Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Build and Improve for Virginia Matchup
1/6/2021 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Les Johns
In their first game back after missing more than a month because of Covid-19 related protocols, the Demon Deacons (3-1, 0-1) struggled offensively — turning the ball over 18 times against Georgia Tech Sunday, while struggling to share the ball as well as they did in early-season games in the Mako Medical Wake Forest Classic.
Next up is No. 22 Virginia (5-2, 1-0), with a top-10 rated defense that features pack line principles that clogs the paint and reduces dribble penetration. If the Wake Forest five-out motion offense is clicking, this becomes an interesting chess match that will take place at 9 p.m. Wednesday in John Paul Jones Arena.
But the Deacs had just 10 assists Sunday against the Jackets, putting just 54 points on the scoreboard. Wake has also lost eight-straight to UVA, although holding a 70-68 all-time series advantage.
It's been a tough road back to the court for the Deacs, who started the season with an 111-51 victory over Delaware State and an 11-point victory over Longwood.
"Devastating," Forbes said Sunday night when asked about the impact of the month-long break because of Covid. "I don't know how else to put it. It's not their fault, but we started back from zero and now we're facing this gauntlet. It's just the circumstances we're in, but nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have to figure out a way to fix it."
"We had a good vibe and were moving in the right direction. We also had Ian (DuBose) and Tariq (Ingraham) at the time too. There's no possible way we could look the same as we did then. That was five months of practices and two games with no stoppage. We've had to start over. We just have to fight through it."
The Cavaliers are allowing just 60.7 points a game this season, a number that is slightly inflated because of the 98-75 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga on Dec. 26.
"They are very well coached and disciplined," Forbes said. "I'm impressed with the (Kihei) Clark kid. He can really play and makes the whole thing go. He's a great finisher for his size and has the ball in his hands a lot.
"Tony probably wants the ball in his hands a lot, and he can actually score with his back to the basket. He can take a guard down there. The big fella (Jay Huff) causes a lot of problems, because he's so big and patient in the post. If you double team him, he can make the right pass, and he can also stretch the court. That's some issues we'll have to deal with defensively."
Forbes didn't seem to chalk the offensive struggles Sunday to just a one-game anomaly, instead vowing to make quick changes to put the team in a better position to score.
"We need to make some adjustments, obviously," he said. "One thing about me is I'm not hard headed. If it's not working, you have to fix it. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over hoping it's going to change, but it's not. I have to find the best way for our players to have a chance to win.
"That's been the tough part of not having non conference games is that I haven't seen it, so I don't know. When you see things in practice, but then you don't see it in the game, that's frustrating. We have to get that fixed."
Part of that thought process has been the roster changes since the long break. Sophomore forward Tariq Ingraham is out for the season because of Covid protocols, and grad student transfer Ian DuBose is out indefinitely. The Deacs also got a terrific addition as true freshman point guard Carter Whitt arrived on campus and has played the last two games — averaging 8.5 points and 24.3 minutes.
"The team has changed and the dynamic has changed," Forbes said. "Ian brought a lot of experience. Tariq led us in scoring in the first game and gave us a legit big body in the post. Getting Carter (Whitt) has been great.
"He should be playing in the Bojangles Tournament right now for high school, but instead he's playing in the ACC. I think he's doing a really good job, and will get better and better each game. He has a great attitude. The other players like him. We are changing, and it's hard to do all those things on the run, especially when you have Virginia and Duke staring at you. Then Louisville coming in. But like I tell the players, nobody is going to feel sorry for us."
The environment in Charlottesville Wednesday night will be much different, as Wake Forest players are used to a rabid crowd that embraces the defensive-minded focus of coach Tony Bennett and his team. The UVA crowd cheers on shot clock violations the way other fans cheer for breakaway slam dunks.
"When we played them my freshman year it was a sold out crowd and felt like an NCAA Tournament," said junior wing Isaiah Mucius, who scored a season high 21 against Georgia Tech. "It's a different feel with this Covid situation, but we're getting to play the game we love."
Next up is No. 22 Virginia (5-2, 1-0), with a top-10 rated defense that features pack line principles that clogs the paint and reduces dribble penetration. If the Wake Forest five-out motion offense is clicking, this becomes an interesting chess match that will take place at 9 p.m. Wednesday in John Paul Jones Arena.
But the Deacs had just 10 assists Sunday against the Jackets, putting just 54 points on the scoreboard. Wake has also lost eight-straight to UVA, although holding a 70-68 all-time series advantage.
It's been a tough road back to the court for the Deacs, who started the season with an 111-51 victory over Delaware State and an 11-point victory over Longwood.
"Devastating," Forbes said Sunday night when asked about the impact of the month-long break because of Covid. "I don't know how else to put it. It's not their fault, but we started back from zero and now we're facing this gauntlet. It's just the circumstances we're in, but nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have to figure out a way to fix it."
"We had a good vibe and were moving in the right direction. We also had Ian (DuBose) and Tariq (Ingraham) at the time too. There's no possible way we could look the same as we did then. That was five months of practices and two games with no stoppage. We've had to start over. We just have to fight through it."
The Cavaliers are allowing just 60.7 points a game this season, a number that is slightly inflated because of the 98-75 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga on Dec. 26.
"They are very well coached and disciplined," Forbes said. "I'm impressed with the (Kihei) Clark kid. He can really play and makes the whole thing go. He's a great finisher for his size and has the ball in his hands a lot.
"Tony probably wants the ball in his hands a lot, and he can actually score with his back to the basket. He can take a guard down there. The big fella (Jay Huff) causes a lot of problems, because he's so big and patient in the post. If you double team him, he can make the right pass, and he can also stretch the court. That's some issues we'll have to deal with defensively."
Forbes didn't seem to chalk the offensive struggles Sunday to just a one-game anomaly, instead vowing to make quick changes to put the team in a better position to score.
"We need to make some adjustments, obviously," he said. "One thing about me is I'm not hard headed. If it's not working, you have to fix it. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over hoping it's going to change, but it's not. I have to find the best way for our players to have a chance to win.
"That's been the tough part of not having non conference games is that I haven't seen it, so I don't know. When you see things in practice, but then you don't see it in the game, that's frustrating. We have to get that fixed."
Part of that thought process has been the roster changes since the long break. Sophomore forward Tariq Ingraham is out for the season because of Covid protocols, and grad student transfer Ian DuBose is out indefinitely. The Deacs also got a terrific addition as true freshman point guard Carter Whitt arrived on campus and has played the last two games — averaging 8.5 points and 24.3 minutes.
"The team has changed and the dynamic has changed," Forbes said. "Ian brought a lot of experience. Tariq led us in scoring in the first game and gave us a legit big body in the post. Getting Carter (Whitt) has been great.
"He should be playing in the Bojangles Tournament right now for high school, but instead he's playing in the ACC. I think he's doing a really good job, and will get better and better each game. He has a great attitude. The other players like him. We are changing, and it's hard to do all those things on the run, especially when you have Virginia and Duke staring at you. Then Louisville coming in. But like I tell the players, nobody is going to feel sorry for us."
The environment in Charlottesville Wednesday night will be much different, as Wake Forest players are used to a rabid crowd that embraces the defensive-minded focus of coach Tony Bennett and his team. The UVA crowd cheers on shot clock violations the way other fans cheer for breakaway slam dunks.
"When we played them my freshman year it was a sold out crowd and felt like an NCAA Tournament," said junior wing Isaiah Mucius, who scored a season high 21 against Georgia Tech. "It's a different feel with this Covid situation, but we're getting to play the game we love."
Players Mentioned
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