Wake Forest visits NC State in ACC tussle
Posted: Wed Feb 11 10:34 AM
Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - The seventh-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons begin the second half of their ACC slate this evening, as they make the short trip to Raleigh to take on the NC State Wolfpack in conference action from the RBC Center.
Dino Gaudio's Demon Deacons are still in the hunt for the conference crown, as they topped Boston College last weekend in Winston-Salem, 93-76. The win brought a halt to a brief two-game slide, which saw the team fall in road games at Georgia Tech and Miami. With the win over the Eagles, Wake Forest moved to 5-3 in league play, just a game and a half behind league leading Duke and North Carolina, two teams that square off in Durham this evening.
The Wolfpack are much further down the ACC ladder at a mere 2-6 in league play. Sidney Lowe's squad has dropped four of its last six games, including last weekend's heartbreaking overtime affair at Virginia Tech (91-87).
This is NC State's oldest rivalry as this game marks the 228th all-time meeting in a series that dates back to the 1910-11 campaign. NC State has gotten the upper hand of late, winning eight of the last 13 meetings, including three straight in Raleigh. The two teams split the season series a year ago, with each winning on its home floor.
Wake Forest was embarrassed at Miami last week, so coming out and getting a big win against a tough Boston College team had to have helped this team's confidence. Star guard Jeff Teague and freshman sensation Al-Farouq Aminu were unstoppable in the win, as Teague erupted for 27 points, followed by Aminu's career-high 26. Fellow forward James Johnson recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while L.D. Williams notched 11 points in support. The Demon Deacons shot a scorching .574 in the game and outscored BC in the paint, 48-28. The Demon Deacons are at their best when they are moving up and down the floor with purpose. The team is one of the better offensive squads in the ACC this year, shooting .491 from the field, en route to 82.0 ppg. Teague is the straw that stirs the drink in Winston-Salem, as he is averaging nearly 21 points per game (20.9), thanks to .513 shooting overall and .515 from three- point range. Teague also laces the team in assists (80) and steals (45). Johnson (13.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Aminu (13.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and center Chas McFarland (9.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) make up the conference's best frontcourt.
The Wolfpack have not proven this year to be able to win shootouts with an regularity, so turning this game into a defensive battle may just be in their best interest. The team has been decent at the offensive end of the floor, but its 72.6 ppg average isn't going to scare anyone. NC State's strength is in its frontcourt, highlighted by forward Brandon Costner (14.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and center Ben McCauley (13.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Guard Courtney Fells (12.1 ppg) is the team's top perimeter threat, shooting .478 from the floor, including just over 40 percent from three-point range. The Wolfpack let one slip away in Blacksburg on Sunday, allowing Virginia Tech to overcome an 18-point deficit with 14 minutes to play to force overtime and steal one at home. The spoiled a big performance by McCauley, who was a monster down low, finishing with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Fells added 17 points in the losing effort, followed by Costner and Tracy Smith, who tallied 13 points apiece.
