Tampa subregional

It could have been special homecoming

TAMPA -- It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, or at least it could have been.

East Tennessee State guard Tiras Wade not only had the chance to play in an NCAA Tournament, the school's first in 11 years, but he had the chance to do it in his hometown.

Instead of enjoying what would have been an exciting homecoming, the Tampa Bay Tech graduate is absent.

Wade, a sophomore, took what school officials called an "indefinite leave from the team while dealing with personal issues." The team's leading scorer (16.3 ppg), he missed the last nine regular-season games and all three Southern Conference Tournament games.

"He needed to step away from the game," ETSU coach Ed DeChellis said Thursday. "He puts a lot of pressure on himself to always try to play the perfect game of basketball and I think it became ... you know, sometimes it becomes too much."

As a 15-year-old, Wade was arrested and charged by Temple Terrace police with assault and battery on a school employee, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

"He didn't have any fights or anything like that," DeChellis said. "It was just some other personal things."

Wade remains in school and on the roster but was not at Thursday's practice. Players indicated he did not make the trip to Tampa. DeChellis said he hoped to have Wade back with the Bucs as soon as possible.

WE SWEAR WE'RE NOT HAPPY: While it's clear, perhaps even to themselves, that the Buccaneers are underdogs to Wake Forest, junior forward Zakee Wadood denied they were simply thrilled to be in the tournament.

During post-practice interviews, a reporter asked players how they fought the feeling of just being happy to be in the tournament, and Wadood got a tad defensive.

"We're not happy," Wadood said.

"We're not happy unless we win. We're not here just because we're happy that we made it; I mean, we have something to prove."

A NEEDED BREAK?: Wake Forest guard Taron Downey said he and his teammates wanted to reach -- and win -- the ACC championship game Sunday, but bowing out a day early does have its benefits: another day of rest.

"I think it's kind of good," he said.

No, he's not merely echoing Arizona coach Lute Olson's sentiment. Neither is Josh Howard, who found another plus in the loss to North Carolina State last weekend.

"Us losing that game gave us a chance to realize that we can lose a game," Howard said. "I don't think we'd lost a game in a month. That's going to help us refocus and set our goals on what we have to do these next three weeks."

A GOOD SIGN: Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser said his team has had a couple of energetic practices (coincidence?), but he has been around long enough to know that is not necessarily an omen.

"Only time will tell," he said. "Sometimes you have great practices and you think your guys are really ready to go and then you come out and don't play. Other times, you have a lethargic practice and as a coach you're in the locker room saying, 'Wow. None of our guys are ready,' and then they play lights out.

"But if you're not excited to play in the national tournament ... I think we'll play incredibly hard and I think East Tennessee State will play incredibly hard. Each team has the advantage of no choice. If you don't play hard, you go home. I don't think we want to do that and I'm sure East Tennessee State doesn't either."

HISTORY LESSON: The last time the Demon Deacons won the ACC's regular-season title was 1962. That was the same year they made their only Final Four appearance. The stars of that team? Len Chappell and current CBS analyst Billy Packer.

LOCAL GATHERING: Bay area Wake Forest alumni who don't have tickets to the games can gather at the Marriott Waterside to watch the Demon Deacons play. Alums can spend $15 and go from there to Howl at the Moon at Channelside after the game for a private party.

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