Ish Smith Wouldn’t Let Deacons Lose
The last thing I said to Ish Smith Sunday when I went over to talk with the Deacons about being invited to the NCAA Tournament was ``Give me something good to write.’‘
And did he ever.
With deadline bearing down on me like a runaway train, I had already written how Wake Forest had walked right out of the tournament on the most untimely traveling call on L.D. Williams with 13.6 seconds left in regulation. The Deacons had just called time, so Williams wasn’t supposed to move.
“I thought I had let them down,’’ Williams said. “I thought I had let them down. The coaches kept telling me to `Keep your head up, keep your head up.’ But it’s hard whenever you make a big mistake like that.
“But once we started making the run to come back, and it was 15 seconds left when Ari (Stewart) hit that three, I said `OK, they’re going to let us come back into this thing.’ And I knew if Ishmael had the ball, and we were in reaching distance, he wasn’t going to let us lose.’‘
Stewart’s clutch 3-pointer pulled Wake to 80-79 and Gary Johnson of Texas missed two free throws to set up one of the most memorable plays of my career as a beat guy. Smith drove up court, pulled up right of the lane and swished his jumper with 1.3 seconds left to send the Deacons’ into Saturday’s matchup with No. 1 seed Kentucky.
I had to tear up most of what I had written, but I can’t blame Ish. He only did what I told him to do.
“It’s always great to get a huge win in the tournament, especially when, obviously, we have kind underachieved a little bit,’’ Smith said. “I think this though. It’s a huge win, but you’ve got to kind of celebrate tonight and turn the page for a heck of a game against Kentucky.
“We’ve still got a lot of things to clean up. Despite this win—and I thank God for it, I feel really blessed—but I do think we have to clean up on the turnovers and then we’ve got to make free throws. If we do those two things, we really, really, really make ourselves a really tough team to beat.’‘
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 03/19/2010 (1:11 am)
Comments
Ed, Larry Brown did not say that about Dino.
jcg on 03/19/2010 (6:19 pm)
Gentlemen and ladies,
I would like to propose that perhaps we have been too rash. The fervor for Dino’s demise and the anger and hostility over the Deacons “lack of intense play” may have come premature and been a part of a “sky is falling” mentality which seems to permeate the Wake Forest fan base every February. As one of these who has bashed Gaudio for everything from his tie choice to his teams lack of offensive cohesiveness, I would like to be the first to say, “The Monkey is Gone”.
You win one and all is forgotten. How many people who were upset on this message board said “Awww it don’t matter they still suck” after Ish Smith nailed the shot in OT against Texas?????? (This should be a rhetorical question).
I think Dan has presented it in this manner. Once you win, all is forgotten…for a while. I just think as a Wake fan, we need to bask in the glory every now and again instead of looking for a chink in the armor. I do it, you do it, we all do it. But right now, I couldn’t be prouder to be a Wake Forest fan. And all it took was a win. One win. That’s the beauty and the ugly in sports. Memories go long and short and fluctuate based upon the most immediate amount of gratification. I imagine it must be a hard gig. To end this rant I leave you with what this board is all about in my mind — GO DEACS!
Thomas on 03/19/2010 (5:30 pm)
It was not a pretty game to watch, but it was a great win. I hope this game provides some much-needed confidence to the team as they face Kentucky. Thanks, Dan, as always, for your insight.
Steve on 03/19/2010 (2:56 pm)
No time for haters right now. What an amazing shot and comeback!
Hey Ish, no one thinks you guys can beat Kentucky either. Might as well go ruin some brackets. There’s nothing to lose. Vitale was still talking smack last night. It’s te to shut him up.
Obviously free throws and turnovers sucked. But the inbounds play came after a full court pass to CJ that resulted in a missed layup when we had a two point lead. Please put the ball in Ish’s hands. He can run it up faster than anyone can pass it anyway.
Nothing to lose!!!
Frank on 03/19/2010 (2:18 pm)
Dan - very exciting and rewarding game (thank God I didn’t turn it off after Chas’s foul in the OT - I almost did but couldn’t bring myself to do it). Anyway, I just have a question or two that I still can’t seem to figure out. Why do the Deacs seem so lackadaisical at times? For instance, the inbounds pass after the 1st Texas 3 in OT that was immediately stolen and turned into another 3 - why the carelessness on the throw in (this isn’t the first time this has happened!) Along the same lines, they seemed only to be half-heartedly interested in rebounding the missed FT (the one at the end of regulation, I believe it was) especially when what we should have been hoping to do is rebound it quickly and push it up the court quickly for a chance to win. We barely got the rebound (even with no UT players standing on the lane). I understand (don’t like, but understand) how the occasional mental lapse can occur such as happened on the throw in at the end of regulation (hopefully nothing like that happens again). And the turnover, missed FT, and shooting problems have been there all year. But it seems like these instances of just lackadaisical play are things that easily shouldn’t happen. I just don’t get it?
Nonetheless, it was a great win and pretty good performance all-around by the team. Go Deacs! I’ll be screaming at the TV tomorrow night. Thanks for giving me hope and something to look forward to tomorrow. And if you get up on Ky, get the killer instinct and don’t let them back in the game!
A bit confused on 03/19/2010 (2:09 pm)
We had positive contributions from everyone last night, including Tony Woods, Ari Stewart and especially Ish Smith. I’m so glad that LD didn’t end his career with that walk, but I think we should recognize the positive contributions he made to the game. He had some big buckets down the stretch, including one layup while Ish was getting a rare breather, when our offense usually sputters. Plus, his block right before his travel was near heroic. Good effort LD (yet again), and I’m looking forward to seeing it again tomorrow.
DC on 03/19/2010 (2:06 pm)
Ari and Ish redeem Ish’s 8 turnovers and LD’s mental collapse with a HUGE shot. That was an absolute steal for us. After Chas fouled that guy (could have easily been called an intentional), I thought there was no chance. Now I guess there can be a debate as to who is faster… Ish or Wall - guess we’ll find out tomorrow
Aaron on 03/19/2010 (1:21 pm)
I think, despite the win against Texas, Dino should be fired. There were so many mistakes that could have been prevented by discipline from the coach. Missed free throws, missed layups, and that walking crap LD Williams did which almost coast us the game, even though are done by players, still goes back to Dino’s lack of discipline. He needs to make our guys shoot and improve on free throw shooting and practice shooting with, and without, defenders. I volunteer to work for a small Div. 1 men’s basketball team in NC while being a full time student and we make our players run suicides for missing a wide open layups and run up and down the court for missed free throws and turnovers. Just by doing this, we improved our Free throw percentage from 50 percent to 80 and lowered our tournovers per game from 10 to 3. Dino, on the other hand, doesn’t care if they miss WIDE OPEN LAYUPS, free throws, or turn over the ball almost every possession. Some people won’t say it but I will. The death of Skip Prosser was unexpected and a tragedy. I believed that Wake should have hired in house and, at the time, approved the hiring of Dino. But I now believe that Wake has extended Dino’s stay way too long. Honestly, I believe that Dino is a great recruiter but doesn’t know how to run a team.
P. Blissit on 03/19/2010 (12:46 pm)
I would have hated your first piece, Dan, and I’m glad you had to throw it away! I’ve never seen such a bone-headed play! But the boys found a way, thanks to some missed free throws, Ari and Ish, to be able to look UK eye to eye!
What kind of tunes you looking for tonight?
Ken Green on 03/19/2010 (12:16 pm)
Congratulations to the Deacs!! For the first time in a long while the team looked like they were ready to play. Dan your article was great! I agree with your accessment that the Deacons will go as far as Ish can take them. I also think they have a shot at beating Kentucky if they cut down turnovers, rebound and make foul shots.
Another side note, throughout this stretch everyone was expecting Wake to win, now most of the so called experts which by the way none were expecting Wake to win, still don’t believe Wake has a chance. Now they can relax and just play.
I am not a Dino fan, but I did see improvement in the team last night, and that is all any of us can ask, plus winning doesn’t hurt either. Go Deacs!!!
Tony C on 03/19/2010 (11:45 am)
Finally!!!!! Took courage, fortitude and stamina to come back in OT… Take Ky. it can be done. USC did it…You can also.
Country, Well; You and Lenox get another evening in town. Make the most of it and give us a post on your travails!
Tom on 03/19/2010 (11:08 am)
My God that had to be the ugliest NCAA tournament win ever. It will be interesting to see John Wall’s reaction to Ish Smith’s speed with the ball.
pensive1 on 03/19/2010 (10:33 am)
I had to get up at 4:45 a.m. When UT went up 8 points in overtime, I turned the TV off and went to bed. Driving in this morning, when I heard we won, I started shouting and crying to myself. It’s never been easy being a Deacon fan, but at least our highs are probably higher than most!
Jim on 03/19/2010 (10:13 am)
Dan - If you will (a) give Ish some good advice for Saturday, and (b) he will react similarly to Thursday, then (c) there will be a bunch of us ready to enshrine you both in the Wake HOF. Good coverage! Thanks!
Rhenish on 03/19/2010 (9:54 am)
What a game! I’ve been a Deacon fan for about 45 years and I cannot remember a bigger, more exciting shot. Hats off to Ish and the entire team and coaching staff for not giving up on this one. Good luck against Kentucky-we do have a chance if we can clean up those turnovers and sink some free throws.
Alan on 03/19/2010 (9:46 am)
Congratulations to Ish and the team. They really did play well enough to win despite LD’s bone headed play at the end of regulation. The refs sucked big time in this game. The Texas guy took 3 giant steps on that last layup in regulation and rammed into Aminu and they call a foul on Aminu? Unless you play in the NBA that is a WALK at least! Then LD got hacked two or three times trying to get a last shot off and they swallow their whistles. At the end of OT I guess Texas had not heard about the foul Ish strategy, good thing! Strong comeback in OT by the Deacs, good for them. Hope they make a good showing against KY. I’ve got KY in the championship game, but I’ll be OK with missing on that if Wake beats them!
Charles on 03/19/2010 (8:58 am)
Congratulations to the team for an NCAA Tournament win. I had trouble falling asleep last night after that down-and-up overtime, but I am thrilled to get a win. To echo Ish’s understatement quoted in Dan’s post, a lot of things need to be cleaned up. But I’m impressed by the way the team fought and picked each other up. Let’s get ready for Kentucky.
DC on 03/19/2010 (8:34 am)
Well Dan, I certainly hope you tell Ish thank you and while you are at it, please tell him so for me.
Paul
paul on 03/19/2010 (7:21 am)
Dino haters leave. Everybody says he can’t coach. Well can I ask a question. Has any Wake coach ever been 5 and 0 in overtime games ever. I takes great play from the players but those are coaching situations that require guts and
knowlegde of the game. As far as Larry brown saying he is the worst coach in America all I can say is what do you expect from a Tar Heel. If we can clean up the turnovers and shoot better from the line who knows.
Dan I live for you insight great job.
ED on 03/19/2010 (7:17 am)
“If we do those two things, we really, really, really make ourselves a really tough team to beat.”
Do it Deacs! And I’m so thankful LD did not have his time at Wake end with that inbounds pass. Thank you seniors and everyone else on the team.
JT on 03/19/2010 (2:06 am)
