Comments

First of all, thanks Dan for the great job you have always done in covering the Deacs.  That is one of the things I have always enjoyed about pulling for the hometown team, the ability to pick up the paper and follow the stories that you wouldn’t find for other programs.  I am an alumnus, fan, and ticketholder since 1976 and you’re right, I for one, along with many others, have alot invested in this program, not just financially but also emotionally.  What’s important about that is the fact that every year players come and go, sometimes coaches come and go, but we as fans are always here.  While I could list many memorable or not so memorable experiences I look back at when we lost to WVU with Chris Paul.  What a devastating loss.  I also remember thinking later that these were young kids with whom we sometimes put alot of pressure upon.  I also remember thinking later that these kids also had the gym where they could go back and just play, put “the last one” behind them.  We as fans sometimes don’t have that.  With our youth spent, we sometimes rely upon their exuberance to invigorate us, with the notion that they should be guided by experience that is time-tested like our own. 

I believe in Mr. Wellman, our AD.  More importantly I believe in Wake Forest.  Never before have we seen the success across the board in our athletic programs as we are seeing under Mr. Wellman’s guidance.  It is with that success that I base my trust in Mr. Wellman and his decision-making and also the belief that he will always do what is in the best interest of our school.  If Coach Gaudio is the right choice then he has my full support but if not, then move on. 

I know Coach Gaudio came into a tough situation but it was one he accepted.  As the second season has ended we have now entered into the realm of accountability and it’s one where I have yet to hear our coach account for anything.  As one fan stated in his comment, who cares about rattling off stats when you just got blown out, how about standing up for, and in front of, your players and saying you know what?, maybe I just didn’t do the best job coaching today.  Rather than wondering if someone on the team is having girlfriend problems(see today’s sports edition in Journal by Dan) how about enacting a little more discpline on the team.  When someone keeps jacking up threes, after you say we’ll lose by continually shooting threes, sit ‘em down.  The total lack of discipline, chemistry, intensity and fundamental basketball should have been evident from the beginning of the season.  And these are not things they learn on their own but rather develop from the top down.  Our coach talks of cohesiveness and how our team does things together.  Well, the guys getting together for a milkshake may be cohesive but knowing where everyone should be on transition defense is chemistry.
  Yes we were 16-0, however 12 of those come from non-tourney teams, three more came from those put out in the first rd like ourselves.  I have heard somtimes during the season, well, maybe we just didn’t play with the right emotion.  While I understand you are dealing with 18-19 year old kids there should never be a problem with emotion.  Reluctantly paraphrasing Dick Vitale, “too many coaches today use the word emotion as an excuse.  It is the coaches job to have his players ready to play, physically and emotionally.  If they don’t play with emotion then that is the coaches fault.”  Amen, brother.  How can you not play with emotion at the level you are competing against?  And as far as the NBA distraction (again, see Sunday’s paper), if that’s our coach’s excuse how will next year be any different if they (Teague, Johnson, Aminu) all do return?

I believe it has always been Mr. Wellman’s policy to sit down at the end of the season and review the year with the coach.  Assuming that this year will be no different, I hope he will take a strong look at not only where we have been this year but also the prospect of where we are headed.  As I said, we as fans will always be here, win or lose.  If Coach Gaudio is to be our coach then I trust Mr. Wellman’s decision, but if he isn’t, then move on.

Hooker20 on 03/22/2009 (11:02 pm)

Dino more than earned another year at Wake this year.  A spectacular post-season failure does not change that.  Dino needs to learn how to adapt a team to post-season rigors, and if he doesn’t, he will be on the hot seat, but for now, it is absurd to call for his head.

Above all, he needs to learn how to get a pouting team back into battle mode.  And learn how to beat a zone.

R&R on 03/22/2009 (5:39 pm)

Dan, I think most reasonable folk understand the difficult position you find yourself in. As the Wake “beat guy” you make your living year in, year old, with the players and coaches.  You see them on a daily basis. Their trust and confidence in you is parmount. Opinion, and criticism is left to those labled as columnists.  Your blog allows you some freedom, but those same players and coaches read the blog as well.

Your latest, courtside Sunday, wondering “if Jeff Teague was actually present”  in the Deacs opening round humiliation (my words) are as close as you will allow yourself to stray from your journalistic training. 

Let me help. Teague has been missing in action since The Virginia Tech loss, when it was obvious, on court and on tv, that he was angry at not getting the ball on the break in the second half. It was then that he began refusing to shoot, and giving off the ball.  His quotes about others improving on the offensive end must have been said with his tongue pressing his cheek. The overwhelming impression has been of a sulking, selfish player ever since.  None of the boiler plate quotes about “chemistry” and “cohesion” have been in evidence since. That - is on the coach,  whose primary job is to teach and lead young people. Especially when they encounter defeat and loss.  See Jim Grobe for an excellent example of his this works. 

Imagine if you would, Jim Grobe with this level of talent.  Would he tolerate the embarrasing sulks of Teague? The undisciplined offensive theatrics of Johnson (see Maryland and Cleveland State
tape - ball in hand, top of the key - pump faking school yard style- launching wild three-pointers, or charging wildly through packed in defenders, oops - another turnover).  I live far away from W-S these days, closer to New York City, and I cannot tell you how embarrassed I was by the lack of discpiline and worse,  effort from this team.  I first noticed it in the Duke WIN. When Johnson nonchalantly let a loose ball go to Duke that would have cost the game.  He won it of course, but that was to delay the inevitable. 

At tournament time, with the pressure and excitment racheted up, Dino’s Deacons were rudderless and listless. And the coach, utterly clueless, seemingly mesmerized by the appearance of zone defense (v Md), and failing to wake from a stupor while Cleveland State ran away to a 17-point lead!

Even more embarrassing, I opened the NEW YORK TIMES to find withering criticism of Wake:

“Thanks to a frenetic pressure defense, a well-executed offense and superior coaching by Waters, the Vikings set a chaotic tempo. They left Wake Forest scrambling all night; the Demon Deacons turned the ball over 18 times and attempted 15 fewer shots.

And no matter how many future lottery picks or past McDonald’s all-Americans the Demon Deacons rolled out, they simply could not keep pace with Cleveland State.

The tenor of the loss will inevitably bring up the coaching credentials of Wake Forest Coach Dino Gaudio, an assistant to Skip Prosser who took over this season after Prosser’s death. Gaudio was 68-124 as a head coach at Army and Loyola, and he looked overmatched on the sideline.

He waited more than 10 minutes to call a timeout while Cleveland State raced to a double-digit first-half lead.

The Wake Forest offense was never in sync, the defensive adjustments were too little, too late and the Demon Deacons were consistently scorched on inbound plays.

Three consecutive times in the second half, the Vikings scored easy baskets on inbound plays. How teams execute and defend inbound plays are often a good barometer of coaching, and Waters made Gaudio look feeble.”

Feeble, fumbling, and lost.  The coach is reflected in the player.  Again - watch Wake football.  I never thought it would come to a point where the football team
beats the basketball team as a symbol of our atheltic character.  Ron Wellman needs to consider this.  I’ll say no more

Glenn Williams on 03/22/2009 (2:21 pm)

Ya know I think ALL of Deacon nation is hurting right now.  We are all upset about what happened in both tournaments.  I think calling for Dino’s head is a premature.  I think him and his staff did a great job to during the regular season.  Yes there were some speedbumps along the way but I sure did enjoy the crazy ride at times this year.  They put Wake back on the map this year in basketball.  People in America are scratching their heads and laughing at the Deacs.  So much talent to lose to Cleveland St.  I for one want Dino to be around for a while.  I think just as the players have room to improve the coaches have room to improve.  I really hope the taste in their mouths from the terrible loss to Cleveland St. is enough to will them back to the dance and do something about it next year.  Even if the “big 3” do go pro,  I still think Wake will have a great team next year. They may not be as good talent wise but they will be ok.  I am in a little better mood today as I have had the weekend to get over the loss get ready for spring and forget about college basketball for a bit.  I know if it hurts me this bad then I can’t imagine how the players and coaches feel.  We all may be upset, down or whatever but if you love Wake Forest basketball you’ll start to get excited once again when gametime rolls around.  Then sun will rise again and basketball season will be here before we know it.  Now all I need to do now is think about a way to avoid my co-workers on Monday who are Carolina/Duke fans. :)

Btw, thanks putting this website up Dan.  I also thank you for letting us Wake fans express our views on the things you write.  It’s definitely helped get me through the “speedbumps” this season.  GO DEACS!!

Cliff Daniel on 03/22/2009 (12:42 pm)

I am a sports fan and as such I recognize that at times I will be disappointed and sometimes thrilled.
After reading the comments concerning our team and our coach I hope we are not evolving into what I see with other college programs.  By that I mean the criticism of our young STUDENT ATHLETES and our second year coach after what most people would agree has been a good year.  We did not achieve all our hopes and goals , and the reality is only one team in the nation will.  Some thoughts:
1.  The ACC was not as good as we hoped or expected this year.
2.  Wake had some flaws as a team.  Great athletes do not always translate into great basketball players. exp. Larry Bird was NEVER the best athlete on the floor, couldn’t jump, couldn’t run, and not particularly quick…he was however almost always the best basketball player on the court.
3.  Dino should refrain from defending his coaching abilities by quoting stats such as 2nd in this and 1st in that.  Stay away from the stats, sounds a little too much like self promotion and a lack of confidence.  Also do not comment on a players chances to go pro.  This can easily be answered by, “at the end of the season we will look at the options, talk to some NBA people and with input from the parents hopefully make the right decision.”  The coach should never voice his opinion publicly, leave that to the player and his parents.
In the words of all sports fans, “Wait till next Year”

john on 03/22/2009 (12:42 pm)

Hard to imagine a more bitter end to this season for the Deacs. However, Wake fans on the warpath for Gaudio’s scalp should turn off March Madness and enjoy some the beautiful early spring weather the good Lord has bestowed upon us. Believe me, I speak from experience.

It goes without saying that the Gaudio-led Deacs have faded badly down the stretch. It’s certainly not a trend that Wake fans should accept if it continues. On the other hand, considering the circumstances that brought Gaudio to the head of Wake’s program, he has done a quite admirable job. He certainly hasn’t earned the coach for life status of Roy and K, but he has earned a few mmore seasons to try to prevent a flaw from embedding in the character of his teams. Finally, here’s hoping that next postseason the Deacs don’t run into any teams coached by savvy veterans named Gary or from the Horizon League.

Glenn Jordan on 03/22/2009 (9:47 am)

I love the Deacs, win or lose.  The only way I’ll ever be down on a team is if they don’t play hard or their behavior, public or academic, embarrasses me as an alumnus.  Their play at Miami did cost me a pricey dinner to a Duke alum, but that’s my own stupidity for making such a wager.
That said, there are a few things that seem to call for comment.  I do pretty well at being a fan; I know nothing about being a coach.  On the surface, it seems that the talent on this Wake team should have done better in the NCAAs.  While Cleveland State didn’t look like chopped liver, it didn’t seem like we had a good strategy to beat them.  Not sure what it should have been, just something that had a better chance than trying to drive into a packed lane and passing through a sea of hands and arms.
  I believe in Ron Wellman.  Dino and staff seem like intelligent, good people who represent the University well.  Maybe they will learn and get better at their craft as they go.  Let’s be calm and let Ron do his job without a bunch of pressure from us fans.
I hurt with those coaches and this team at the way this season ended.  That team is not “them”; they are “us”.  I hope they don’t get the idea that all of us are calling for their heads.  Now is the time to stick together, grab our bootstraps and get better.
Still proud to be a Deacon.

JIM GAMBILL on 03/22/2009 (8:53 am)

Dan—Thanks for writing this blog. I’ve been a fan of Wake Forest sports for about 16 years while living in the hoosier state, so I’m thrilled I stumbled upon your blog. I read your book about Wake Forest basketball—“Tales from the Wake Forest Hardwood”, very well written. I highly enjoyed the stories you provided throughout. The loss in the tournament was excruciatingly frustrating but I do believe it can all be (well mostly) to turnovers. Honestly, I don’t think it’s the whole the sky is falling routine that it seems alot on this board would ascribe to this debacle. Also, and as far as the Wake supporters who feel like this team let you down, i’m sure they let themselves down more than you. I’m starting to understand what the supporters of Dean Smith felt like when the Carolina fans hung him in effigy!! Wow, not that Dino Gaudio is near Dean Smith’s level, but I hope those fans would chill out a bit and let the natural process of evaluation take place. One last thing, i’m sure if Dino Gaudio and his predecessor never came to Wake, I doubt seriously you would have any of those talented players come to Wake. I just think that you will never be able to satisfy the rabid fans no matter what you do, just ask coach K from Duke. Thanks again, for the blog Dan and here’s to a wild ride to the championships next year!!

David Lamberg on 03/21/2009 (11:17 pm)

Michael and Deac Fan,

Rich is right. If I remember correctly, Dean Smith was hung in effigy at Carolina and K struggled badly in his first few years at Duke. Everyone needs to calm down and let this pass. Dino will be great for our program and he wants to be there. I don’t want some coach who’s gonna bolt after 2,3 or 4 years, I want a coach who wants Wake and Dino is that guy. Wellman is smart about things like this and I hope Dan reports very soon that he says Dino continues to be our coach!

Ken Green on 03/21/2009 (11:02 pm)

Dan-
I can admire that you do not want to throw your hat into this battle, but to say that you are not a fan I think is a bit of a copout.  I think that the performance of the coach is paramount to a team’s “goals and if they accomplished them or not.”  I watched the post-game interviews and read the direct quotes online.  I have a huge problem with Dino letting Ish Smith and James Johnson say that the loss was there fault. Players play the game but their coaches job is to have them ready and adjust when things do not go as planned. He failed to do that for both the ACC and NCAA tournaments. He sat and tried to justify his job and what the program accomplished this season (all the stats that he rattled off but conveniently left off 0-2 in tourney play.) He needed to interrupt Ish when he was shouldering the blame and say ” Ish is just being kind, the truth is I got completely out coached AGAIN.” I still contend that Dino is a great guy and his players love him but he is out of his league.  Wake’s players, students, alumni and fans deserve the best that their money and loyalty can get.

Michael on 03/21/2009 (9:35 pm)

Dan - I agree that you are the perfect guy to be covering the Deacs. You have done a great job all year, and I appreciate all of your insights and your calm assessment of this present darkness over the Wake basketball program. I have enjoyed every article that you have written, and you are just the man for the job. That all said, I do think that A.D. Wellman needs to think long and hard about where to go with this program, and I’m not sure that Dino is the right guy for the long-term advancement of Wake’s basketball future. I agree with Rich that, in the end, we should realize that this team played beyond what anyone expected early in the year. But I do think that a lot of the responsibility for their shortcomings falls on Dino. Wake fell well behind in games against Virginia Tech, Miami, N.C. State, Duke, and, lastly, Cleveland State. That just should not have happened so often to a team with this kind of talent. Sure, I know that they are young, and I know that things could be better next year. But this team regressed as the year went on. Rather than adapting to the different schemes thrown at them, they just kept trying the same gameplan over and over, and those things worked less and less as the season progressed. That falls on Dino. I know that he may improve with time as a coach. But I’m not sure he should be coaching in the ACC if he cannot get a team to improve over the course of a season instead of causing them to decline. Dan, I certainly would not call for you or any sportswriter to use a bully pulpit to influence the decision of any school’s athletic department, especially Wake’s since A.D. Wellman is one of the best in the nation. But since this is the space for opinions to be voiced, I think that Wake should at least look into its options, talk with a few of the established experienced coaches who might be willing to make a move, and consider making a change at coach. College basketball is always about the here and now. Our here and now was over a lot sooner than most of us hoped. So we’ve got to look to next year, and that might necessitate a coaching change.

Deac fan in Charleston on 03/21/2009 (9:32 pm)

Very well put Dan. We are lucky to have you covering Wake Forest athletics. As disappointed as I am now, I know I will be hooked again come fall. Thank you so much for excelling in your field and allowing us inside information on the team we all dearly love and support.

Riley Johnston on 03/21/2009 (9:09 pm)

As a lifelong Deacs fan, I know this sick feeling, but I have a hard time running after Dino. The man is relatively new to head coaching – certainly at this level. I read some comments over on ESPN where folks said that if Coach K had been running the Deacs we would have been undefeated…or something like that. Well, maybe so, but that’s a ridiculous comparison. Dino is on a learning curve just like Coach K was when he got his first big shot, just like Roy Williams, and the list goes on. Wake Forest basketball has got to be about making academic and athletic commitments to players, coaches, and fans. Dino deserves that kind of commitment from those sources as well.

I would also like to point out that Wake nation got a little greedy this year about a team that played, at times, beyond their potential as a team. We tend to put so many expectations on a team because, let’s face it, we aren’t fantastic every year. We forget that the truly great teams have their share of early bow-outs to go along with success. I feel like we are finally moving into an era where we will have consistently good teams. That takes learning, and while I hope for more post-season success next year, we all have to learn to deal with moments like this a little better…without jumping down one person’s throat because things didn’t work out in the first round.

Rich on 03/21/2009 (8:54 pm)

Nice words, Dan, but these same people who want Dino’s head were all for him when the team was 16-0 and #1. I’m still for him. I think he can do the job. The players now have 8 months to contemplate, work hard and be better next season. They all, Dino included, will be better and will make amends for this year’s finish. Heads up guys! The sun will shine tomorrow!

Ken Green on 03/21/2009 (7:56 pm)