Comments

Just as I thought. People want to keep LaRue not for the job that he is doing, but rather for the incredible things he did as a student athlete.

I, just to be clear, think that the current staff should be given two more years so that they can show what they can do with a better mix of talent (we have talent right now, it’s just rather one dimensional). We also need to recognize that getting rid of a coach with an excellent regular season record after only 3 years when in only one of which those years was there a reasonable expectation for post-season success could be extremely damaging for the program from both a short-term and long-term perspective. No good coach is going to want to work with so little job security.

Realistic on 03/05/2010 (12:44 pm)

Why keep Rusty? Because he is a Deacon legend. He represents what a Wake student athlete should be. He knows basketball. He has contacts.He relates well to young men. He is a competitor. He has had only one year. I know Wojeck has had only one year also, but he moves around so much he probably hasn’t unpacked his bags from the move to W-S.In all fairness to Wojeck, he is really focused on the games and he appears to honestly like his players…see the hugs and atta boys he gives them. He does have a reputation as an effective, tireless recruiter. I, for one, don’t want to hear any talk about his brother when/if we look for a new coach.

Jerry on 03/05/2010 (12:29 pm)

Not surprised to see this board in total meltdown phase. I must admit I am a little conflicted myself. This season and last do follow the same, clear pattern. We lose a terribly reffed game against Virginia Tech, and then we struggle to get a win. Once we get that next win (and I believe it’s going to happen Sunday), we will have our confidence back and could actually do something in the ACCT. Now maybe I am just being delusional, but when things are clicking this team is very good.

Fans have such short memories for the good and such long memories for the bad. They can spout off all of the games we shouldn’t have lost but did while completely forgetting the games that we shouldn’t have won but did. The fact that we won @Gonzaga and vs Maryland tells me that Dino has it in him. These short memories also let them think that February 2008 was a collapse when in reality all it was was a bad team going through a difficult time that managed to win one game they shouldn’t have.

I also think it’s silly that people are saying Rusty LaRue should be the only one kept on the staff. I guess you all don’t mind firing a “stranger” that’s been with the program for 8-9 years, but don’t want to fire “one of our own”. I can’t think of a plausible reason to keep LaRue and not Wojcik other than the university on LaRue’s diploma. Don’t get me wrong, I think a lot of the man, but I don’t see why he should be an exception except to keep your consciences clear.

Realistic on 03/05/2010 (10:50 am)

I do not know what more can be said than has been said.  The coach last night on the radio show seems to have on rose colored glasses and not see the seriousness of the situation.  He stated he will win Sunday.  He’s placed the cards on the table - we’ll see if he can play them.  If he closes with 6 losses in a row, possibly 7, he must be replaced.

Dave on 03/05/2010 (10:12 am)

If Wake really wants to make a splash nationally with recruits etc. they should do whatever they can to hire Mark Few from Gonzaga.  His record speaks volumes and his hiring would elevate Wake’s program significantly.  It’s time to fish or cut bait Wellman.

jay scott on 03/05/2010 (9:51 am)

A lot of insightful comments have been posted here and I think the problem is obvious. But I did notice that the FSU players up and genuinely exhorting their teammates after “hustle” plays like steals and tipped passes out of bounds. Did anyone ever see Wake’s players up off the bench with emotion after such? Maybe it was a bad tv angle but I never did. I think that is of course morale..and that too has coaching written all over it.

pensive1 on 03/05/2010 (8:40 am)

OK, I have heard enough about firing Dino.
Been an avid Wake supporter for 37 years.
Except for the Duncan, Childress years fans have always called for coaches heads.
Carl Tacy, Bob Staak( probably our worst coach ever) Dave Odom ( nobody liked his coaching style even South Carolina but he had two NIT wins and more 20 game wins down there in the graveyard of coaches than anybody in recent history)Dino has done a great job turning the defense around but eventually you have to get somebody to put the ball in the basket. The real problem is losing Teague and Johnson to the draft. Teams like North Carolina and Duke seem to keep their players for four years. Dino had to replace them with two freshman who will be good but not in the short term. Untill the NCAA makes players stay at least three years ( baseball and football) this will always be a problem. Donors give money to pay for a kids education and their loyalty goes out the window. Dino did a great job in our four overtime wins but eventually the players have to play. Wake has a slump every year no matter who is coaching. Who are you going to get. South Carolina let Odom go and their new coach has a losing record hope they are satisfied too.

Ed on 03/05/2010 (8:31 am)

Three quotes in your article today makes me wonder which direction the basketball team and coaching staff really wants to go.

Ish Smith: “This is a tough one to swallow,” “The best we can finish is fifth. So we need to do that, finish fifth, which is not bad in this league.”

Aminu: “I’ve got to get more production out of myself,” “They’re relying on ,e to make shots, so I’m going to have to be more aggressive and start making shots.”

Coach Gaudio: “I just think we weren’t attaching enough,” “I just wish we’d been in a better attack mode.”

1. Never settle for second best {now 5th best}. Senior leadership is supposed to step up and LEAD.

2. Demand the ball! If the guards don’t give it to you get in their face and take charge. Be the leader and take the team on your back.

3. Don’t just wish the team was in “attack mode”. Good teams, and we are a good team, never let up. And, coaches are responsible for seeing players do what is expected. Coaches are supposed to be the real LEADERS.

DT on 03/04/2010 (7:34 pm)

Today’s article in the journal is a great example of why Dino must go now!! He has said the same thing for 3 games now, “They were jamming Ish and keeping him from penetrating”, and not once does he even indicate what he tried to do or change. Aminu no points, not even a foul shot.

Dino is out of his league he needs to go back and Coach High School Ball. He doesn’t even have the insight to understand that in the pregame The Deacon has been coming in on that bike now for 3 years, that is as predictable as the plays Dino calls in the Huddle, neither one has any affect on the game.

Do us all a favor Dino go back to Wheeling or wherever Skip found you and Take Jeff Battle with you.

Tony C on 03/04/2010 (6:53 pm)

Not gonna turn totally yet, but I have to say, some of the choices made by players down the stretch last night boggled my mind. Down 4 or so with 3 minutes to go and Ari drives in the lane like a Rec Leaguer and loses the ball, then shoots a 3-pointer off of one pass. That kid is GOING to be a good player, but he’s got to lose this mentality of quicker the better, and yes, it shows poor coaching. Aminu? What can you say? He shot twice. I mean, he is an athlete and all, but as far as an NBA ‘star’ I just can’t see it. Maybe if he had a jumper and didn’t foul in frustration, but he’s got a long way to go. Come on Deacs, let’s get one more!

Thomas on 03/04/2010 (6:36 pm)

Dan,

You columns speak more than I could ever observe. But, no matter the sport or profession, if one knows what “ain’t” one has to adjust accordingly. Don’t see that with the Deacs in the last five games.

Peace, my friend.
P.S.Heard you on the radio with Packer recently. You sure that wasn’t a young son of your talking????

bobby h griffin on 03/04/2010 (6:26 pm)

Atleast this late-season collapse wasn’t unexpected…

gcgwake on 03/04/2010 (5:29 pm)

Three straight years of end of season meltdowns. What is the deal with that offense.  4 guys standing around waiting for Ish to do something. This team is really bad right now. NIT at best and probably an early exit from that. Change coaches. there is a reason Dino has a liftime losing record as a head coach and we are seeing it at the end of each year

Rick Poe on 03/04/2010 (4:42 pm)

I don’t mind losing. I DO MIND losing like we did last night…and against the Tar Babies…and at State…and in the second half at Virginia Tech. As poorly as we played against FSU, that was a winnable game in the final seconds. But during the last timeout, as during MOST other Gaudio-called timeouts, I say, “Oh, no, Dino’s coaching again,” and I predicted correctly we’d never get a shot off. How often does this happen? When the shot clock hits “:10” on any possession, I go, “Oh, no,” and more often than not, we don’t get a shot off or the forced shot lays an egg. I’ve never seen a more offensively challenged coach than Dino Gaudio, not even Dave Odom with his walk-the-ball-up-the-floor offense when he had glass-clearing Tim Duncan. No screens, no give-and-gos, no inside-out passes, ball-handling by the wrong people and just dribble, dribble, dribble, turnover. Last night we added inbounding the ball to our deficiencies. Bemoan lack of shot skills all around if you want, but Teague and Johnson went in the first round of the NBA draft last year, Aminu has been a projected top-five pick by NBAdraft.net this year (probably not now, though) and the pros don’t take you for your D. We’ve had guys who can play in the NBA, but they couldn’t do enough for Wake Forest to avert major end-of-year meltdowns the last three seasons? And now three starting seniors, two talented sophomores (well, at least one) and two better-than-advertised freshmen can’t get the job done this year either, and the only thing that can get us in the NCAA is a miracle turnaround Sunday at home and next week in the ACC Tournament, which only the blindest Wake fan can logically think is going to happen. The conclusion is so obvious, but if it doesn’t happen, maybe the replacement we need sits in the A.D. chair not the basketball office.

Richard on 03/04/2010 (2:39 pm)

Dan,
Why can’t we get the ball to Farouq in the post?  Please ask Coach Gaudio.  I’d be interested to hear why he was moved to the 3 when we know he is not a tremendous ball handler or 3 point shooter.  AFA plays his best in the lane and I hope we can work harder at getting him a feed.

Post Play on 03/04/2010 (2:23 pm)

The nightmare of last season is back. How does Mr. NBA Aminu go scoreless and foul out even before crunch time? Has this guy checked out already? The difference in Wake and say, Maryland and Duke, is we have Dino and they have Gary Williams and Coach K. How is it our players lose confidence and focus halfway into the season? How is it the Deacs get worse as the season goes along? It is the coach.

Jerry on 03/04/2010 (1:35 pm)

Talk us down off of the ledge, Dan. . . .or should we be out there??

Chris on 03/04/2010 (1:11 pm)

If Dino cares so much about the regular season, he sure has a funny way of showing it.  If Wake doesn’t make the Tourney, Wellman needs to pull the trigger.

John on 03/04/2010 (12:28 pm)

Dan:

Would be interested in your thoughts. Everybody seems sold on Aminu as a sure fire first round pick in the NBA and up until recently possible All ACC.

I get that he has more double doubles than anybody on the planet, makes spectacular blocks, is first on the team in rebounds and is second in steals.

But…..he leads the team in turnovers. Prior to last night it was 81 which considering the fact that he really deosn’t handle it that much is amazing. In fact he has 2.2 turnovers for every assist and 1 for every two made field goals. Granted you can twist anything with numbers but you could argue that he gives back half of everything he makes. Then there is his jump shot…..uuugggh….frankly he doesn’t seem to have a dependable go to move at all. He also has more fouls than anyone other than Chas….it would be hard to foul more than Chas.

Obviouly he has talent but when you can’t handle the ball, are not a good jump shooter and aren’t built like an NBA power forward….where do you play in the NBA?

RB on 03/04/2010 (12:08 pm)

I thought we showed the toughness and physicality we had at Duke and at UNC last night. Ari and CJ even showed up and we had a chance to win.

However, we cannot win with 19 or 20 turnovers and without Farouq. I’m not too sure he made the trip. A look-alike must have impersonated him.

While the losing streak has me very concerned, after last night, I believe a win would make everything right with the team. Hopefully, that win will come on Sunday!

Finally, if Ish isn’t first team all conference, then the world isn’t right. He has played every minute of every game and played very well all year. I understand about Vasquez and Scheyer but Ish belongs there too. Farouq’s averaging a double-double should get him plenty of consideration too but come on, AFA, get it going! The season’s not over yet!

Ken Green on 03/04/2010 (11:20 am)