By Kenneth Cross
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were picked sixth in the ACC by the preseason media poll last week at ACC Media Day. However, coach Steve Forbes’s team is seen as high as No. 4, but now lower than the No. 7 that it was presented at the ACC Media Days last week.
Forbes returns three of his top four leading scorers in Damari Monsanto, Cam Hildreth, and Andrew Carr while adding four transfers and three high-level freshmen.
“Last two years, we were one of the best offensive teams in the ACC,” Forbes said. “I think we have to defend better and win the right games.”
Forbes discussed last season when the Demon Deacons played 13 games that were decided by three points or less and they finished 6-7 in those.
“Four of those losses were to four teams that went to the NCAA Tournament, one that went to the Final Four,” noted Forbes. “If you just flip two of those, you probably have a better chance.”
Forbes talked about winning “the right games,” which are the tougher opponents, as well as many other variables that can fall into place throughout a schedule. He discussed making the schedule tougher which is sure to encompass the ‘right’ games.
“You can’t just stack wins,” he said. “Used to be, you would win 20, 22, 23, 24 games, you’re getting in. Now, there are teams getting in at sub-500 in their league, so you have to adjust.”
Having three talented returnees will force opponents who know the Demon Deacons to try to adjust early in matchups. Monsanto, a potential 3-guard or power forward, shot 40.5 percent from three as well as working off the dribble. With Carr in the post, the two can be a tough matchup because of Monsanto’s athleticism, the size of both players and their accuracy.
Carr, a 6-9, 210, forward, is a tough assignment with his ability on the post-up as he shot 60.1 percent from inside the arc. He also found 3.2 three-point attempts per game and averaging 31 percent on those.
Hildreth should be able to play more as a small forward and will be a consistent threat off the dribble with his passing ability and knowledge of how to break down a defense when he drives the ball.
Potential New Deacons Dynamos: Central Michigan transfer point guard Kevin “Boopie” Miller and Gonzaga shooter Hunter Sallis, should help stabilize the Demon Deacons in the backcourt, where they lose two key players in leading scorer ACC Player of the Year Tyree Appleby (18.8 ppg, 6.4 apg) and Daivien Williamson (8.7 ppg, 38.5% – 3).
“He’s alot like Ty – fast, hard-charging, quick, and can score,” said Forbes of Miller. “I think he has gotten a lot better over the last couple of months, and a lot of that and a lot of that, I think Andrew had to change from the mid to the high major game.”
Forbes likes the NCAA Tournament of Sallis and Carr as the Demon Deacons last played in the March Extravaganza in 2017. WFU has been ignored by the NCAA Selection Committee in the last two seasons as the Deacs have been solid enough to win NCAAT games in either year and posted 25 and 19 wins, respectively.
Forbes always looks at teams’ styles and characteristics from where the transfers played as Sallis and Efton Reid, who began at LSU, are products of Gonzaga.
Forbes thinks that Sallis could be in a position to make his name inside the ACC.
“Hunter is very unselfish; maybe too unselfish at times,” commented Forbes. “Would you guys agree? I think he passes up shots he should take.”
UCLA transfer Abramo Canka is the fourth player to transfer to Wake Forest as his length and athleticism will be defensive keys while he continues to upgrade his offensive game.
Forbes added a pair of 4-star shooting guards in Aaron Clark and Parker Frederichson while power forward Marquis Marion comes over from Copenhagen, Denmark.