My Take on Wake - Gaudio Waiting For Bigs to Come Up Big

Gaudio Waiting For Bigs to Come Up Big

There’s this innocuous-looking plastic device that the managers roll out in the equipment cart for Wake Forest basketball practices. It’s circular and made of molded plastic and it’s called the Rebounding Bubble. When fastened to the rim, it doesn’t allow the ball to go through the basket. When Coach Dino Gaudio is serious about drilling the Deacons in rebounding, he has a manager put it on the basket.

And then all Hades breaks loose under the basket as the Deacons battle each other tooth-and-nail for rebounds.

The Rebounding Bubble was on for an extra long time at today’s practice. And any of the Deacons who came to practice looking for a foul, any foul, to be called was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As Gaudio’s mentor Skip Prosser used to say, when the ball comes off the rim, it doesn’t have a name on it, it’s for Whom in May Concern. And it concerned Miami more than it did Wake Forest in about three key junctures Saturday night, and because of that the Hurricanes pulled out a 67-66 victory that had Gaudio still steaming two days later.

The Deacons got back yesterday in plenty of time to see Maryland’s 77-68 victory over No. 18 Florida State last night. The Terps out-rebounded the Seminoles 40-34, pulling down 17 offensive rebounds. That fact was mentioned today in Wake’s practice a few (million) times.

Remember how Wake started the season with two post players (Chas McFarland and Tony Woods) in the lineup as well as Al-Farouq Aminu, mainly because Gaudio considered interior strength and size one of the Deacons’ greatest assets? By the seventh game Woods had played his way out of the lineup, making way for guard C.J. Harris, and lately Gaudio has gotten next to nothing from anyone inside other than Aminu. Woods played only two minutes against Miami. McFarland and Weaver combined for 41 minutes, during which they contributed 10 points and 4 rebounds. Meanwhile, center Dwayne Collins dominated with 23 points and 11 rebounds while making nine one 12 shots from the floor.

“Our post guys have to quickly step up,’’ Gaudio said. “We need to get more production out of them, because we can’t be playing offensively without an interior game in the half-court. They have to step up.

“Collins really got the better part of all of our post guys, no question. He I think was the most physical post player we’ve played against, and there’s no question he got the better of us.’‘

So what now?

“We’re going to look and see with what we got,’’ Gaudio said. “I know this. I’m not going to stand pat and let post guys hurt us like that. If we have to make an adjustment, and change, we will.’‘

Back to the main page.

By Dan Collins on 01/11/2010 (5:44 pm)

Comments

Guys, the :20 sec mark, Ishmael knew he had it the instant he made his move, he could see a clear lane and a pick that he needed, darting around one, two, three defenders ending up hand even with the rim, but still 5 feet out in front as he seemed to run out of gas in midair, this was in slow motion, now, everyone�s peripheral vision watching the shot clock tick down to zero, the ball beginning its roll off his fingertips, and seemed to gently give it a little �pop� at the end. And it pff�ed through the net, and the crowd just ate that (edited by Dan Collins, but you can use your imagination) up. In the LJVM in front of 12,000

km_arcadia on 01/13/2010 (2:39 am)

John, I’m not sure but I’ll check tonight at the game.

Dan on 01/12/2010 (12:45 pm)

Dan, any info on the Gtown transfer? Was he at practice after the Miami game?

john on 01/12/2010 (12:42 pm)

As Coach Gaudio has stressed to the players, the team will be faced with adversity throughout the season.

I think that the stagnant half-court offense and consequent lack of performance from the low-post players is the biggest instance of adversity that he and the coaching staff have faced so far.

Moving forward, I think it is important to first acknowledge that we have a very talented team. Our kids can play. So we should have every reason to expect them to overcome this challenge and make a legitimate run at the ACC Championship.

But to do that requires an honest assessment of each player’s strengths and weaknesses in order to make adjustments to the strategy in order to put them in a position to succeed.

Aminu is our ONLY player who can consistently score in the low post. McFarland, Weaver and Woods quite simply do not have the skills to score consistently against ACC competition. They can enforce the basket area on defense, rebound, and pick up garbage points. But we are not going to get consistent offense from them. And it is ridiculous to try. Aminu, in spite of his vast talent, is not a perimeter player. His touches should come within ten feet of the basket, and involve minimal dribbling. The big guys should also not be in the way. By spreading the floor, we will free up the basket area for Aminu and also provide our perimeter guys with the opportunities to cut to the basket (this is the only way LD can be involved in the offense, by the way).

The main challenge will be to move the ball without turning it over. Ish and CJ (most of the time) are the only guys who seem to be capable of dribbling the ball without turning it over or throwing up a poor shot. The other players (Aminu and LD in particular) need to step up their performance in this regard. If we can move the ball without turning it over, then we have another way to create mismatches besides simply running Ish through high screens.

What concerns me is that our troubles against Miami were quite predictable. In fact, there were predicted. While problems in December are easily dismissed because they occur early in the season, they still need to be addressed before February and March. Well, less than two months to go. But as I said before, we have some serious talent on this team. And I am anxious to see how the team responds tonight.

DC on 01/12/2010 (11:57 am)

I think Guadio would have played Ty if he thought he was the answer. Unfortunately, he has to play with what he has. Weaver is doing as well as he can. I think the problem right now is McFarland, who has shown he can play big at times, but is entirely too inconsistent.

Jim on 01/12/2010 (11:06 am)

I don’t where to start with our post play. Right now I think Weaver has been playing the best and should get the start. Woods def. has the body but just doesn’t seem to be able to handle the post. I really like these guys and want to see them succeed but I agree with Thomas if the current guys aren’t getting it done at least give Ty a chance. I don’t think he need alot of minutes but give him a few min. each half. I know he’s not very strong but right now I’m open for anything and I don’t think it could hurt at this point to play Ty but that’s just my opinion. The coaches see these guys in practice and obviously know more than we do but something has got to give. We are not going anywhere without some kind of production down low. I know recruit rankings are not everything and are off sometimes but how can a 5 star recruit not see the floor at all at Wake Forest? Wake had better get something going down low for this year and next because Tony and Ty are gonna be upperclassman next year down low and Wake is gonna desperately need them to play good.

Cliff Daniel on 01/11/2010 (11:59 pm)

It’s apparent that Tony Woods is not the player he was made out to be as a recruit. Not saying anything about the kids character, it’s just he obviously doesn’t have what we thought.
McFarland has lost his fire and can’t get his hands over his head with the ball he’s so weak.
Where is Ty Walker? If the three guys we use now aren’t cutting it, why not at least give Walker a shot? If he can’t play, he can’t play, but how do you know if he never sees the court.

“We’re talking about ‘PRACTICE’”

I think Dino has to give Walker a shot, if nothing else to wake up the other guys.
Weaver has been playing better than he ever has, so I think you have to start him over McFarland or Woods.

Either way, something has to give or things could get bad, fast.

Thomas on 01/11/2010 (9:32 pm)

Dan, how about Dino taking the simple approach of playing the best 5. Open it up and state who ever gets the most rebounds gets the job. Aminu is 6’9”, which means there are 4 guys on the team significantly taller but he out rebounds all of them rather significantly. In addition LD who is listed at 6’4” is one of our leading re bounders and the Collins kid from Miami was only 6’8”.We have (4) 7 footers…sounds good, but only if they do their jobs. Wooden won a national championship with the tallest starter listed at 6’6”.

John on 01/11/2010 (7:17 pm)