Comments

As always Dan, I appreciate the observations and insight. In this particular situation, though, I think that it’s too simple to say that fans are mad that we’re not winning in the postseason because it’s not just the losing - it’s the consistent pattern of getting worse at the end of the year and not playing up to expectations. Wake is simply not losing. In these last three weeks, the Deacs have lost to the last 3 teams in the ACC by something stupid like 15 points each. And they look utterly baffled by a basic zone defense. And they can’t shoot free throws. And they make bone-headed choices that well-disciplined teams don’t make.

Sure, losing is annoying but it’s symptomatic of the implosion that keeps occurring that has me pulling my eyelashes out. I think fans are angry because, more than anything else, we’re disappointed. Again.

andy on 03/12/2010 (3:34 pm)

It will always be"What have you done now. Is our Coach a good season Coach and not so good tourney Coach.? You are correct in stating he has a good record overall. It is a mystery as to why we are not playing better. Maybe we are not playing to our strengths. No one seems to know,however. Coaching is a tough undertaking. Hope our Coach can solve our problems.Enjoy your writing very much. Keep it up.

carl on 03/12/2010 (2:42 pm)

IMO, the only factor making Dino’s dismissal harder is keeping the upcoming, stellar recruiting class intact.

JR’s last few thoughts are on the money. An 0-fer postseason record when you as the higher seed never come within 10 points of your opponent is inexcusable.

Wake is a quality job. Let’s see some more Wellman hiring magic.

Burnin' Up in Kitchin on 03/12/2010 (2:20 pm)

To compare Gaudio to both Maryland Williams and UNC’s Williams is apples and oranges. Both programs have national championships and are consistantly national contenders. Both coaches are established and proven winners. There fan base is just not used to collapses during the post season or regular season. Dino may be a fine man but as far as a coach I have yet to see one of his teams improve during the course of a season. I have never seen Dino coach with intensity or passion like I see from the above mentioned coaches. It’s almost like he questions himself on the sidelines or is looking for answers from his assistants. He is the head coach the responsibility his.

Jason on 03/12/2010 (1:50 pm)

Come on Dan. Though I read your observations regularly and enjoy your perspective on Deacon athletics, you have missed the boat on this one. It should not be enough when you have this much talent to win in December. And it isn’t just losing. It is no hustle, no desire, no self respect, no direction. Grobe loses but never just mails it in. This basketball program seems to self destruct every February, just when we should be at our best. Wake did the right thing by giving Dino a chance. He should do the right thing by stepping aside.

jrhunter on 03/12/2010 (12:45 pm)

This will be my last comment for a while—that’s a promise, not a treat.
I recently discovered this blog and will continue to read, because I like Dan’s “Take” but I’ve written too much.
I do want to say that I appreciate Dan’s blog and the opportunity for comments.The comments here are from folks with class, who can write a complete sentence, who can spell, who have a vocabulary that doesn’t have to resort to curses and other vile language. Also, We disagree, but I can’t remember any vicious personal attacks on another commenter.The same can’t be said for comments that make their way onto many other blogs.
We know about the stages of reaction to grief( and grieve is not too strong, because we love Wake Forest).I am stuck in the anger stage. Many others appear to be there. Others appear to be stuck in denial.But, know what? We’ll get over it, and around July we will be eagerly anticipating the opportunity to order season tickets. I believe that our day will come.

Jerry on 03/12/2010 (12:31 pm)

Pls remove all cupcake wins in analyzing Dino’s record!  Team is passion-less and should be NIT bound at most! A thorough rout in the NCAA’s first round should seal Dino’s fate.  Nice assistant, never a head coach. Ron Wellman “show” some leadership here.

Jim Solomon on 03/12/2010 (12:25 pm)

Dan,

My view is that even if we make a run deep into the NCAA Tournament, the season will be over soon enough.  At that point, we can speculate for months about what changes need to be made to ensure that the basketball program progresses in the right direction. 

As for the here and now, we likely will get a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  This is the tournament that matters, so what is the team doing to get ready?  I am sure the players must be taking the loss to Miami hard, and bouncing back will be difficult.  But the team STILL has an opportunity to do something special this season.  If anyone doesn’t think we have the talent to get it done, they are sorely mistaken. 

After reading comments from the players and Coach Gaudio after the Clemson game about being “relieved” to get the win, I was a little disappointed.  Relieved?  To beat Clemson?  Given the struggles leading up to that game, I understand the emotion.  But if you are of a mindset where winning leaves you feeling relieved, then that indicates to me that you aren’t taking the right approach to the game.  So in the first round of the NCAAs, I hope that the Deacs realize that they are better than the team they are facing (even if it’s a seven-seed), and they should expect to take the win.

DC on 03/12/2010 (12:05 pm)

I’m totally frustrated with our program. For the past 2 years, we haven’t had a solution for a zone defense, we don’t show up for important games (ACC Tournament, Cleveland State), key players disappear from games (Aminu, last year Teague). I like Dino’s emphasis on defense which you must have to win in the NCAA. But I doubt his leadership and game coaching skills.

John on 03/12/2010 (11:43 am)

I think it is maybe past time for Wellman to review Dino’s circumstances and try to answer the question, should he go or should he stay?  The record over the past two years at post season have been miserable.  I am not a coach, but how can they look so good and perform so well one week and really stink the next?  I remember the communtators or ESPN predicting that Wake would be in the     sweet 16 this year.  I do not envy Dino the team nor Wellman.

patrick price on 03/12/2010 (11:24 am)

Dan, regular season success is not how programs reputations are built!  The whole idea of a season is to improve so you play your best at the end.  Instead each year, the Deacs have fallen apart when it’s most important!  There is NO excuse for losing to Miami, without Collins, by 21 points!  The reality is, the Prosser/Gaudio up tempo style is not conducive to winning post season basketball.  Winning in the post season means grinding it out in the half court which these teams have repeatedly shown they don’t do well.  I think the Gaudio/Prosser era needs to come to a close.  Gaudio himself said yesterday his team didn’t come out with as much emotion as he wanted.
Who is responsible for getting them ready?  He is!  These late and post season meltdowns are NOT acceptable!

Andy on 03/12/2010 (10:43 am)

Dan, I appreciate your blog.  But there’s no way in the world Wake wins a game next week if they are fortunate enough to make the NCAA tournament.  Dino is in way over his head and needs to be let go.  Nice guy and great recruiter, but a terrible in-game coach and motivator.

Otis on 03/12/2010 (10:32 am)

You’ve hit on the root of the severe anxiety sweeping the Wake fanbase. That 0-4 record has resulted in zero confidence that this coaching staff can get wins when it matters most. There’s also a good deal of frustration that this is a talented team in a down-ACC year that stumbled its way to a fifth-place finish in the conference. The late-season results have been tough for fans to stomach.

TM on 03/12/2010 (10:08 am)

CBSSports.com now projects Wake as a 10 seed.
Why not just pass, prevent further national embarassment, and spend the money toward paying off Gaudio rather than wasting money and time to take the whole entourage to some far-flung site? We don’t need any more attention. A low profile is called for now.
Can’t you hear the on-air comments by a CBS announcer if we don’t have a clue that a 2-minute timeout has been called instead of a 30-second, and Dino sends the players out to stand around while the other team listens to their coach?

Jerry on 03/12/2010 (9:55 am)

All you can ask for in sports is an opportunity to win.  After squandering several this year, this team as another opportunity.  I hope they acquire that intangible killer instinct and take advantage of it.

DC on 03/12/2010 (9:25 am)

Country,

Great idea that may help Dino going forward should he remain @ WFU as head basketball coach…

Just end the season around Feb. 15 each year. That way the team may not look embarrasing as it does on an annual basis when the losses pile up…

Tom on 03/12/2010 (9:09 am)

8 teams had ACC Tourney games yesterday-7 teams showed upto play.  Guess who didn’t?  Shame on the Deacs for embarassing themselves and their fans in yet another horrible postseason performance under Dino. I hope they find a way to win a postseason game with Dino.

Steve on 03/12/2010 (8:22 am)

Dan, you nailed it. Wake Forest will never be happy until we get to the Sweet 16 and ultimately the Final Four. That is why Dave Odom is no longer here. Respectable in the regular season is like a 2.7 GPA. Good enough to graduate, but ain’t going to land you the job you want.

Jim on 03/12/2010 (8:21 am)

My observation over the last couple of years is that Wake has won mostly on the talent and fastbreak offense of its players.  A previous comment comparing Dino to Bob Staak is close.  However, Staak’s 4 years were the absolute worst-ever for Wake basketball.  It comes down to coaching when the players are constantly out of position on defense.  Quit playing a man-to-man that takes your center to the top of the key all the time.  Change your offense so that Aminu isn’t putting up so many 3-pointers when he should be slashing to the basket.  Still a loyal Deacons fan and supporter though.

CP on 03/12/2010 (8:07 am)