Deacs Make Long Awaited Return to the Court

12/31/2020 12:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Les Johns

By: Les Johns

It's been a frenetic 33 days for Wake Forest basketball players. They've gone through the Covid-19 wringer, completed finals, seen multiple games canceled, taken a short break for Christmas and even welcomed a new teammate to the roster.

The one thing that hasn't happened during that period of time? An actual basketball game.

That changes at 3 p.m. Thursday, when the Deacs (2-0) host Catawba College (2-3) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

There will be multiple players missing for the Demon Deacons. Forward Tariq Ingraham is out for the rest of the season and graduate transfer Ian DuBose will be out indefinitely — both for medical reasons.

Miles Lester, Emmanuel Okpomo, Quadry Adams and Grant Van Beveren will miss Thursday's game against the Indians because of ACC testing protocols after traveling for Christmas.

First year Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said the Deacs missed at least 17 practices during the time away from the court, not to mention the five games canceled or postponed.

"The biggest hurdle that we're facing right now is conditioning," he said. "Getting people back into game shape is difficult. We've taken some big steps backward because we haven't been on the court.

"We're still feeling the effects in conditioning. I do believe we're getting in better shape. Once you start coming back, it's a process, and you have to be mindful of how hard you go. They aren't used to going that pace, and that can lead to an injury. So it's been a grind after not doing anything for so long. You don't have the time to ease in because you have the ACC staring at you."

The Deacs jump into ACC competition Sunday at Georgia Tech, making the contest Thursday against Catawba important to regain conditioning, timing and teamwork.

"It's paramount," Forbes said. "We just haven't been on the court. We haven't played against a different team, played with game pressure, game fatigue, foul trouble — all the things you face in a game that you don't get in practice.

"Thanks to Catawba for playing. It's tough to find an opponent. We have to find someone who can test every other day. The Catawba players drove over here to be tested. We were lucky to get a game."

The Indians last played on Dec. 19, an 83-81 victory over Mars Hill (N.C.). Catawba has six players averaging double figures, led by 6-foot-4 junior guard Terrence Whitfield (17.2 points per game).

"We had to find a game, at least one," Forbes said. "It would have been nice to play four or five of those. But just having one is good for us, to get our game legs back under us. We lost (being able to play) two home ACC games. We lost Virginia at home and Syracuse at home. Now we have to go on the road for the next three games, if I'm correct. I don't like to look ahead. But somebody had whispered in my ear that we have to go to Georgia Tech, Virginia and Duke. It's going to be really important for us to have this game."

The Wake Forest bench will be short against the Indians. Those available to play are guards Anthony Mathis Jr., Jonah Antonio, Isaiah Wilkins, Jahcobi Neath, Daivien Williamson and Jalen Johnson; as well as forwards Isaiah Mucius, Ismael Massoud, Blake Buchanan and Ody Oguama.

"It's exciting," Mucius said about returning to play. "We've been through a tough month, but we're excited to get back on the court and play. We've stayed mentally locked in and now the physical part will come. We've remembered plays and concepts, so when the game tips off we'll be prepared.

"We always had faith and stayed the course."

Added to the roster on Dec. 23 was consensus four-star point guard Carter Whitt, who Forbes said will definitely play Thursday against Catawba.

"He's looked really good, especially on offense," Forbes said. "He's kind of what we saw when we recruited him. He's one of the better guards I've ever had in terms of negotiating the ball screen. He has size, can read the court, doesn't pre-determine his looks and doesn't panic with the ball. I'm really pleased with him so far.

"We're pleased to have him and he's going to be a really good player at Wake Forest. But we have to remember he really should be playing his senior year and going to the prom instead of playing ACC basketball right now."

Sophomore wing Ismael Massoud said it's been a difficult stretch, but the Deacs are eager to get back into action.

"We had to sit out, recover and not play games," he said. "Everyone in the country is going through it, but this is something that can make us grow stronger. The school has done a great job with protocol, just making sure you're not out there too fast. We did individual workouts before a team practice. The first couple of workouts were tough, but the team has helped lift each other up.

"These are things out of your control. It's going around the whole country, but you have to believe the people around you are doing things to the best of their ability to allow us to get back out on the court. It's important to keep a positive attitude."