Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Woods and McFarland Both to Start at FSU

About the time I’d finished stuffing my face with citrus baked chicken and au gratin spuds from the pregame buffet, Scott Wortman, Wake’s assistant director of media relations in charge of basketball, asked me if I’d heard about the lineup change for tonight’s game with Florida State.

I hadn’t.

Scott said that Coach Dino Gaudio will go tonight with two big men, Tony Woods and Chas McFarland, in the lineup, moving Al-Farouq Aminu to wing forward. Seniors Ish Smith and L.D. Williams will start in the backcourt and freshman C.J. Harris, who has started 20 straight games, will come off the bench.

Upon hearing the news, I harkened back to something Dino said in the post-game media conference after Saturday’s home loss to North Carolina.

“If there was one thing I wish we could establish more it would be an inside game,’’ Gaudio said. “That’s what I wish we could establish more. But because we’re not making jump shots, the lane is incredibly crowded. As soon as they guys catch, there’s another guy behind and another guy digging down. If you said `Put your finger on one thing, do you want to make threes or do want to have an inside game?’ I wish we had the inside game.’‘

The Deacons have come full circle, going with the same lineup they opened the season with.