MIAMI — Fourth-seeded Wake Forest just got blasted out of the NCAA tournament, losing 84-69 to No.13 seed Cleveland State in a game that finished around midnight Friday.
So the Deacons ended up going 0-2 in the ACC tournament and the NCAA tourney this season and going only 8-7 over their final 15 games. A season that began with so much promise – 16 straight wins! – ended with an absolute whipping by Cleveland State, a team that hadn’t made it to the NCAA tournament since 1986.
Wake Forest looked as lost in this one as it has all season. Cleveland State point guard Cedric Jackson and Vikings forward J’Nathan Bullock were both superb as Cleveland State repeatedly hid its lack of size with its wonderful quickness.
Jackson outplayed Wake guard Jeff Teague – by a large margin – and that was one of the main reasons this happened. Another: Wake’s Dino Gaudio was thoroughly outcoached by Cleveland State’s Gary Waters.
So Wake Forest, like Clemson, makes a very early exit. That leaves only the royalty of college basketball in the Carolinas – North Carolina and Duke – left after the NCAA’s first round.
— Scott Fowler
Comments
Did anyone really expect
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 00:42 — psh0117Did anyone really expect wake to win? I called it the day the brackets came out. Wake has talent, but they are to young, and have no tournament expereince, plus there coach has no experience. I'm just glad I picked Clev-state in my bracket.
Good call.
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 09:55 — JPDOhioI remember your prediction, which I disagreed with at the time. Cleveland State is a good team that struggled some in the middle of the year, but finished strong. The way Wake finished the year, an upset was certainly possible, but I thought Wake's overall talent would prevail.
What really surprised me is pasting the Vikings laid on the Deacs. Youth and lack of coaching experience are no excuse for such a meltdown. After all, it's not like Cleve State had any tourney experience, although I think their coach has been around the block a few times. In my mind, school is still out on whether Dino will ever be more than a very good recruiter.
no one
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 14:36 — gvillegatron wakes team had tourney experience either including Dino Flinstone.
What does that tell you?
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 15:24 — JPDOhioMore talent than most teams can even dream of, yet not able to consistently get into the tournament.
Miami Vice?
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 00:34 — jeromfitzScares the heck out of you alone. I know that couldn't concentrate on basketball either. The Cleveland St did out hustle them all the way. I don't think Cleveland can't beat Wake Forest in a mini-series. I serious doubt that. The point guard at Wake seems becoming unrattled by things with seeing the police in an earlier news report. Miami is full of decoys. Beware!
Wake basketball
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 00:12 — EastsurryTime to change the coaching staff - outplayed, outhustled, and outcoached by Cleveland State from the Horizon League. And when did you say the Spring football game at Wake was going to be played - oh, yes April 18 - Saturday!!
#1 and Done
Fri, 03/20/2009 - 23:43 — billayIt seems that ever since Wake got the #1 ranking, they just weren't motivated any longer. I think this team just climbed too far too fast, and didn't have the maturity to handle it.
hello??
Fri, 03/20/2009 - 23:41 — gvillegatris anyone, including WFU fans, really surprised?? this team has played as equally as bad as ClemPson down the stretch.