Forest asks from senior All-American candidate Justin Gray?
The Deacons frequently require Gray to play out of position, bring the ball up court, lead the team in assists, score more than 25 percent of their points against double-teams and gimmick defenses, play almost every minute of the game, replace a first team All-American at point guard and be a spiritual and emotional leader along the way.
And Gray has answered the call all season long.
Gray has put up numbers similar to those of recent Deacon greats Josh Howard and Tim Duncan. He is worthy of strong consideration for first team All-ACC.
"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 -- three-point field goals (2nd), three-point percentage (3rd), scoring (4th), free throw percentage (6th), minutes played (7th) and assists (8th).
- In ACC games, he ranks in the top 10 in the same six categories, plus assist-turnover ratio. In conference games only, Gray averages 19.7 points and 3.3 three-point field goals per game.
- Gray has scored in double figures in 28 of 29 games.
- Earlier this season he scored 38 points at Maryland and 37 points vs. Wisconsin.
- Even though he has played point guard on a part-time basis, he ranks eighth in the ACC in assists. In league games only, he ranks third in the ACC in assists.
Gray's Chance Of Making All-ACC First Team Should Not Be Hurt By Record
(All-ACC teams were not released prior to the printing of this booklet.)
Wake Forest finished 12th 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 in the top 10 in the ACC in six different statistical categories, 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.
Justin Gray One Of The Most Prolific Three-Point Shooters In ACC History
Senior guard Justin Gray has made 310 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 19 three-pointers to tie Childress.
Gray is just the ninth player in ACC history to sink 300 career three-pointers. He needs four 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 78 of his last 81 games.
He has attempted 825 career three-point field goals, ranking second in Deacon history.
Gray Leaving Mark On Record Books
Justin Gray will leave Wake Forest with his name etched firmly in the Demon Deacon record books.
When Gray's college career is over, he will rank among the top 10 all-time in Wake Forest history in at least nine different career categories. He is Wake's ninth-leading all-time scorer with 1,876 career points. Gray will also finish in the top 10 all-time in field goal attempts, free throws, three-point field goals, three-point attempts, assists, steals, games started and minutes played.
Gray A Midseason Wooden Candidate
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.
Williams, Gray Form Quite The Duo
Seniors Justin Gray and Eric Williams form one of the most prolific scoring duos in Wake Forest history. Gray (1,876 career points) and Williams (1,673) have combined for more than 3,500 points.
Gray (9th all-time in WFU scoring) and Williams (15th) give the Deacons two of the top 15 all-time scorers in school history.
One interesting note about the Williams-Gray duo is that they have both scored 20 points in the same game seven times in their careers. That's two more than the duo of Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress in the mid-1990s.
Williams Seeing Double-Double
Senior Eric Williams has eight double-doubles in his last 16 games and nine for the season, which ranks fourth in the ACC.
Williams has 23 career double-doubles, which ranks tied for eighth in Wake Forest history.
He has pulled down double-figure rebounds 10 times this season and 25 times in his career. Williams has scored in double figures in 26 consecutive games, 29 times overall this season and 95 times in his career.
Big E 11th 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 11th nationally in field goal percentage (.616). Williams is the only player in the ACC shooting better than 60 percent. Williams is a remarkable 196-of-318 from the field. It helps that he has 53 dunks this season and 179 dunks for his career.
His .616 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 (.591) ranks second in Wake Forest history and 14th in ACC history.
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).
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 17-of-43 (.395) 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 and has started 10 times in total this year. Fitzpatrick made five starts as a walk-on senior.
Drum averages 5.3 points per game, has made 23 three-point field goals, is one of Wake's best free throw shooters at 81.8 percent and he owns the team's best assist-to-turnover ratio.
Prosser's Deacon Teams Averaging Nearly 22 Wins Per Season
In just five seasons at Wake Forest, Skip Prosser's teams have accumulated 109 victories, meaning his Deacons have averaged 21.8 wins per season during his tenure.
Prosser's record at Wake Forest stands at 109-50 (.686). His career record is 274-128 (.682) 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 160th Wake Forest game Thursday. What his teams have accomplished statistically in his tenure is remarkable:
- Over the last four seasons combined (including this season), Wake Forest has won 38 ACC games.
- Wake Forest is 69-12 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 102-6 when leading with 5:00 remaining.
- Wake Forest has out-rebounded its opponent in 117 of 159 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.
Every Season Ticket Was Sold
Wake Forest established a first this season by completely selling out of season tickets. Capacity at Lawrence Joel Coliseum is 14,665.
Milestones On The Horizon
Justin Gray #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
3pt FGs/WFU Career 310 2nd 20 1st place Randolph Childress
3pt FGAs/WFU Career 825 2nd 8 1st place Randolph Childress
3pt FGAs/WFU Season 228 3rd 18 2nd place Randolph Childress
3pt FGs/WFU Season 86 6th 7 5th place Justin Gray (`05)
FG Attempts/WFU Career 1,463 7th 3 6th place Frank Johnson
3pt FGs/ACC Career 310 8th 3 7th place Jason Williams (DU)
Minutes/WFU Career 3,562 8th 13 6th place Rod Griffin
Scoring/WFU Career 1,876 9th 10 8th place Robert O'Kelley
Assists/WFU Career 353 10th 4 9th place Tony Rutland
Steals/WFU Career 136 10th 6 9th place Darius Songaila
Free Throws/WFU Career 394 10th 37 9th place Lefty Davis
Assists/WFU Season 112 24th 4 22nd place Benny McKaig (`80)
FT Percentage/WFU Season .826 nr +0.5% 25th place two players
3pt FG%/WFU Season .377 nr +1.3% 23rd place two players
FT Percentage/WFU Career .801 nr +0.5% 13th place Delaney Rudd
3pt FG%/WFU Career .376 nr +1.1% 11th place Robert Siler
3pt FGs/NCAA Career 310 nr 28 25th place G. Buchanan (Vill.)
Eric Williams #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
FG Percentage/WFU Career .591 2nd +1.5% 1st place Jim Johnstone
FG Percentage/WFU Season .616 5th +0.2% 4th place Jim Johnstone (`81)
Fouls/WFU Career 369 3rd 5 2nd place Josh Howard
Games Started/WFU Career 117 4th 3 3rd place Josh Howard
FT Attempts/WFU Career 650 7th 13 6th place Charlie Davis
Blocked Shots/WFU Career 106 8th 8 7th place Rod Griffin
Double-Doubles/WFU Career 23 8th 3 7th place Rodney Rogers
Rebounds/WFU Career 825 9th 9 8th place Ronny Watts
Games Played/WFU Career 125 10th 1 9th place Josh Shoemaker
FG Percentage/ACC Career .591 14th +0.5% 13th place Rodney Dobard (FS)
Scoring/WFU Career 1,673 15th 48 14th place Rodney Rogers
Field Goals/WFU Career 649 10th 35 9th place Rodney Rogers
Free Throws/WFU Career 375 nr 17 10th place two players
Steals/WFU Career 128 nr 3 13th place Tony Rutland
Blocked Shots/WFU Season 31 28th 2 24th place three players
FG Percentage/ACC Season .616 nr +2.7% 10th place Greg Manning (MD)
Kyle Visser #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
Blocked Shots/WFU Career 72 14th 3 13th place Rodney Rogers
Blocked Shots/WFU Season 37 18th 6 17th place Guy Morgan (`79)
Chris Ellis #/% Ranks Needs For To Pass
Blocked Shots/WFU Career 65 15th 10 13th place Rodney Rogers
Blocked Shots/WFU Season 32 25th 2 24th place Josh Howard (`00)
Deacon Schedule A Strong One
Wake Forest has played eight teams that were nationally-ranked at tip-off, compiling a 1-7 record. That mark 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 Wake.
How difficult is the Deacon schedule? Six teams in last week's ESPN/USA Today top 25 are on the Deacon schedule -- 1. Duke, 12. Boston College, 14. Florida, 15. North Carolina, 19. NC State and 25. Wisconsin. George Mason is receiving votes.
Deacs Broke Record After 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 11. 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.
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.
Quick Player Updates
Michael Drum -- Jr., G, 6-6, Rural Hall, NC The non-scholarship junior has started 10 times this season... scored nine points and dished out four assists in 23 minutes Saturday against NC State... his free throw percentage is up to 81.8 percent and he hasn't missed from the line since Jan. 24... ranks third on the team with 23 three-pointers... has the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team with 54 assists and 38 miscues.
Shamaine Dukes -- Fr., G, 6-1, Cuthbert, GA His playing time has dwindled... played just one minute Saturday against NC State... played two minutes at BC last Tuesday... started at the point five times earlier this season.
Chris Ellis -- Sr., F, 6-9, Marietta, GA The senior started Saturday against NC State on Senior Day and responded with his first double-figure scoring game since Jan. 15... scored 11 points and blocked two shots against the Wolfpack... plays an average of 18.6 minutes per game... shooting 39.5 percent (17-of-43) 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 32 blocked shots.
Justin Gray -- Sr., G, 6-2, Charlotte, NC The All-American candidate leads the team in scoring (18.3 ppg) and is averaging 19.7 ppg in ACC contests... has scored in double figures in 28 of his 29 games this season... scored 16 points, dished out six assists and had no turnovers in 35 minutes Saturday against NC 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 1,800 career points, 300 assists, 200 three-point field goals and 100 steals... going to the free throw line frequently -- he is 68-of-82 (.829) from the stripe since Jan. 11... 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... coming off probably his worst game of the year -- no points and five turnovers in eight minutes against NC State... recorded eight points and four assists against Boston College last Tuesday... has scored in double figures in six of his last 15 games... averaging 7.8 ppg in ACC play... has started 16 games... playing an average of 24 minutes in ACC games.
Cameron Stanley -- r-Fr., F, 6-6, Raleigh, NC The southpaw is has developed into an important cog in the Deacon rotation... coming off his two highest-scoring efforts of the season... scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and made a three-point field goal Saturday against NCSU... scored 10 points at Boston College last Tuesday... went 4-of-6 from the field, grabbed six rebounds, made a three-point field goal and blocked a shot against the Eagles... five of his six three-point field goals have come since Feb. 8... played a combined 51 minutes over the last two games... seems to be playing more comfortably as his freshman season progresses.
Trent Strickland -- Sr., G-F, 6-5, East Flat Rock, NC One of the ACC's most improved players this season... held to eight points, but had six rebounds, two assists, two three-point field goals and no turnovers Saturday against NC State... led the team with 15 points and went 3-of-4 from three-point range last Tuesday at Boston College... ranks 15th in the ACC in rebounding (6.6)... has 21 three-point field goals over the last 11 games and is 38-of-77 (.484) from behind the arc this season -- the third-highest single-season percentage in Wake history... has four double-doubles on the season... has doubled his scoring average from a year ago... has five double-figure rebound games this season including 16 against Texas Tech on Nov. 18... has made 38 three-point field goals, compared to just 10 all of last season... playing an average of 32.3 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 plays important minutes... however, he played just two minutes Saturday against NC State... 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 (40.9 percent), but has made four of his last six attempts.
Kyle Visser -- Jr., C, 6-11, Grand Rapids, MI Did not score but grabbed seven rebounds in 14 minutes Saturday against NC State... made his first starting appearance since Jan. 15 last Tuesday at Boston College... played 22 minutes, scored six points and dished out two assists against the Eagles... 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 38... 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 47 of his last 48 games and in 26 straight contests... coming off a stellar performance against NC State Saturday... scored 22 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and made 8-of-13 free throw attempts... has nine double-doubles on the year including eight over his last 16 games... leads the ACC and ranks 11th nationally in field goal percentage (.616)... 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.
More From Saturday's 76-63 Win Over No. 12 NC State
- Wake's margin of victory (13) was its largest against NC State since beating the Wolfpack by 15 in 2003.
- Wake Forest out-rebounded its opponent for the 20th time this season.
- The Deacons recorded a double-digit rebound margin for the 11th time this season.
- Wake held its opponent to less than 40 percent shooting for the 11th time this season.
- Senior John Buck, a fourth-year walk-on, made his first career start. When Buck left the game, Wake Forest held a 7-2 lead.
- Redshirt freshman Cameron Stanley matched his career-high with 10 points.
