More Than They Could Have Imagined.
Going into Sunday’s game against UNC Wilmington, I thought I knew what to expect from Wake. I thought the Deacons had shown enough improvement since the early disasters against Stetson and Winthrop that they would handle rather handily a Seahawks team going through as much transition as they were.
As it turned out, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I did, but didn’t. And in that regard, I was like pretty much any freshman who shows up for his first season of playing college basketball. All of them think they have at least an inkling of what it’s going to be like, but few, if any, do. Ask any freshman by the end of his first semester about it, and he will tell you the demands and expectations were far greater than they ever imagined. The freshmen year is hard enough for those students not on athletic scholarships. For those who are, the experience is usually overwhelming.
Not until a freshman understands the price in terms of commitment, work ethic, discipline and conditioning that it takes to hold your own in the ACC can he make a successful transition from high school and AAU. Some freshmen actually never do. Sometimes it takes two or three years for the lesson to be learned. My sense is that two of the Deacons still grappling with the issue are Ty Walker, a junior who played sparingly his first two seasons, and Ari Stewart, a sophomore who had a really nice freshman season, but only as a reserve who could lean on veteran leaders such as Ish Smith and L.D. Williams. And there are at least indications that’s the main reason Walker is not expected to start tonight against UNC Greensboro and Coach Jeff Bzdelik was, as of the end of Tuesday’s practice, still deliberating on Stewart.
The freshman who seems to have the best grip on what it takes is Travis McKie. He plays really hard, and has been since the opener against Stetson. The one who clearly had little to no clue was Melvin Tabb, which may well have been why Bzdelik felt compelled to give Tabb some time away from the team. Carson Desrosiers needs to develop physically, J.T. Terrell needs to at least try to do what his coach tells him to do and Tony Chennault, obviously, needs to recover from a broken foot.
Wake returns to Joel Coliseum tonight to play UNC Greensboro. Because the Spartans are one of college basketball’s worst teams, at 0-8, I again think I know what to expect.
But do I? In about four hours I’ll find out.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 12/15/2010 (4:17 pm)
Comments
Tony C, In the fleeting glimpse I got of Chennault’s game, between the time he took off because of a stress reaction in his foot until he broke that foot in the first game against Stetson, I saw a pass-first point guard with enough quickness, good strength, a low center of gravity and a desire to make those playing with him better. In other words, he was just what this team needs. Now if he would have been good enough in his first nine games to make a major difference, we won’t know until he returns. The prognosis when he broke his foot on Nov. 12 was he would be out at least 8-10 weeks. He’s in a boot now, and there has been no update on when he will return. Bzdelik said the determination on whether he will play this season or apply for a medical hardship will be made once he returns.
Dan on 12/16/2010 (4:49 pm)
Jerry, I agree. If we can get an address then I’ll forward to my college connections. RR gave us lots of entertainment and maybe he should try to give him a little 360 slam dunk like he gave us in his freshman year at NCSU.
Lee on 12/16/2010 (4:18 pm)
Dan,
On the journalnow site (BTW, MTOW comments are Sunday school stuff compared the venom they fling at each other in the comments.)someone suggested we all send a card to Rodney Rogers.A good idea.Do you have the address, or is that not for publication? Thanks.
Jerry on 12/16/2010 (2:07 pm)
We have no point guard (Chenault). We have no physical inside presence (Woods)
We have several players playing out of postion. We have no experience. There are some nice pieces in place for the future, but we desperatley need to recruit another big man (other than Green) and problably need to add another point guard for next year, in case Chenault doesn’t fully recover. We should be good next year if this can be done. Mckie, Terrell, Derosiers,and Chenault are ACC players. Stewart has talent. CJ can play—just not the point. Losing Chenault and Woods has really killed us. We have some good, young pieces but thy don’t fit together without the PG and a low post scoring threat.
wfu22fan on 12/16/2010 (1:53 pm)
Dan,
What type of player is the recruit that broke his foot? Will he return this year or will they red shirt him?
Will we ever really know the truth on why Dino was fired and why Welman hired Bizzledick or whatever his name is, he has not impressed me at all no matter how much experience he has.
Tony C on 12/16/2010 (11:36 am)
I am starting to think that our AD was just protecting Dino from this season…. everyone thought that Coach Bzzzzz and Wellman were buddies…. but I bet Coach BzzZ isn’t buying the AD anything other than a lump of coal this holiday…
Lee Jackson on 12/16/2010 (11:25 am)
Did you notice how as the game progressed, UNC-G seemed to play really loose while WF seemed to tighten? CJ is a good shooter, but apparently doesn’t have the vision of a good pg. Seems every time he drives into traffic, there is a turnover. I liked the aggressiveness of Nikita and, of course, McKie continues to play well. My question Dan, is why is Ty Walker so “soft” in regard to rebounding the ball? He’s aggressive in trying to block shots, but several times last night, smaller guys outrebounded him, sometimes taking the ball right out of his hands. I know it will probably send him into a emotional downward spiral, but I think DeRosiers is going to have to play in front of him.
Jim on 12/16/2010 (10:32 am)
Hard to believe! And exactly why did we fire the other guy? Was he doing worse than this?
winston on 12/16/2010 (7:15 am)
Wake tonight was like watching the bad news bears
Aaron on 12/16/2010 (2:42 am)
Well, as bad as things have been I didn’t expect what I saw tonight.
mebanedeac on 12/16/2010 (12:54 am)
Dan,
Definitely a good idea to acknowledge the reality of how difficult it can be to transition from high school to college. And Wake Forest is not the most forgiving place to make such a transition.
This group is sure to infuriate us even more than they have already, but I think they’re going to be ok eventually. As for the specifics, I really feel for Tabb. I would have been serious trouble if I came down with mono my first semester of college, and I didn’t have the responsibility associated with playing a sport (he really seemed to genuinely want to get back on the court to help his teammates, and that could not have helped his academic situation). I give him credit for getting back on the team, and I give Bzdelik a lot of credit for giving him the time to do so. Hopefully the lesson is learned.
DC on 12/15/2010 (11:59 pm)
I think we are very close to seeing a couple of transfers in the making. I certainly hope that JT and Ty turn this thing around and get their heads on straight. Otherwise, they should be shown the door.
DBCooper on 12/15/2010 (6:12 pm)
Dan,
Thanks for the truthful humor underneath your facts. I needed a chuckle before leaving the office today.
Peace.
Bobby
bobby h griffin on 12/15/2010 (6:07 pm)
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