Wake Forest Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

Wake Forest is counting on the old philosophy of “addition by subtraction” as the Demon Deacons prepare for the upcoming season.

They lose their top two scorers, Jeff Teague and James Johnson, who opted to enter the NBA draft, but that could open the way for returnees such as forward Al-Farouq Aminu, Chas McFarland, L.D. Williams and Ish Smith to step up.

At least their roles should be more defined.

It seemed at times last year that the Deacons were winning in spite of themselves. They won on sheer talent for a while, into January in fact, when they climbed to No. 1 in the polls, but the tendency for some players to go it alone sometimes cost them down the stretch.

It should be clear this season that it’s Smith’s job to run the club; most of the time it will be his responsibility to get the ball to Aminu at the proper moment. Aminu is good enough to lead the league in scoring, but he’s not sure how much his numbers will increase above the 13 points a game he averaged last season.

“I’m not sure if I’ll have to score more,” he said.

“We have some talented freshmen that are coming in. We have my class, which came in highly regarded. I’m not sure where the points are going to come from, but we’re going to have to score to be able to win.”

McFarland is around to clean up things inside. He shot 52 percent from the field and has the potential to score in double figures.

The Deacons also have a shot at correcting one of their most glaring deficiencies of the last couple of seasons. Aside from Teague, they have had no real consistent threat from the perimeter.

Coach Dino Gaudio has addressed that with the addition of guard Konner Tucker, a junior college transfer who has three years of eligibility, and freshman Ari Stewart.

The loss of Johnson should benefit a two sophomores who were part of last year’s much-heralded recruiting class. Tony Woods, a 6-11 center, and Ty Walker, a 7-0 center, got little opportunity playing behind Aminu, Johnson, Woods, and David Weaver.

Weaver, a 6-11 senior, also returns, leaving no doubt that the strength of this club lies up front.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Wake Forest has given coach Dino Gaudio a contract extension through the 2013-14 season. “We are pleased with the progress of the student-athletes, both on and off the court, and Dino is responsible for that progress,” athletic director Ron Wellman said in making the announcement.

• F Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a freshman last season. With the early departure of Jeff Teague and James Johnson, the top two scorers, Aminu’s numbers figure to take a significant jump.

• G Gary Clark, who had only 35 attempts from behind the arc, is Wake Forest’s leading returning 3-point shooter at a meager 28.6 percent.

Last Year:   24-7 overall, 11-5 in the ACC; lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach:   Dino Gaudio (career 109-144); third year at Wake Forest (41-20).

Quote To Note:   “This time last year there weren’t high expectations. When we were 16-0 on Jan. 19, that’s where expectations started. We were making the innocent climb until then. We were young. We showed our youth at various times during the year. But we have a veteran group now. The core, our senior guys, will carry us through some tough times.”—Coach Dino Gaudio, on the difference between Wake Forest now and a year ago.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Ari Stewart, a 6-7 freshman forward, isn’t likely to have the numbers of the departed James Johnson, but he can score inside and out and is an excellent offensive rebounder. He could earn a starting spot. Freshman guard C.J. Harris figures to back up both point and shooting guard spots, and look for junior college transfer Konner Tucker to provide the threat from the perimeter the Deacons will need with the departure of Jeff Teague. Tucker has three years of eligibility remaining.

Key Early-season Games:   The Deacons should breeze through November but have to go to Purdue on Dec. 1 for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and follow that with a trip to Gonzaga on Dec. 5. Those are the only real big challenges on the early schedule, which also includes an early conference game on Dec. 20 when North Carolina State visits. The Deacons play Xavier at home on Jan. 3 before getting back into league play.

Program Direction:   The Deacons made a big jump last season with their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2005, but then came up flat in a loss to Cleveland State. Despite that defeat and the loss of Jeff Teague and James Johnson to the NBA (both first-round picks), the Deacons seem to be on solid footing and should get back into the NCAA field.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Ish Smith, SG L.D. Williams, F Al-Farouq Aminu, F Ari Stewart, C Chas McFarland.

Roster Report:  

• G Ish Smith, shunted to the bench at the start of last season because of injury, will regain his starting role in the backcourt with Jeff Teague’s departure. Smith had 100 assists last year, second to Teague’s 110, despite missing two games.

• G L.D. Williams has started all but one game in his college career as he enters his senior season. He gives the Deacons a strong defensive presence on the perimeter.

• G-F Konner Tucker is Wake Forest’s first junior college transfer since Sean Allen joined the team for the 1994-95 season. Tucker has three years of eligibility remaining after playing only one season at Lon Morris (Texas) JC. Tucker committed to Kentucky before coach John Calipari’s hiring.