Atlantic Coast Conference 2003-04 Season Recap
The ACC was back in full force this season. After failing to advance a single team to the Elite Eight in the 2003 NCAA Tournament, the conference stormed San Antonio this past season as Georgia Tech and Duke reached the Final Four.
Georgia Tech jumped onto the scene early in the season by bringing down then No. 1 Connecticut in the Preseason NIT. Who knew that Connecticut would have an opportunity for payback in the national championship game? Many considered the Yellow Jackets to be a flash in the pan, a team with success in November but troubles in February. Well, the Yellow Jackets proved doubters wrong and look to be a force for years to come in the conference.
NC State surprised several critics who underestimated this team’s potential in the beginning of the season. Despite failing to rack up a marquis non-conference win before January, the Wolfpack stormed through the elite ACC and finished second.
With the success stories of teams like Duke, Georgia Tech and NC State, there are also the disappointing tales of teams like Clemson and North Carolina. Clemson and Virginia figured to struggle this season with a lack of proven leaders. The Tigers welcomed new coach Oliver Purnell to the ACC. Give him time – he’s a good coach and will make Clemson a contender in the near future.
Although North Carolina returned to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence, the Tar Heels failed to live up to their hype. North Carolina earned a preseason top 10 ranking based on the reputation of past Tar Heel teams and of new coach Roy Williams. But Williams has more work to do to turn this talented cast into a championship-caliber squad. If North Carolina fails to finish in the ACC’s top three next season, the disappointment will be harder to swallow in Chapel Hill, N.C.
ACC Conference Tournament Recap
Duke’s regular season championship earned the Blue Devils another No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, which Duke had won five consecutive years. But this year, No. 6 Maryland startled the ACC by storming through the No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds to win the ACC title.
Sophomore guard John Gilchrist played possibly his best three games of the season in consecutive days to guide the Terrapins to victories against No. 3 Wake Forest, No. 2 NC State and No. 1 Duke. The tournament featured one of the narrowest average margin of victory in conference tournament history, with nearly every game coming down to the final minute of play. The tournament reflected this conference’s depth.
NCAA Tournament
Since midseason, most pundits predicted the ACC would receive six or seven bids to the NCAA Tournament. Six was the magic number as Duke, Georgia Tech, NC State, Wake Forest, Maryland and North Carolina each earned a spot. No team was seeded lower than sixth and three teams received No. 3 seeds or higher. Here’s a team-by-team recap:
No. 1 Duke (Atlanta)
First round: Won vs. No. 16 Alabama State, 96-61
Second round: Won vs. No. 8 Seton Hall, 90-62
Sweet 16: Won vs. No. 5 Illinois, 72-62
Elite Eight: Won vs. No. 7 Xavier, 66-63
Final Four: Lost vs. No. 2 Connecticut, 79-78
No. 3 Georgia Tech (St. Louis)
First round: Won vs. No. 14 Northern Iowa, 65-60
Second round: Won vs. No. 6 Boston College, 57-54
Sweet 16: Won vs. No. 10 Nevada, 72-67
Elite Eight: Won vs. No. 4 Kansas, 79-71 OT
Final Four: Won vs. No. 2 Oklahoma State, 67-65
Championship: Lost vs. No. 2 Connecticut, 82-73
No. 3 NC State (Phoenix)
First round: Won vs. No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette, 61-52.
Second round: Lost vs. No. 6 Vanderbilt, 75-73
No. 4 Maryland (Phoenix)
First round: Won vs. No. 13 UTEP, 86-83
Second round: Lost vs. No. 5 Syracuse, 72-70
No. 4 Wake Forest (East Rutherford)
First round: Won vs. No. 13 VCU, 79-78
Second round: Won vs. No. 12 Manhattan, 84-80
Sweet 16: Lost vs. No. 1 St. Joseph’s, 84-80
No. 6 North Carolina (Atlanta)
First round: Won vs. No. 11 Air Force, 63-52
Second round: Lost vs. No. 3 Texas, 78-75
NIT
The lone ACC bubble team to miss the NCAA Tournament was Florida State. But the Seminoles joined Virginia as the ACC’s two NIT representatives. Neither team left a memorable mark, however, as both bowed out in the second round.
Florida State
First round: Won vs. Wichita State, 91-84
Second round: Lost vs. Iowa State, 62-59
Virginia
First round: Won vs. George Washington, 79-66
Second round: Lost vs. Villanova, 73-63
Player of the Year:
Julius Hodge, NC State
Hodge was one of the most consistent players in the ACC this season, sparking the Wolfpack to a second-place finish in the ACC. Hodge can do a little bit of everything, as he led his team in scoring and was one of the leaders in rebounds, assists and steals.
All Conference Teams:
1st Team All ACC
Julius Hodge, NC State
Shelden Williams, Duke
Chris Paul, Wake Forest
Rashad McCants, North Carolina
Tim Pickett, Florida State
2nd Team All ACC
Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech
Raymond Felton, North Carolina
J.J. Redick, Duke
Sean May, North Carolina
Jamar Smith, Maryland
3rd Team All ACC
Luol Deng, Duke
Marcus Melvin, NC State
Chris Duhon, Duke
John Gilchrist, Maryland
B.J. Elder, Georgia Tech
Coach of the Year:
Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech
This award is easy to hand out. Hewitt elevated Georgia Tech to a legitimate elite powerhouse. And he did so without Chris Bosh, who left school for the NBA last summer, or Ed Nelson, the former ACC Rookie of the Year who transferred to Connecticut. Hewitt is a master of rotating players into the game based on the situation, which is something that escapes many other coaches who try to force their will upon the game. Hewitt is excellent at reading the game and adjusting accordingly. With him in charge, Georgia Tech promises to be great for seasons to come.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Julius Hodge, NC State
Hodge is one of the few players in the conference who regularly shut down opponents. He usually matched up with the opponent’s best player, and invariably Hodge got the better of him. He averaged 1.4 steals per game and also grabbed more than six rebounds per game, which is impressive for a guard.
All Conference Defensive Teams:
1st All Defensive Team:
Julius Hodge, NC State
Chris Paul, Wake Forest
Shelden Williams, Duke
Chris Duhon, Duke
Tim Pickett, Florida State
2nd All Defensive Team:
Isma’il Muhammad, Georgia Tech
Jamar Smith, Maryland
Raymond Felton, North Carolina
Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech
Jamaal Levy, Wake Forest
Rookie of the Year:
Chris Paul, Wake Forest
There is no doubt that Paul and Duke forward Luol Deng are both worthy of this award. Paul and Deng won nearly every rookie of the week award this season. Both were remarkably consistent as freshman and helped their teams excel. But Paul had to do more to make his team successful, and that is the difference in determining this award.
More than once, Paul single-handedly took over games to lift the Demon Deacons to victory. When Wake Forest absolutely had to have a score, Paul usually was the one orchestrating the offense, and often the one who took the shot.
All Conference Rookie Teams:
1st All Rookie Team:
Chris Paul, Wake Forest
Luol Deng, Duke
Alexander Johnson, Florida State
Vernon Hamilton, Clemson
J.R. Reynolds, Virginia
2nd All Rookie Team:
Gary Forbes, Virginia
Engin Atsur, NC State
D.J. Strawberry, Maryland
Ekene Ibekwe, Maryland
Von Wafer, Florida State
Clemson Tigers 10-18, 3-13
Coach Oliver Purnell completed his first season at Clemson last season. Purnell, who revived Dayton’s basketball program, dealt with a team that struggled to score and lacked an experienced point guard. As a result, the Tigers struggled for much of the season and managed only three conference victories – all of which were at home.
Team MVP: Junior forward Sharrod Ford (11.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.3 blocks per game)
Scoring Leader: Ford
Rebound Leader: Ford
Assist Leader: Freshman guard Vernon Hamilton (3.3 apg)
Starters Leaving:
Senior forward Chris Hobbs (graduating)
Returning Starters:
Junior guard Chey Christie (9.1 ppg)
Sophomore guard Shawan Robinson (10.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Junior forward Olu Babalola (9.0ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Junior forward Sharrod Ford (11.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.3 blocks per game)
Returning Contributors:
Freshman guard Vernon Hamilton (7.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Junior forward Lamar Rice (4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Sophomore forward Akin Akingbala (4.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Vernon Hamilton
G: Chey Christie
G: Shawan Robinson
F: Olu Babalola
F: Sharrod Ford
Purnell’s second year at Clemson should be more successful than his first. The incoming freshman are unspectacular, but forwards Cheyenne Moore and James Mays will give Clemson greater depth in the frontcourt. Purnell’s greatest challenge will be to find some consistency at point guard as the Tigers committed nearly 20 turnovers per game last season while dishing out less than 13 assists per game. The development of Vernon Hamilton will be the most significant factor in determining the Tigers’ success next season.
Duke Blue Devils 31-6, 13-3
Duke recaptured the regular season ACC crown but lost the conference tournament title for the first time since the late 1990s. The Blue Devils’ season was a success as Duke returned to the Final Four after dominating throughout the season. Sophomores J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams emerged as two of the ACC’s best players. Duke played essentially a seven-man rotation most of this season. Despite a shallow bench, Duke’s top seven was better than any other in the country.
Team MVP: Sophomore forward Shelden Williams (12.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.0 blocks per game)
Scoring Leader: Sophomore guard J.J. Redick (15.9 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Williams
Assist Leader: Senior guard Chris Duhon (6.1 apg)
Starters Leaving:
Duhon (graduating)
Returning Starters:
Junior guard Daniel Ewing (12.6 ppg, 1.4 steals per game)
Sophomore guard J.J. Redick (15.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Freshman forward Luol Deng (15.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
Sophomore forward Shelden Williams (12.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.0 blocks per game)
Returning Contributors:
Sophomore forward Shavlik Randolph (7.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Sophomore guard Sean Dockery (3.0 ppg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Shaun Livingston
G: Daniel Ewing
G: J.J. Redick
F: Luol Deng
F: Shelden Williams
It’s hard to predict how the Blue Devils will fare next season because their fate lies in the hands of off-season decisions. Will Luol Deng go pro? Will Shaun Livingston skip his tour of duty at Duke and head straight to the NBA Draft lottery? If these two players come to Duke, the Blue Devils should be the No. 1 team in preseason polls. Livingston is a big point guard who should easily fill Chris Duhon’s shoes. The rest of the team continues to mature, and any improvement on a Final Four season means that Duke is an automatic championship contender.
Florida State Seminoles 19-14, 6-10
The Seminoles came close to returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade, but the team’s inability to win on the road popped the bubble. Florida State lacked marquis non-conference wins but punished elite ACC opponents like North Carolina, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech in Tallahassee, Fla. Senior guard Tim Pickett was the heart and soul for this team, and it’s unfortunate this season did not produce a taste of the NCAA Tournament for such a warrior.
Team MVP: Senior guard Tim Pickett (16.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.5 steals per game, 41 percent three-point shooter)
Scoring Leader: Pickett
Rebound Leader: Junior forward Adam Waleskowski (5.4 rpg)
Assist Leader: Senior guard Nate Johnson (3.8 apg)
Starters Leaving:
Johnson (graduating), Pickett (graduating), senior forward Michael Joiner (graduating)
Returning Starters:
Junior forward Anthony Richardson (7.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Freshman forward Alexander Johnson (9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Returning Contributors:
Freshman guard Von Wafer (7.9 ppg)
Sophomore guard Todd Galloway (3.2 ppg, 2.2 apg)
Junior forward Adam Waleskowski (6.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Junior forward Andrew Wilson (4.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Freshman forward Al Thornton (2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Todd Galloway
G: Von Wafer
F: Anthony Richardson
F: Adam Waleskowski
F: Alexander Johnson
Florida State will lose more to graduation than any other team in the ACC this year. But the Seminoles have a talented core of players recruited by coach Leonard Hamilton. Players like Von Wafer, Alexander Johnson and Diego Romero, a transfer who did not play last season, will have to step up to fill the void left by Tim Pickett. A strong recruiting class will bolster the Seminoles’ backcourt. Florida State loses nearly 40 percent of its scoring from last season, but most importantly, the Seminoles must find a new team leader to inspire the team.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 28-10, 9-7
Georgia Tech became America’s surprise team of the year last season as few people outside of Atlanta considered the Yellow Jackets a viable national championship contender in November. But after Georgia Tech won the Preseason NIT, which included a victory against then No. 1 Connecticut, the Yellow Jackets’ season looked promising. Georgia Tech maintained the momentum that the team established early in the season and stormed the NCAA Tournament, in which the season finally ended in a rematch against Connecticut for the national championship.
Team MVP: Sophomore guard Jarrett Jack (12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.9 steals per game)
Scoring Leader: Junior guard B.J. Elder (14.9 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Junior center Luke Schenscher (6.6 rpg)
Assist Leader: Jack
Starters Leaving:
Senior guard Marvin Lewis (graduating)
Returning Starters:
Sophomore guard Jarrett Jack (12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.6 apg)
Junior guard B.J. Elder (14.9 ppg)
Junior forward Anthony McHenry (3.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Junior center Luke Schenscher (9.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Returning Contributors:
Junior forward Isma’il Muhammad (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Junior guard Will Bynum (9.6 ppg, 2.5 apg)
Sophomore forward Theodis Tarver (1.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Jarrett Jack
G: Will Bynum
G: B.J. Elder
F: Anthony McHenry
C: Luke Schenscher
Georgia Tech reached the national championship this season based on superb coaching by ACC Coach of the Year Paul Hewitt. He has recruited a great class for next season that will allow him to continue his waves of substitutions that helped keep key players fresh. Luke Schenscher’s development was one of the reasons Georgia Tech jumped up to the top of the nation. Schenscher must continue to improve to get his stats closer to 12 ppg and 8 rpg. For someone of his height, he must dominate competition. If Schenscher can provide those numbers, and the rest of the team maintains its defensive prowess and offensive stability, this team should vie for the championship again next season.
Maryland Terrapins 20-12, 7-9
Maryland joined the ACC’s youth movement last season after enjoying several years of senior leadership. With youth comes instability, and the Terrapins experienced several losing streaks that left the team’s NCAA chances in peril as late as the end of February. But a late-season streak through the ACC and the conference tournament earned the Terps a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The experience will prove invaluable for the baby Terrapins, who will undoubtedly contend for conference titles in the future.
Team MVP: Sophomore guard John Gilchrist (15.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.8 steals per game, 38 percent three-point shooter)
Scoring Leader: Gilchrist
Rebound Leader: Senior forward Jamar Smith (8.8 rpg)
Assist Leader: Gilchrist
Starters Leaving:
Smith (graduating)
Returning Starters:
Sophomore guard John Gilchrist (15.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.0 apg)
Sophomore guard Chris McCray (11.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Sophomore forward Nik Caner-Medley (12.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Sophomore forward Travis Garrison (7.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
Returning Contributors:
Freshman guard D.J. Strawberry (6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Freshman forward Ekene Ibekwe (4.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Freshman guard Mike Jones (4.9 ppg)
Freshman center Hassan Fofana (1.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: John Gilchrist
G: Chris McCray
F: Nik Caner-Medley
F: Travis Garrison
F: Ekene Ibekwe
The Terrapins have a sensational foundation to build on after a great end to this past season. Coach Gary Williams did a fantastic job to get these young players to compete on the elite level of ACC basketball. A lineup full of freshmen and sophomores should only grow stronger and more mature next season. The biggest question is who will step in for departing big man Jamar Smith. Ekene Ibekwe and Hassan Fofana are the heirs apparent, and Ibekwe led the team in blocks despite coming off the bench in most games. There is reason to be excited about a possible national championship in College Park, Md.
North Carolina State Wolfpack 21-10, 11-5
NC State is the ACC’s oddity – the lone team to run a version of the much-publicized Princeton offense. The Wolfpack’s style was more fun to watch, however, because NC State had more athletes to dazzle fans, such as Julius Hodge and Marcus Melvin. Guided by these two, NC State cruised through conference play to second place, behind only Duke. The Wolfpack’s season, unfortunately, will likely be considered incomplete because of a perceived bad call in the second round against Vanderbilt that State fans believe cost them the game. One call, however, should not take away from the team’s great season.
Team MVP: Junior guard Julius Hodge (18.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.4 steals per game)
Scoring Leader: Hodge
Rebound Leader: Senior forward Marcus Melvin (8.1 rpg)
Assist Leader: Hodge
Starters Leaving:
Senior guard Scooter Sherrill (graduating), Melvin (graduating)
Returning Starters:
Freshman guard Engin Atsur (8.5 ppg, 2.5 apgr)
Junior guard Julius Hodge (18.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Sophomore forward Ilian Evtimov (9.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Returning Contributors:
Junior forward Jordan Collins (3.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
Junior forward Levi Watkins (6.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Sophomore guard Cameron Bennerman (3.4 ppg)
Freshman guard Mike O’Donnell (2.4 ppg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Engin Atsur
G: Mike O’Donnell
G: Julius Hodge
F: Ilian Evtimov
F: Levi Watkins
NC State has an interesting situation at hand this off-season. Sherrill and Melvin are graduating and taking about a third of the team’s scoring and rebounding with them. Hodge was last known to be contemplating a jump to the NBA but will likely return for his senior year. NC State will need Ilian Evtimov, Levi Watkins and Jordan Collins to play bigger than they did this year or else the Wolfpack will struggle against opponents with any size in the paint. The Wolfpack have plenty of talent for next season’s team, but coach Herb Sendek will have to excel at playing the right guys at the right time for NC State to duplicate its second-place finish in an increasingly difficult conference.
North Carolina Tar Heels 19-11, 8-8
The Tar Heels returned to prominence in the ACC after a two-year absence. New coach Roy Williams was the most heralded coach to change jobs last off-season. His first year was successful, but he probably would consider it merely a glimpse of better times. The Tar Heels excelled when the team’s trio of sophomore prodigies – Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May – all had great games. But the lack of a bench hurt the Tar Heels, leading to a second-round NCAA Tournament exit.
Team MVP: Sophomore guard Rashad McCants (20.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 steals per game, 41 percent three-point shooting)
Scoring Leader: McCants
Rebound Leader: Sophomore forward Sean May (9.8 rpg)
Assist Leader: Sophomore guard Raymond Felton (7.1 apg)
Starters Leaving:
None
Returning Starters:
Sophomore guard Raymond Felton (11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 7.1 apg, 2.1 steals per game)
Junior guard Melvin Scott (9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Sophomore guard Rashad McCants (20.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Junior forward Jawad Williams (12.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Sophomore forward Sean May (15.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg)
Returning Contributors:
Junior guard Jackie Manuel (6.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Sophomore forward David Noel (5.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Raymond Felton
G: Melvin Scott
G: Rashad McCants
F: Jawad Williams
F: Sean May
The Tar Heels have one of the most talented starting lineups in college basketball, and North Carolina fans must hope that Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants opt to preserve that lineup rather than pursuing riches in the NBA. Also, the Tar Heels will be watching the decisions of their two prize recruits – Marvin Williams and J.R. Smith. With the loss of JamesOn Curry, whose scholarship was revoked after Curry was found guilty of drug-related offenses, North Carolina stands to potentially lose three of four recruits. That would officially be a disaster in Chapel Hill, N.C. But if everyone shows up as expected, this team is easily one of the three best in the country.
Virginia Cavaliers 18-13, 6-10
Perhaps the Cavaliers are familiar with the gospel song “Amazing Grace” – the team once was lost but now is found. Virginia started the past season by building a gaudy record by eating up a bunch of cupcake squads. In conference play, the team lost its way and quickly fell in danger of falling below Clemson for last place. But sometime in February, the Cavaliers’ good shepherd, known as coach Pete Gillen, found a way to guide his team to victory. His strategy: Get the ball to senior guard Todd Billet, who lifted the team to four huge victories against Clemson, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
Team MVP: Junior forward Elton Brown (14.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Scoring Leader: Brown
Rebound Leader: Brown
Assist Leader: Senior guard Todd Billet (3.2 apg)
Starters Leaving:
Billet (graduating)
Previous Starters:
Freshman guard T.J. Bannister (3.6 ppg, 3.0 apg)
Freshman guard J.R. Reynolds (9.4 ppg)
Junior forward Jason Clark (4.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.6 blocks per game)
Junior forward Elton Brown (14.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Returning Contributors:
Sophomore forward Derrick Byars (7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Junior guard Devin Smith (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 steals per game)
Freshman guard Gary Forbes (7.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Freshman forward Donte Minter (5.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Freshman forward Jason Cain (1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: T.J. Bannister
G: Devin Smith
G: J.R. Reynolds
F: Jason Clark
F: Elton Brown
One of Virginia’s problems for much of conference play was the team’s lack of a reliable point guard. Todd Billet was a fantastic shooter but could not create his own shot or productively run the offense. But T.J. Bannister promises to be a solid point guard, and incoming recruit Sean Singletary will add depth at the point. This team is young and full of potential. The school and the fans are growing tired of NIT appearances – Gillen must answer the call for NCAA Tournament success this season or prepare to change addresses.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 21-10, 9-7
Wake Forest entered last season figuring to drop off a bit from the previous year’s regular season conference title. But the team refused to back down and emerged as one of the ACC’s best teams. The Demon Deacons were one of three teams to reach the Sweet 16, fueled by the fire of freshman guard Chris Paul, one of the nation’s most exciting freshmen this past season. Add a cast of experienced backcourt players and you have some of the most exciting guards in the game in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Team MVP: Freshman guard Chris Paul (14.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.7 steals per game, 47 percent three-point shooter)
Scoring Leader: Sophomore guard Justin Gray (17.0 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Junior forward Jamaal Levy (8.4 rpg)
Assist Leader: Paul
Starters Leaving: None
Returning Starters:
Freshman guard Chris Paul (14.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.7 steals per game)
Sophomore guard Justin Gray (17.0 pp, 3.2 rpg)
Junior forward Vytas Danelius (5.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Junior forward Jamaal Levy (10.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg)
Sophomore center Eric Williams (12.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Returning Contributors:
Junior guard Taron Downey (10.2 ppg, 2.9 apg, 39 percent three-point shooter)
Sopomore guard Trent Strickland (6.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 38 percent three-point shooter
Freshman forward Kyle Visser (4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Chris Paul
G: Justin Gray
F: Vytas Danelius
F: Jamaal Levy
C: Eric Williams
As good as this past season was for Wake Forest, the team’s best days are ahead as the entire squad returns next season. Look for Wake Forest to be amongst the ACC’s elite next season. Chris Paul will be a legitimate player of the year candidate, and his teammates should help Wake Forest survive deep into the NCAA Tournament. Coach Skip Prosser must improve this team’s defense to turn a contender into a champion.
