Tampa subregional

Wake Forest

LOCATION: Winston-Salem, N.C.

ENROLLMENT: 4,000.

CONFERENCE: Atlantic Coast.

TOURNAMENT BID: At-large.

SEED: 2.

STRENGTHS: Girth. The Demon Deacons' lineup consists of 6-foot-6 Josh Howard, 6-8 Vytas Danelius and 6-9 Eric Williams and Jamaal Levy. That's hardly fair, especially considering the group collectively runs the floor well. Howard, a senior, has averaged 24 points the past five games and appears to be getting stronger in his last tournament run. Not surprisingly, the Deacons are proficient rebounders. Howard (8.0) and Danelius (7.8) were third and fourth in the ACC, and the team finished the regular season with a plus-9.7 margin. Then there's the youthful confidence. The scary thought is the Deacons, with four underclassmen starting, may just be practicing for the future. Howard has flourished as the leader of the group, inspiring it after Wake was picked in the lower half in the ACC in a preseason media poll. The team responded by winning its first regular season ACC title in 41 years. Wake won at Wisconsin and beat Maryland and Duke, all top 25 in the RPI ratings. The Deacons also have an X-factor in freshman guard Justin Gray, who broke his jaw against Duke and played much of the season with it wired. He has scored in double figures six consecutive times off the bench since returning.

WEAKNESSES: Inexperience. With an 87-83 loss to N.C. State in the ACC tournament semifinals, ninth-ranked Wake blew its first chance to win a conference tournament since Tim Duncan's teams were victorious in 1995 and 1996. Wake had taken care of business before the ACC tournament, going 20-1 against unranked teams and winning seven consecutive. None of that matters anymore, and a very young team will be playing in very big games.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The Demon Deacons will try to push the pace and wear down East Tennessee State with its quickness and ability to send huge bodies to the glass. Another big game will be needed from Howard, as much statistically as helping focus the younger players.

HE SAID IT: "I doubt we will take in a Devil Rays game. (And) with my skin color and red hair, I'm not too worried about going to the beach. That won't be a problem. It's good to go to warm weather. It's March and spring time, so let's go get some warm weather." -- Skip Prosser on possible distractions in Tampa.

-- Compiled by Brant James.

The starters and coach

Josh Howard

FORWARD, 6-6, SENIOR

20 ppg, 8.1 rpg

Odds-on favorite for ACC player of the year, he is the catalyst for the Deacons. He has scored in double figures in 24 straight games.

Vytas Danelius

FORWARD, 6-8, SOPHOMORE

13.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg

The team-leader in field-goal percentage (.533) can yell swish in English, Lithuanian, Russian and German after one of his jumpers.

Jamaal Levy

FORWARD, 6-9, SOPHOMORE

7.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg

He shot .500 from the field in conference games and gives the team size and versatility in the backcourt.

Eric Williams

CENTER, 6-9, FRESHMAN

8.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Offensively, the weak link in the Deacons' lineup, but he scored 16 on Jan. 15 in an 81-72 victory against Maryland.

Taron Downey

GUARD, 6-2, SOPHOMORE

10.0 ppg, 4.4 apg

He has 44 assists and 16 turnovers in his past seven games. He had five or more assists 11 times and three or more 3-pointers five times.

Coach: Skip Prosser

RECORD: 45-18, second season, 231-109, 10 seasons.

He has reached the tournament for the ninth time in 10 seasons. His teams have won 20 or more games the past seven seasons.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright