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Beginning Monday, June 21st,
2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the
nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the
opening day of the 2004-05 Season.
Bookmark the
144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back
each day to see which team is previewed next.
#1 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
ACC
2003-04: 21-10, 9-7, 4th
2003-04 postseason: NCAA Sweet
Sixteen
By
Joel Welser
 Skip Prosser’s squad only went
eight deep last year, but those eight are all back in Winston-Salem. Each
of those returning players started at least six games and averaged at least
12 minutes per contest. That means there is plenty of experience ready to
lead the Deacons to the national championship. At times last year the squad
didn’t look comfortable, but a year later they should all have a better idea
of what to expect from their teammates and opponents. The dynamic backcourt
of Chris Paul, Taron Downey and Justin Gray will lead the way. Paul
averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 assists as just a freshman last year. With a
year of experience, Paul will be more consistent and a little smarter
handling the ball. Downey, former Deacon starting point guard, isn’t a
great shooter, but his defense and ball handling play an important role on
this team. Downey can leave all the scoring to Gray. The shooting guard
has never met a shot he didn’t like, and that’s usually not a good thing.
He is a tremendous scorer but needs to take better shots and improve on the
defensive end.
Who’s Out: Todd Hendley is
transferring and Alan Williams has run out of eligibility, which isn’t much
to complain about for Wake fans, but Hendley could have become an impact
player if given time to develop in the system. Instead the power forward
will play at UNC Wilmington.
Who’s In: The only newcomer
is forward Cameron Stanley. The 6-7, 204 pound Raleigh, NC native was
injured much of his senior year in high school and, if he remains injury
free, will get the opportunity to find some minutes at the small forward
spot backing up Jamaal Levy. Last year Levy moved to power forward after
injuries struck Vytas Danelius. If Danelius isn’t back to full health, then
Stanley could share those extra minutes with Trent Stickland when Coach
Prosser wants a bigger lineup on the floor.
Who to Watch: Eric Williams
will be the leader of the frontcourt. The 6-9, 275 pound center averaged
12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds as a sophomore last year. Williams is a hard
worker and will take the opportunities to improve his game. His free throw
shooting has improved and he is a master at backing down opponents under the
basket. He isn’t much of a fighter and could stand to gain some toughness.
Last year when Williams got in foul trouble, which happened quite a bit,
there weren’t many other options for Coach Prosser to go to at the center
spot. With Vytas Danelius looking healthy and the emergence of sophomore
Kyle Visser, Wake Forest will have some quality depth under the basket this
year.
Projected Conference Rank:
If Danelius returns to form and the Deacons can avoid more injuries, then
this team can achieve 1st place in the ACC and bring home the
conference title. A major injury could force Wake to have fewer options on
their bench then they would like if no sparingly used players from a year
ago can step up. The talent is there and the chemistry could be there for
an NCAA Championship.
Projected Post-season
Tournament: NCAA
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