HAHAH you got a demon
HAHAH you got a demon
The Sports Network
By Scott Haynes, College Basketball Editor
DATE & TIME: Thursday, February 20th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Alexander Memorial Coliseum (9,191) -- Atlanta, Georgia.
Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Wake Forest 13-0, Georgia Tech 11-0. Away
Record: Wake Forest 4-4, Georgia Tech 0-9. Neutral Record: Wake Forest 0-0,
Georgia Tech 1-1. Conference Record: Wake Forest 7-3, Georgia Tech 5-6. Series
Record: Wake Forest leads, 28-25.
GAME NOTES: After suffering their worst loss of the season, the 10th-ranked
Demon Deacons of Wake Forest head south to tangle with Georgia Tech from the
Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta in a crucial ACC tilt. Skip Prosser's
Demon Deacons had sole possession of first place in the conference heading
into College Park on Monday, but did not leave with it, as they were
torched by the defending conference and national champion Terrapins, 90-67.
Now with Maryland's loss to Duke on Wednesday, the Demon Deacons are again
atop the league standings at 7-3. They will try to do something that no one
else has been able to accomplish this year in trying to beat the Yellow
Jackets in their building. Georgia Tech is a perfect 11-0 at home, but
unfortunately, it has been a reversal of fortune on the road, where Paul
Hewitt's team is winless in nine attempts. At 5-6 in league play, a strong
finish could propel the Yellow Jackets into the upper half of the conference
and a solid seeding in the upcoming ACC Tournament. The Yellow Jackets have
lost two straight games entering this contest, including a 71-64 setback at
Florida State on Saturday. The Demon Deacons hold a three-game advantage in
the all-time series (28-25) thanks to wins in four of the last five meetings.
Wake is trying to complete a regular season sweep, after posting a 73-66 win
in Winston-Salem on January 19th.
Two feet of snow buried much of the East Coast, and after a one-day
postponement of the game, Maryland did the same to the Demon Deacons, as Wake
suffered an embarrassing 23-point loss at the hands of the defending champs.
The usually explosive Demon Deacons shot a miserable 35.1 percent from the
floor, including 33.3 percent in the second half, never really presenting much
of a threat to the Terrapins down the stretch. All-American candidate and
Naismith Award finalist Josh Howard continued his strong play, as he led the
team with 20 points in the loss. Fellow forwards Vytas Danelius and Jamaal
Levy also notched double figures in the game, adding 11 and 10 points,
respectively. The scoring pool dried up after that, as reserve Trent
Strickland was next in the scoring column, tallying a mere seven points. On
the season, Wake has been a much more dangerous team, especially at the
offensive end, averaging 80.0 ppg. Howard has to be the leading candidate for
ACC Player of the Year, as he has meant everything to this team. The 6-6
senior can do it all, leading the team in scoring (18.9 ppg), rebounding (8.0
rpg), blocked shots (34) and steals (44). Howard gets help up front by
Danelius (12.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg), while guards like the recently healthy Justin
Gray (10.8 ppg) and Taron Downey (10.4 ppg) provide perimeter support.
A big run by FSU to close out the first half was all that was needed to
prevent the Yellow Jackets from securing their first road win of the season.
Guard B.J. Elder did his best to bring Tech back, as he notched 16 of his
game-high 19 points in the second half, but it was not enough to overtake the
Seminoles down the stretch. Joining Elder in double figures was Jarrett Jack,
who added 16 points in the loss. However, two of the team's top contributors
all year, Marvin Lewis and Chris Bosh suffered through mediocre performances,
as they combined to go just 6-of-25 from the floor, for just 17 points. The
Yellow Jackets have thrived at home this season, but have come close on the
road on several occasions, as they certainly score enough points (75.5 ppg) on
average to win. Elder and Lewis provide a solid perimeter duo. Elder is
leading the team in scoring at 15.9 ppg, while shooting .417 from behind the
arc. Lewis is at 13.0 ppg, while going .395 from the long range. The pair have
combined for 95 of the team's 134 total three-pointers on the year. Bosh has
to be the frontrunner for ACC Rookie of the Year, as the 6-10 freshman leads
the conference in field-goal percentage (.571), ranks second in rebounding
(9.5 rpg) and pours in 15.6 ppg.
The Demon Deacons have shown some flaws on the road of late, with losses at
Maryland and Marquette in the last 13 days. However, Georgia Tech is a far cry
from the Terps or Golden Eagles and Wake is in a must-win situation in terms
of the conference title. Expect Howard to continue his mastery of the
competition, while others step up and give support, as the Demon Deacons hand
the Yellow Jackets their first loss at home this season.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Wake Forest 77, Georgia Tech 73
