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WAKE FOREST

2008-09 record: 24-7 overall, 11-5 ACC (second)

Postseason: 0-1, lost to Cleveland State in first round

Projected starting lineup: G Ish Smith (right), G L.D. Williams, F Al-Farouq Aminu, F Tony Woods, F Chas McFarland

Plus

• Opportunity. With Jeff Teague and James Johnson gone, forward Al-Farouq Aminu becomes Wake's go-to guy, and that's a good thing.

WINSTON-SALEM — Guard Ish Smith was finishing plays, kind of like old times, during Wake Forest's basketball practice Tuesday.

And that's good news for the undefeated, No. 4 ranked Deacons, who play North Carolina Sunday night in Winston-Salem. Deacons.

Smith, who suffered a foot fracture in September, made three key baskets - including a game-winning floater — while directing his "Black" team in a closing scrimmage.

Wake Forest guard L.D. Williams rooms with injured teammate Ish Smith. So Williams knows how Smith, who injured his left foot on Sept. 19, is dealing with the injury.

Williams said Smith, who had surgery on Sept. 22, is doing fine. Smith hasn't stopped talking about basketball, even in their off-the-court moments at home so that's a good sign.

Useful guards are dropping left and right in the ACC. Georgia Tech's D'Andre Bell is out for the season with a rare congenital condition and Virginia might be without the services of guard Calvin Baker.

Baker, UVa's second-leading returning scorer, might require surgery for his injured left foot, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Baker averaged 8.6 points and 2.4 assists last season and was expected to start this season and handle the point guard position.