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Nov. 30, 2000
Game #6
(12) Wake Forest (5-0) vs. S.C. State (2-3)
Dec. 2, 2000 @ 7:30 p.m.
Joel Coliseum (14,407) -- Winston-Salem, NC
Television
None (last non-televised Wake Forest game until Feb. 14).
Radio
The Deacon Radio Network. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
The Records
Wake Forest is 5-0 after a 71-60 road win at Michigan Tuesday night, kicking off the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. South Carolina State fell to 2-3 last Saturday with a 72-58 loss at South Carolina.
The Rankings
The Deacons are ranked 12th in the Associated Press poll (its highest AP ranking since 1997) and 12th in the ESPN/USA Today poll. South Carolina State is not ranked.
WFU Coach Dave Odom
Odom (Guilford '65) is in his 12th season at Wake Forest with a record of 226-121. In 15 years overall, he is 264-163. Odom, a three-time ACC Coach of the Year, owns the second-most wins in WFU history and the eighth-most wins in ACC history.
South Carolina State Coach Cy Alexander
Alexander (Catawba '75) owns a record of 225-163 in 14 seasons with the Bulldogs, 225-163 in 14 seasons overall.
The Series History
First meeting.
The Officials
Announced on game day.
Deacons Try To Keep Unbeaten Streak Alive Saturday vs. S.C. State
Wake Forest, looking to match its best start since the 1997-98 season,
will try to remain unbeaten Saturday when it takes on South Carolina
State at Lawrence Joel Coliseum (no TV/7:30 p.m.).
The Deacons, 5-0 overall, have shown the ability to come from behind on the road and to deliver the knockout punch at home. Last Tuesday night at Michigan, the Deacs rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the host Wolverines, 71-60, in the opening game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Bulldogs' 2-3 record may be misleading. Four of S.C. State's five games have come on the road, including a narrow 65-60 loss at Vanderbilt in the season opener and a 72-58 loss at South Carolina last Saturday. S.C. State, which earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament last year by winning the MEAC title, beat Tennessee Tech 72-52 back on Nov. 20. Saturday's game will mark the first-ever meeting between the Deacons and Bulldogs.
Things To Know About Saturday's Game
Saturday's game kicks off a four-game homestand for the Deacons. Wake will host second-ranked Kansas Thursday night.
Wake Forest will unveil its 2000 NIT championship banner Saturday
night.
Wake Forest enters Saturday's game with an 10-game winning streak --
the second-longest nationally -- dating back to last season. Only
Michigan State (15 straight wins) owns a longer current streak. The
Spartans host Illinois-Chicago Saturday night.
The Deacons enter the SCSU game with their highest Associated Press
ranking (12th) since finishing ninth in the final 1997 poll. Wake is
also ranked 12th this week in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Wake Forest has won 14 straight November games.
The Deacons are looking to begin the season 6-0 for the first time
since the 1997-98 season.
Wake owns a five-game homecourt winning streak.
The Deacs are 6-0 all-time versus MEAC opponents.
Wake Forest-S.C. State Series History
Saturday's game marks the first meeting between the two schools.
Wake Forest is 6-0 all-time against teams from the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The last time Wake Forest played a MEAC team came last season when the Deacons beat visiting Maryland-Eastern Shore, 85-60.
Historically, Wake has played well against teams from the Palmetto
state, owning winning series records with Clemson (85-49), South
Carolina (48-22), Citadel (14-2), Charleston (2-0) and Coastal Carolina
(2-1).
Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Odom
Wake Forest head coach Dave Odom (Guilford '65) owns a career record of
226-121 in 12 seasons with the Deacons, 264-163 in 15 seasons overall.
Odom was the head coach at East Carolina for three seasons before taking over the Deacon program in 1989-90. The three-time ACC Coach of the Year has led Wake to 10 consecutive postseason appearances. Odom has already reached a pair of milestones this season:
On Nov. 18, Odom won his 223rd game at Wake Forest, passing Carl Tacy as the second-winningest coach in WFU history and the eighth-winningest coach in ACC history.
Odom needs seven ACC victories this season to become just the ninth
person to win 100 ACC conference games.
Deacon-Bulldog Connections
South Carolina State freshman forward Brandon Bowman will be returning to his hometown of Winston-Salem when the Bulldogs play at Wake Forest Saturday night. Bowman attended Parkland High School.
The Bulldogs have two other local players on their roster. Both senior guard Vincent Whitt and junior forward James Boyles are from Greensboro.
S.C. State coach Cyrus "Cy" Alexander attended college locally at
Catawba.
Deacs Win Second Straight ACC/Big Ten Challenge Game
Wake Forest won on the road at Michigan last Tuesday night, 71-60,
kicking off the second annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. For Wake, it marked the second straight year it as enjoyed a victory in the Challenge. Last season the Deacons beat Final Four-bound Wisconsin.
The ACC has come out on top in both events. This year the ACC finished with a 6-3 record. Last year the ACC won five of nine Challenge games.
More From Wake's 71-60 Victory At Michigan Tuesday
Despite being out-rebounded 49-33 by Michigan Tuesday night in Ann
Arbor, the Deacons erased an 11-point (40-29) second-half deficit to
come away with a 71-60 victory in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Senior Robert O'Kelley scored a season-high 19 points and ignited a
Deacon second-half run. O'Kelley scored in double figures for the sixth
consecutive game dating back to last season.
Wake was out-rebounded for the first time this season and trailed at halftime (32-29) for the first time in 2000-01.
Senior Josh Shoemaker pulled down double-digit rebounds (13) for the second time this season and recorded his first career double-double.
The Deacons committed a season-low eight turnovers.
Wake committed a season-high 22 personal fouls.
The Deacons shot under 50 percent (.475) for the first time this
season but held Michigan to 34.8 percent shooting -- the fifth straight
game the Deacs have held opponents under 40 percent shooting.
Wake Putting Up Eye-Popping Numbers
Through the first five games of the season, Wake Forest has put up
numbers worthy of its No. 12 national ranking:
Wake Forest is shooting a sizzling 56.1 percent from the field despite shooting under 50 percent for the first time this season Tuesday at Michigan. The Deacs rank ninth nationally in field goal percentage.
Meanwhile, the Deacons are holding opponents to just 35.0 percent
shooting. None of Wake's five opponents this season shot better than
39.3 percent against the Deacs.
While Wake is averaging a lofty 83.6 points per game, it is limiting opponents to just 54.6 points per contest to rank 10th nationally in scoring defense. No Deacon opponent has scored more than 61 points.
Wake's scoring margin (+29.0) ranks 13th nationally.
WFU is shooting 79.2 percent from the free throw line. Wake has the 11th-best free throw percentage nationally in the early going.
Five different Deacons are averaging double-figure points per game.
The Deacs own better than a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (103
assists, 50 turnovers).
Nine different Deacon players are averaging more than 10 minutes per game.
Wake is blocking more than six shots per game.
Good Shooting A Team Thing
Wake Forest's field goal percentage (.561), the ninth-best field goal
percentage in college basketball, is truly a team effort. The Deacons'
top nine scorers are all shooting 50 percent or better from the floor.
Four Deacons are shooting better than 60 percent from the field.
Deacons Healthier, But Still Missing Vidaurreta
Wake Forest senior center Rafael Vidaurreta is out of action after
undergoing knee surgery in late September. No date has been set for
Vidaurreta's return, although he began weight-bearing exercises last
week. Vidaurreta led the Deacons in rebounding (6.9 rpg.) last season
and was the only Deac to start all 36 games.
Two other Deacons missed significant practice time in the preseason.
Ervin Murray (mononucleosis) missed most of preseason drills before
returning for the season opener. He is averaging 14.2 minutes of action
per game in the early going while still recovering from the mono.
Junior forward Darius Songaila (ankle) missed one week of practice,
including WFU's second exhibition game Nov. 8. Songaila, who was named
to the BCA Classic all-tournament team, has fully recovered.
Wake Likely To Redshirt Schoetz
Wake Forest head coach Dave Odom said that he would like to redshirt 7-0 freshman Dshamal Schoetz. Schoetz has been impressive in the preseason, but could benefit greatly from a redshirt year, Odom said. The German native did not begin playing basketball until the age of 15.
Deacons Leap Up To No. 12 In Both National Polls
Following wins over Richmond and Campbell last week, Wake Forest bolted
five notches, from No. 17 to No. 12, in the Associated Press poll this
week. The Deacons leaped from No. 16 to No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Today
poll.
Wake's No. 12 ranking in the AP poll is its highest ranking since
finishing ninth in the 1997 AP poll. The Deacons have been ranked in all four AP polls this season.
The latest polls demonstrate just how difficult the Wake Forest schedule is this season. Seven different Deacon opponents are ranked in both major polls, including three of the nation's six highest-ranked teams: (1) Duke, (2) Kansas, (6) North Carolina, (13) Maryland, (17) Temple, (21) Virginia and (22) Cincinnati.
Three other Wake Forest opponents -- Georgia, Georgia Tech and NC State -- received votes in one or both major polls this seek.
More Poll Stuff
Wake Forest is ranked 73rd in the latest Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
The RPI really doesn't begin to make sense until February. For example, Texas-Pan American is ranked first in the Index.
The Deacons are ranked 13th in the latest Sagarin computer poll.
O'Kelley Closing In On 1,600 Points, 12th Place
Senior guard Robert O'Kelley enters the South Carolina State game with
1,583 career points, ranking 13th in Wake Forest history.
O'Kelley needs 12 points to pass Lowell "Lefty" Davis for 12th place. Davis played for WFU from 1953-56.
O'Kelley is 17 points shy of his 1,600th point.
O'Kelley One Of ACC's Most Prolific 3-Point Shooters
Two of the eight most prolific three-point shooters in Wake Forest
history are current Deacs. Senior Robert O'Kelley (240 career
three-pointers) ranks third in WFU history and junior Craig Dawson (110) ranks eighth.
O'Kelley needs nine more treys to pass Tony Rutland (248) for second
place in WFU history and for ninth place in ACC history. Dawson needs
seven three-pointers to pass Cal Boyd (116) for seventh place.
O'Kelley ranks second at WFU for career three-point field goal attempts (661) after passing Tony Rutland on Tuesday. Dawson ranks seventh (290) in three-point attempts and needs eight attempts to take over sixth place.
Darius Songaila Chasing 1,000 Points
Junior forward Darius Songaila enters Saturday's game with 921 career
points. He will soon become the 39th player in Wake Forest history to
score 1,000 career points.
Scott Will Climb List Of Shot Blockers
Junior Antwan Scott, who has 12 blocked shots in five games this season, will climb the ladder of WFU's most prolific shot blockers. Scott is just a junior but already ranks ninth on Wake Forest's all-time blocked shots list with 67. He needs eight more rejections to pass Rodney Rogers for eighth place.
Josh Shoemaker Grabs 500th Career Rebound
Senior center Josh Shoemaker became the 25th player in Wake Forest
history to garner 500 career rebounds when he pulled down 13 boards
Tuesday against Michigan.
Shoemaker has recorded two double-figure rebound games this season and both have come on the road. He had a career-best 14 rebounds at Richmond and grabbed 13 key boards at Michigan on Tuesday. He has led Wake in rebounding in every game this season, pulling down at least nine boards in all five contests. The Gate City (VA) product is averaging 10.8 rebounds per game.
Shoemaker, O'Kelley Play In 100th Games
Senior center Josh Shoemaker played in his 100th career game last
Saturday and Robert O'Kelly played in career game No. 100 Nov. 20 at
Richmond. Sixteen players in Wake Forest history have reached the 100
games-played plateau. Injured senior Rafael Vidaurreta has played in 97 career games.
Deacs Sizzling Early From Charity Stripe
Wake Forest is shooting 79.2 percent from the free throw line to rank
11th nationally. Senior guard Robert O'Kelley (.889), Antwan Scott (.857), Josh Shoemaker (.857), Darius Songaila (.818) and Craig Dawson (.800) are all shooting 80 percent or better from the line.
Songaila's career free throw percentage (.821) is the 19th-best in the history of the ACC.
Deacons Begin Four-Game Homestand
Saturday's game against South Carolina State will kick off a four-game
homestand for the Deacons. Following the S.C. State game, Wake will host No. 2-ranked Kansas (Dec. 7), Georgia (Dec. 16) and Radford (Dec. 18). The Deacons will not go on the road again until Dec. 21 at nationally-ranked Temple.
NIT Banner To Be Unveiled Saturday
Wake Forest will celebrate its 2000 NIT championship Saturday when it
unveils a commemorative banner.
Deacs Finish November Undefeated
Wake Forest's streak of 14 consecutive victories in the month of November will remain for another year. The Deacons finished its
November schedule 5-0. Wake hasn't lost a game in November since Nov.
11, 1998 versus Temple.
On This Date In Wake Forest History
Wake Forest is 10-7 all-time when playing on December 2nd. The Deacons
haven't played on Dec. 2 since a 68-53 win over Lehigh in 1995. Three
of Wake's seven losses on Dec. 2 have come against NC State in the old
Big Four Tournament.
What's Wrong With Odom?
Wake Forest coach Dave Odom is pacing the sidelines with his hand and
wrist heavily wrapped. He recently had thumb reconstruction surgery.
Miscellaneous Notes
Senior center Josh Shoemaker is tied for 25th nationally in rebounds per game (10.8).
Craig Dawson is the nephew of NBA standout Jerry Stackhouse. "Uncle
Jerry" was in attendance at last Tuesday's game against Michigan.
Wake Forest has won 14 consecutive November games. The last time the Deacs lost in November was a 59-48 loss to Temple in 1998.
Through Wednesday, Wake Forest was one of just seven teams in the
nation with a record of 5-0 or better. The Deacs are just one of 60
undefeated Division I teams overall.
Wake's 29 assists in the season opener against Mount St. Mary's are
the most assists in a game by an ACC team this season.
Wake Forest's Nov. 16 season opener marked the third-earliest season opener in school history.
The Deacons have won seven straight season openers and are now 11-1 in season openers under Dave Odom following a Nov. 16 win over Mount St. Mary's. Wake is 69-28 all-time in season openers.
O'Kelley, Songaila On Wooden List
Wake Forest senior guard Robert O'Kelley and junior forward Darius
Songaila are both on the preseason list of 50 players for the
prestigious John R. Wooden Award. The award goes annually to the
nation's top college player. WFU's Tim Duncan won the award in 1997.
Deacs Picked Fourth In ACC Poll
Wake Forest was predicted to finish fourth in the annual preseason ACC
poll. In a panel of 93 voters, Duke finished first (83 first-place
votes), followed by Maryland (6), North Carolina (4) and Wake Forest.
