Nov. 23, 2005

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Game No. 6
#24/24 Wake Forest (4-1) vs.
Appalachian State (2-0)

Tip-Off: 7:05 p.m.
TV: None.
Radio: ISP/Deacon Radio Network. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action.
Records: Wake Forest is 4-1 after a 79-63 win over visiting UNC-Asheville Monday night. Appalachian State is 2-0 following a 51-47 win over visiting Virginia Commonwealth on Monday.
Rankings: Wake Forest is ranked 24th in the Associated Press poll and 24th in the ESPN/USA Today polls. Appalachian State is not ranked.
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 98-36 (.731) in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons, 263-114 (.698) in his 13th season overall. Appalachian State coach Houston Fancher (Middle Tennessee `88) is 69-81 in his sixth season with the Mountaineers, 113-122 in his eighth season overall.
Series: Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 18-0. Friday's game will be the first meeting since Dec. 18, 1995.
On Deck: Wake Forest will host Wisconsin next Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Appalachian State plays at James Madison Monday night.
Officials: Announced on game day.

Deacons Face Test Friday Night Against Unbeaten Mountaineers
Wake Forest, 4-1 after beating visiting  UNC-Asheville Monday night, resumes an in-state rivalry with undefeated Appalachian State Friday night at Lawrence Joel Coliseum (7:05/no tv).
The 24th-ranked Demon Deacons are led by seniors Eric Williams (16.4 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game), Trent Strickland (16.4 ppg and 10.0 rpg) and Justin Gray (16.0 ppg). That senior trio is providing 62.5 percent of Wake Forest's scoring punch.
Appalachian State, 2-0, brings wins over two quality opponents into Friday's game. The Mountaineers opened the season with a 75-65 win over Arkansas-Little Rock, followed by a 51-47 win over Virginia Commonwealth on Monday night.
Friday's game renews a long in-state rivalry between the two schools. The Deacons and Mountaineers will meet for the 19th time, but for the first time in 10 years.

Streaks On The Line For Wake Friday
- Wake Forest will put its 19-game home court winning streak on the line Friday. The Deacons have not lost in Joel Coliseum since March of 2004.
- In 18 previous meetings with Appalachian State, Wake Forest has never lost, although two of the last four meetings were decided by five points or less.
- The Deacons need a win to remain ranked in the national polls. Currently, Wake Forest is tied for the school record of 54 consecutive weeks ranked in the Associated Press poll.

Appalachian State The Second Of Four Renewed In-State Rivalries
The Wake Forest schedule has a strong state of North Carolina flavor this year as the Demon Deacons play eight different teams from within the state boundaries.
Four of those opponents -- UNC-Asheville, Appalachian State, East Carolina and Charlotte -- are back on the schedule after a lengthy layoff.
Appalachian State, Friday's opponent, is back on the schedule for the first time in 10 years. The two teams have met 18 times since 1950.
UNC-Asheville, which Wake Forest beat Monday night, played the Deacons for the first time in more than 20 years. It has also been nearly 20 years since the Deacons played East Carolina.
The Deacons also play Elon, a team that has been a regular part of the Wake non-conference schedule recently. There are also a combined five games against in-state ACC opponents Duke, North Carolina and NC State.

In-State Opponent Last Meeting Result
*UNC-Asheville Dec. 4, 1982 WF, 72-54
Appalachian State Dec. 18, 1995 WF, 91-50
East Carolina Feb. 5, 1986 WF, 65-60
Charlotte Feb. 14, 1987 WF, 84-76
*Prior to Monday night's 79-63 Wake Forest victory

Prosser Closing In On 100th Wake Win
Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser is two wins shy of his 100th victory with the Demon Deacons. That is significant because Prosser is in just the first month of his fifth season at Wake.
In each of Prosser's four previous seasons with the Deacons, Wake Forest has won at least 20 games, produced a winning record in the rugged ACC and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
Prosser will coach his 135th Wake Forest game Friday night. What his teams have accomplished statistically in those 135 games is remarkable:
- Wake Forest is 60-6 at home with just one loss coming to a non-conference opponent.
- Prosser's teams are 12-5 in games decided by three points or less.
- His teams are 92-5 when leading with 5:00 remaining.
- Wake Forest has out-rebounded its opponent in 101 of 134 games under Prosser.
- The Deacons have scored 100-plus points nine times.
- Prosser is a combined 39-5 in games played in November and December.

Deacs Own 19-Game Home Win Streak
Wake Forest has the nation's fifth-longest current homecourt winning streak at 19 games. The Deacons have not lost in Lawrence Joel Coliseum since March 6, 2004 versus NC State.
The 19-game home court win streak is the third-longest in school history.
The Deacons have won 49 of their last 50 non-conference home games.

Ellis Questionable With Ankle Injury
Senior forward Chris Ellis remains questionable with a right ankle injury he suffered in the first half of the Nov. 18 game against Texas Tech. Ellis did not play in the second half against the Red Raiders and did not play at all Nov. 21 against UNC-Asheville.

On This Date In Deacon History
November 25th -- Wake Forest is 5-1 all-time on this date. The Deacons last played on November 25th in 2000 -- an 86-47 win over visiting Campbell.
On Nov. 25, 1991, Wake pulled down a school record-tying 27 offensive rebounds against The Citadel.

Deacons Owning The Glass So Far
Rebounding is a key to Wake Forest's success and so far the Deacons have responded.
Wake Forest has out-rebounded all five opponents this season and owns a rebound margin of +9.2. Yes, we know it's early, but the last two times the Deacons had a rebound margin of +9.0 or better, they won an ACC championship (1961) and won an ACC regular season title (2003).
Against Texas Tech on Nov. 18, the Deacons pulled down 66 rebounds -- the second-most single-game boards in school history.

Most Rebounds In Wake Forest History
73 vs. Virginia at Winston-Salem Jan. 7, 1961
66 vs. Texas Tech at New York Nov. 18, 2005
64 vs. Appalachian State at Winston-Salem Dec. 18, 1975
64 vs. Marquette at Winston-Salem Dec. 14, 1963
64 vs. Tennessee at Winston-Salem Jan. 18, 1960

Strickland May Be One Of The ACC's Most Improved Players
Wake Forest senior Trent Strickland has often been compared to former Deacon Josh Howard. That's an unfair comparison, seeing how Howard was an NBA first-round draft pick and is currently the Dallas Mavericks' second-leading scorer.
Yet Strickland continues to play much like Howard, the 2003 ACC Player of the Year.
- He has earned a double-double in three of the first five games of the season -- the first three double-doubles of his career.
- Strickland averages a double-double with 16.4 points and a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game.
- Against Texas Tech Nov. 18, Strickland had 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
- He made his first six three-point field goal attempts of the season and is currently shooting 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from behind the arc.
- He is shooting 61.4 percent from the field.
- Strickland was named MVP of the 2k Classic Winston-Salem Regional.
- He was named ACC Player of the Week Nov. 14.

Strickland In 2005-06
vs. Mississippi Valley 16 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 6-7 FGs
vs. George Mason 18 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 6-9 FGs
vs. Florida 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2-2 3pt FGs
vs. Texas Tech 16 points, *16 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
vs. UNC-Asheville 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
* Career high

Big E Off And Dunking
Wake Forest senior Eric Williams, who flirted with the NBA Draft before returning to school, is off to the start he had hoped for.
Williams is averaging a team-best 16.4 points per game to go with 8.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.4 steals. The 6-9 Williams is shooting 64.8 percent (35-of-54) from the field, bolstered by 13 dunks.
"Big E" scored in double figures in 21 straight games until that streak ended Nov. 18 against Texas Tech. He is the only Deacon to score 20 points in a game this season and he has done it twice.

Williams Should Get 600th Rebound
Eric Williams will leave his name etched in the Wake Forest record books.
n "Big E" is closing in on 600 career rebounds. He has 598.
- Williams is shooting 58.6 percent for his career, which ranks second in Wake Forest history and 18th in ACC history.
- He ranks 25th in Wake Forest scoring history with 1,265 career points.
- He has played in an even 100 games and has started 92 times.
- He needs 11 free throws to have 300 for his career.
- Williams ranks 12th in Wake history with 80 career blocked shots.
- With 95 career steals, he is closing in on 100.
- Williams has 139 career dunks.

Wake Forest Ties School Record With 54th Consecutive Week In AP Poll
When Wake Forest was ranked 24th in Monday's Associated Press poll, the Deacons tied a school record by earning a spot in the poll for 54 consecutive weeks. Wake Forest was also in the AP top 25 for 54 straight weeks in 1996 and 1997.
The Deacons' No. 24 ranking is their lowest ranking since being ranked 25th on Dec. 23, 2002. Wake is also ranked 24th in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Only Duke, Kentucky and Arizona have been ranked in more consecutive polls than the Deacons.
In five seasons under coach Skip Prosser, Wake Forest has been ranked in the AP poll every week but four.

Starter In A Drum
Junior transfer Michael Drum started in the season opener, becoming the first non-scholarship player to start for the Deacons since Jim Fitzpatrick in 1999-00.
Drum started the first four games of the season. Fitzpatrick made five starts as a walk-on senior.

Gray Finds Touch, Is Hero In New York
Against Texas Tech Nov. 18, Wake trailed 64-60 with a minute left in the first overtime. That's when Justin Gray buried a deep 3-pointer to cut the lead to one. After Martin Zeno of the Red Raiders hit two free throws to push it to 66-63 Gray  hit another long three to tie it with 3.7 seconds left.
The Deacons went on to win 78-73 in two overtimes.
Gray went without a three-pointer in the first two games of the season, but he sank eight treys in two games in New York.

Gray Moving Up Scoring, Assists Ladder
Senior Justin Gray ranks 19th in Wake Forest history with 1,425 career points. He needs 17 points to pass Alvis Rogers for 18th place.
Gray is moving up in other categories in the Wake Forest record book:
- Gray has 236 career three-point field goals, which rank fifth in Wake Forest history and 19th in ACC history.
- With 631 career three-point attempts, he ranks fifth in Wake Forest history.
- He has 263 career assists, which ranks tied for 13th in Demon Deacon history.
- Gray has 108 career steals, also approaching the top 10 in that category.

Wale Forest Career Scoring Leaders
Rk.  Player Years GP FG 3PT FT Avg Points
 1. Dickie Hemric 1952-55 113 841 -- 905 22.9 2,587
 2. Randolph Childress 1991-95 120 648 329 583 18.4 2,208
 3. Len Chappell 1960-62 87 764 -- 637 24.9 2,165
 4. Tim Duncan 1994-97 128 790 17 520 16.5 2,117
 5. Skip Brown 1974-77 108 846 -- 342 18.8 2,034
 6. Rod Griffin 1975-78 107 773 -- 439 18.6 1,985
 7. Charlie Davis 1969-71 79 696 -- 578 24.9 1,970
 8. Robert O'Kelley 1998-01 127 618 288 361 14.8 1,885
 9. Darius Songaila 1999-02 130 636 12 575 14.3 1,859
 10. Josh Howard 2000-03 127 647 109 362 13.9 1,765
 11. Frank Johnson 1977-81 120 708 -- 333 14.6 1,749
 12. Chris King 1988-92 113 702 29 288 15.2 1,721
 13. Rodney Rogers 1991-93 89 683 53 301 19.3 1,720
 14. Bob Leonard 1964-66 80 623 -- 391 20.5 1,637
 15. Lefty Davis 1953-56 84 574 -- 416 18.6 1,564
 16. Sam Ivy 1987-90 111 645 -- 261 14.0 1,551
 17. Jack Williams 1953, 56-57 82 531 -- 391 17.7 1,453
 18. Alvis Rogers 1979-83 114 570 -- 301 12.6 1,441
 19. Justin Gray 2003- 91 434 224 280 15.4 1,425
 20. Jerry Schellenberg 1974-77 109 560 -- 246 12.5 1,366
 21. Craig Dawson 1999-02 128 481 255 125 10.5 1,342
 22. Delaney Rudd 1982-85 114 561 13 194 11.7 1,329
 23. Billy Packer  1960-62 89 527 -- 262 14.8 1,316
 24. Tony Rutland 1995-98 122 392 247 242 10.4 1,273
 25. Eric Williams 2003- 99 471 0 282 12.7 1,265

Deacons Already 2-0 In Overtime Games
This year's Wake Forest team has already done something last year's team did not do -- win an overtime game. And the Deacons have done it twice.
Wake beat George Mason in overtime on Nov. 11, then topped Texas Tech in double-overtime on Nov. 18.
Last year the Deacons went 0-3 in overtime games, including a double-overtime loss to West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest is 46-47 all-time in overtime games.

Deacons Saw Doubles Against Tech
Three Wake Forest players -- Trent Strickland (16 rebounds), Kyle Visser (16) and Eric Williams (10) -- had double-figure rebounds against Texas Tech Nov. 18. That hasn't happened very often. In fact, three Deacons have pulled down double-digit boards in the same game just three times in the last 25 years.
Strickland and Visser, each of whom had 16 points and 16 rebounds, gave Wake Forest two players with a double-double. The previous time that happened came on Feb. 13, 2003 against Duke -- also a double-overtime Wake Forest win.

Most Players With Double-Figure Rebounds/Last 25 Seasons
3 vs. Texas Tech at New York Nov. 18, 2005
3 vs. Temple at Winston-Salem Dec. 1, 2002
3 vs. Marquette at Milwaukee Dec. 12, 1981

Deacons Sign Five To Letters Of Intent
Five highly-regarded high school seniors have signed letters-of-intent to play basketball at Wake Forest next season.
L.D. Williams (East Bend, NC), Jamie Skeen (Charlotte, NC), Ishmael Smith (Concord, NC) , Anthony Gurley (Newton, MA) and Chas McFarland (Lovington, IL) all signed official letters of intent.
"I am thrilled with this recruiting class," Prosser said. "It answers many of our needs for the future. While recruiting is the most inexact of sciences, I am confident that this class will allow Wake Forest to compete with the best in the ACC and the best in the nation."
Rivals.com rated the Wake Forest recruiting class 18th nationally.
Williams, 6-4 and 185 pounds, is from the Winston-Salem area but is completing high school at Monteverde Academy in Florida. He is ranked among the top prospects nationally by Rivals.com. Williams chose Wake Forest after receiving a great deal of attention from several schools in the ACC and the SEC.
Skeen, 6-8 and 215, is embarking on his senior season at North Mecklenburg High School. Ranked among the nation's top 150 prospects, he is considered one of the nation's top high school senior small forwards. An all-state performer in 2005, Skeen led his team to the state 4A championship last season. Skeen was North Carolina's Mr. Basketball in 2005.
Smith, 5-11 and 155, gives Wake Forest an outstanding prospect at point guard. He plays for Central Cabarrus High School. Smith is considered one of the quickest players in this year's class.  Smith led Central Cabarrus to a 20-8 record and to the sectional finals last season as a junior. He plays for coach Scott Brewer.
Gurley is ranked among the nation's top prep prospects by Rivals. The 6-3, 185-pound Newton North High School senior is ranked as the 22nd-best shooting guard prospect. He averaged 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game last season for coach Paul Connolly's team, which won the state championship last season.
McFarland, 7-0, averaged 16.7 points, 14.3 rebounds and 7.5 blocked shots per game last season at Lovington High School in Illinois, where he was an all-state selection. McFarland is playing this season at Worcester (Mass.) Academy for coach Ed Reilly.
Gray, Williams Are Wooden Candidates
Wake Forest seniors Justin Gray and Eric Williams were named two of the 50 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, which goes annually to the nation's top college player.
Gray and Williams are two of eight ACC players on the list, joining Maryland's Nik Caner-Medley, Miami's Guillermo Diaz, Boston College's Jared Dudley and Craig Smith, and Duke's J.J. Redick and Sheldon Williams.

Miscellaneous Notes
- Wake Forest has won 12 straight season openers dating back to a Nov. 25, 1993 loss to Alaska-Anchorage in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout.
- The Deacons have not lost a home opener since Nov. 28, 1988, against Richmond, 74-61.

Three Walk-Ons Added To Roster
Three freshmen non-scholarship walk-on players, including two with local ties, were added to the Wake Forest 2005-06 men's basketball roster.
Joining the Deacons are 6-7 forward Bobby Hoekstra (Lewisville, NC), 6-2 guard Matt Smith (Advance, NC) and 6-1 guard Mike Lepore (Flemington, NJ).
Hoekstra is a local product who enjoyed an outstanding prep career at Forsyth Country Day. A basketball and baseball standout for the Furies, Hoekstra averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game last season.
Smith played his prep basketball at Davie County High School, where he was all-conference and offensive team MVP.
Lepore played on the high school level at Lawrenceville Prep in New Jersey, where he lettered in both basketball and golf.

Four Fresh Faces
With the loss of seniors Vytas Danelius, Taron Downey and Jamaal Levy, plus the departure of sophomore Chris Paul to the NBA, head coach Skip Prosser had some serious holes to fill.
While it wouldn't be fair to expect Wake's four newcomers to replace the above-mentioned foursome, the Deacon freshmen class will play a vital role in 2005-06.
Forward Kevin Swinton, 6-7, will certainly contribute right away -- at least when he returns from suspension Thursday night. A strong presence in the paint, Swinton will compete for a starting role at small forward.
The Deacon coaching staff is hoping to get valuable minutes this season from both 6-1 Shamaine Dukes and 6-2 Harvey Hale. If either can emerge at point guard, it would be a big plus for Wake Forest as it tries to compensate for the loss of Paul.
David Weaver, an athletic 6-10 post player, has potential to be an outstanding player in the ACC.
. He will compete with and learn from Williams and Visser this season.

Four Seniors, One Junior Back
The bad news for Wake Forest is just five scholarship players return in 2005-06. The good news is that those five include four battle-tested seniors and a junior.
And it's no stretch to say that Wake Forest has two of the best players in college basketball on its roster. Senior guard Justin Gray and senior center Eric Williams, both second team All-ACC selections last season and both preseason candidates for the John Wooden Award, are back in the fold.
Also returning are senior swingman Trent Strickland, a part-time starter the last three seasons, and senior forward Chris Ellis, who is hoping to be healthy after recent foot surgery. Junior center Kyle Visser, who has shown flashes of great potential, is also back in 2005-06.

Not So New Newcomers
Much of the preseason talk is about Wake Forest's four-man freshman class, but two other "rookies" will play a key role in 2005-06.
Cameron Stanley, 6-6, redshirted last season. His once-injured knee is now completely healed and after a year of practicing with the Deacons, Stanley is raring to go.
There is also junior Michael Drum, who sat out last season after transferring from Presbyterian College. While Drum is a non-scholarship player, he is expected to compete for playing time this season.

Seniors Have Accomplished Much
Wake Forest's senior class has combined to go 73-22 over the last three years, including a 35-13 mark in the ACC. No team has won more ACC games during that stretch.
The seniors are 24 victories away from tying the school record for the most wins over a four-year period. That record of 97 wins was set from 1994 to 1997 when Tim Duncan played for the Deacons.

Celebrating 100 Seasons
Wake Forest is celebrating its 100th season of basketball in 2005-06 and festivities will go on throughout the year.
A commemorative 100-year logo (see top of box at right) is in place. On the agenda is a reunion of former players and coaches, a throwback (or turn-back-the-clock game) and more.

Deacon Basketball Calendar
November
25 - 7:00, Wake Forest vs. Appalachian State at Joel Coliseum
25 - Chicago Bulls (Darius Songaila) at San Antonio Spurs (Tim Duncan), 8:30
26 - No practice
27 - 12:00-3:00, practice at Joel Coliseum
28 - 3:30-7:00, practice at Joel Coliseum
28 - Freshman Matt Smith's birthday (born Nov. 28, 1985)
29 - 7:00, Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin at Joel Coliseum (ACC/Big Ten Challenge), ESPN

December
1 - 3:30-7:00, practice at the Miller Center

1 - San Antonio Spurs (Tim Duncan) at Dallas Mavericks (Josh Howard), 8:00
2 - 3:30-7:00, practice at the Miller Center
3 - 2:00, Wake Forest vs. Elon, Greensboro Coliseum
3 - New Orleans Hornets (Chris Paul) at Dallas Mavericks (Josh Howard), 8:30
4 - off
5 - final exams
5 - Dallas Mavericks (Josh Howard) at Chicago Bulls (Darius Songaila), 8:30
6 - final exams
7 - final exams
8 - final exams
9 - 4:00-7:00, practice at Miller Center
10 - 4:00-7:00, practice at Miller Center
11 - 4:00-7:00, practice at Joel Coliseum
12 - 12:00-3:00, practice at Joel Coliseum
12 - Michael Drum's birthday (born in 1983)