WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Wake ready for big stage versus UNC

By Bob Holliday

Jan 9, 2009

Winston-Salem, N.C. — To say Wake Forest is off to a flying start is accurate – literally.

"These guys are athletic,” said guard Ishmael Smith. “Playing with these guys, all I've got to do is beat my first guy and throw it toward the rim."

Wake Forest showed flashes of brilliance a year ago, and the Deacons are looking brighter this season. A 17-13 record in 2007-08 has given way to 13-0 so far this year. They take that against UNC when the Tar heels come to Winston-Salem on Sunday night.

"We have five starters back,” said coach Dino Gaudio. “We've added three highly touted freshmen. And here on the 8th of January, our chemistry couldn't be better," he said Thursday.

This is a team that outscores opponents, on average, 85-64. This is a team that outshoots opponents 51 percent to 36 percent. Yet the nation knows little of Wake Forest because the Deacons are not only undefeated, but un-televised.

So who are these guys?

"Wake Forest basketball is a hard-playing team,” said guard Jeff Teague. “We play defense. That's our whole thing."

But what about those flashy highlights we see?

“Most of it comes off of turnovers, and that's our defense,” Teague replied, “but we're going to throw the ball in the air and we're going to get some highlights. That's just how we play."

Wake's players relish the opportunity to finally play on the big stage, eager to leave a lasting impression.

"The buck stops here,” said guard L.D. Williams. “We're not losing games. We want to be successful. We're tired of being the little brothers to Chris Paul and Josh Howard. We want to make a name for ourselves."

In preseason, not many outside the Joel Coliseum envisioned Wake Forest competing for the ACC Championship. But this is coming on quickly.