On one hand the Demon Deacons will start three juniors – Ishmael Smith, L.D. Williams, and Chas McFarland – and two sophomores – Jeff Teague and James Johnson. In comparison to many teams on the AP’s pre-season list the Deacs might look a little green. On the other hand Wake Forest returns 100% of last year’s statistical output.
Dino Gaudio was able to navigate the waters in the wake of the untimely death of Skip Prosser, and the young Demon Deacons look poised to make a run.
Teague and Smith will run the point, but Teague plays without a conscience and has the ability to fill it up like no one. Enter into evidence the night he dropped 26 against Duke, followed by 18 against UNC, 27 versus Miami and 25 at Virginia Tech.
But Teague doesn’t need to do it alone. The 6’9″ Johnson averaged 14 points and 8 boards last year. At times Johnson reminded Winston-Salem denizens of ‘Jumpin’ Josh Howard. Seven-footer, McFarland takes up a lot of room in the lane. Williams averaged almost nine points last year.
Gaudio landed a trio of towers that will get plenty of time off the bench. 6’9″ Al-Farouq Amin is a top prospect out of Georgia. 7’0″ Ty Walker and 6’11” Tony Woods will provide plenty of muscle off the bench.
Gone are Roy Hibbert and Jonathan Wallace, but John Thompson III has his Hoyas ready for a rugged season in the Big East. With five Big East teams ranking higher than his Hoyas Thompson might enjoy the opportunity to sneak up on a few teams. Okay – so they won’t sneak up on anyone. But if your Marquette, and three of your last four conference games come against UConn, L’Ville, and Pitt, might you overlook GU before that stretch?
Thompson returns two starters – Jessie Sapp, and DaJuan Summers – along with Chris Wright whose foot injury prevented him from starting.
Sapp can be a diifficult match-up. At 6’3″ and 205 pounds most guards will not be able to slow him off the dribble or if decides to go into the post.
Summers averaged 11 points and 5 bounds, and those numbers should increase with Hibbert’s absence.
Sophomore, Austin Freeman and true freshman, Greg Monroe complete the starting group.
Jason Clark and Henry Sims, a pair of freshman, will see regular minutes for Thompson.
And one more makes seven. Yeah – that’s right the Big East places seven in the AP’s Pre-Season Top 25. As #12 seed the ‘Cats slipped into the last year’s Sweet Sixteen. That is a testament to eight-year coach, Jay Wright, who maximizes talent year in and year out. Wright’s kids traditionally get on a steady track of improvement throughout the season.
Scottie Reynolds will carry the load for Villanova. The junior average 15 points and three assists last season. Reynolds shot 41% as he topped the 20-point mark twelve times a year ago.
Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson, Shane Clark, and Antonio Pena all started at least 14 games in the ‘Nova front court. Wright has plenty to choose from and plenty of fouls to dish out. With a deep bench Villanova can afford to play aggressively.
Sophomore, Corey Stokes, will start in the back court.
How the mighty have fallen. I have been one to run a line of smack in Bill Self’s direction, but I gotta give him credit for hanging around. Not that his lineup is Old Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard or anything, but his nine-man rotation includes four true freshman and two junior college transfers. In all the Jayhawks return 14 points per game and not a whole lot of rebounds.
Junior, Sherron Collins, and freshman, Tyshawn Taylor, will start in the back court along with JUCO transfer, Mario Little. Freshman, Markieff Morris, and junior, Cole Aldrich will work the front court.
Freshmen, Marcus Morris and Travis Releford, will team with Tyrel Reed and Tyrone Appleton off the bench.
Bo Ryan is hoping for a return of the Trevon Hughes who averaged 11 points and 2 assists per game in the months of December, January, and February. Hughes struggled in March as the Badgers bowed out in the second round of the ’08 NCAA Tourney.
Hughes is joined in the back court by fellow junior, Jason Bohannon.
Seniors, Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry, will clean up the boards. As juniors the two combined for 12 bounds a game.
Sophomore, Keaton Nankivil, will complete the starting five.
Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer will come off the bench.
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