Pilchard
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The ESPN Bigwigs picked the WF @ L'ville matchup as the only Deacon ACC game that ESPN or ESPN2 is televising this season (the March 2 contest at Chapel Hill has the option of getting picked up as well, but in light of how both WF/UNC are struggling, think ESPN may pass on that one).
Here is the rundown on the Cards:
This season: L'ville stands at 19-3 and first place in the ACC at 10-1. They reached a high of #1 in the KP ratings in early December, and a low of #10 last week. The Cards currently sit at #8. Because the ACC blows, L'ville has only two top 50 wins: #26 Michigan (by 15), #2 Duke (on the road by 6). L'ville lost to #22 Texas Tech (by 13), #37 KY (by 8 in OT) and #21 FSU (by 13 at home). L'ville hasn't lost since January 4 (8 straight wins) and has pounded its last 3 opponents: Clemson by 18, BC by 17, and State by 20. L'ville is 12-1 at home, and 9 of those wins have by double digits. When L'ville plays a weak opponent, they dismantle them.
Offensive and defensive trends in conference games (rankings are out of the 15 teams in the ACC): L'ville is the #3 ACC team in offensive efficiency Their strength is shooting the 3. The Cards rank first in the conference in 3 point % in ACC games (45%), and 37% (#3) of their offense comes from behind the arc. They also like to crash the offensive boards rebounding 32% (#3) of their missed shots in conference play. L'ville struggles to score from in the paint in conference games, shooting only 46% (#14) from 2 in ACC games; the Cards also are prone to TOs, turning it over on 19% of their offensive positions. Defensively, the Cards are solid defending the paint, holding opponents to 44% (#3) on their two point shots, but they also have been good at defending 3 point shots, limiting ACC opponents to 31% (#4) from deep. Important to WF, L'ville doesn't foul often (#4 in opponents FTA per FGA). L'ville does not force a lot of TOs on D (17% - #10).
Lineup: In Saturday's game at State, the Cards started: 6-0 Lamarr Kimble (St. Joe's transfer), 6-2 Darius Perry, 6-5 Dwayne Sutton (UNCA transfer), 6-7 Jordan Nwora and 6-10 Stephen Enoch (UCONN transfer) and 4 additional players saw at least 14 minutes of action: 6-0 Ryan McMahon (hit 7 threes against State; hit 4 against WF last year), 6-5 David Johnson, 6-7 Samuell Williamson, 6-11 Malik Williams. Nwora is their star and leading scorer (he has scored in double figures against every opponent except KY and Duke; scored 32 against FSU). All 9 in the Cards rotation can hit the 3 with McMahon (45%), Nwora (43%) and Perry (41%) being the most dangerous.
Bottom line: Bad matchup for the Deacs. KP projects a 78-63 L'ville win giving WF an 8% chance at the upset. If WF stays healthy, think this will be the only non-competitive game the rest of the way (yes, that includes Duke's February 25 visit to LJVM). The last two seasons, L'ville beat WF by 19 and 28 (you know Dino loved walking out of the Joel with a 82-54 win). So, this hasn't been a great matchup for WF in recent meetings. Defensively, WF has try to take away the 3 point shot; offensively, the Deacs need Sarr to be the best big man on the court, and for the rest of the Deacs to hit open shots when the Cards collapse. Even if WF executes, L'ville just has too many weapons to win. Ryan McMahon is the kind of player that just destroys Wake Forest; fully expect him to have a 6 for 8 from 3 point land type of game for the Cards. Deacs lose handily. Dino tries to keep the s*** eating grin off his face in the post-game handshake line.
Here is the rundown on the Cards:
This season: L'ville stands at 19-3 and first place in the ACC at 10-1. They reached a high of #1 in the KP ratings in early December, and a low of #10 last week. The Cards currently sit at #8. Because the ACC blows, L'ville has only two top 50 wins: #26 Michigan (by 15), #2 Duke (on the road by 6). L'ville lost to #22 Texas Tech (by 13), #37 KY (by 8 in OT) and #21 FSU (by 13 at home). L'ville hasn't lost since January 4 (8 straight wins) and has pounded its last 3 opponents: Clemson by 18, BC by 17, and State by 20. L'ville is 12-1 at home, and 9 of those wins have by double digits. When L'ville plays a weak opponent, they dismantle them.
Offensive and defensive trends in conference games (rankings are out of the 15 teams in the ACC): L'ville is the #3 ACC team in offensive efficiency Their strength is shooting the 3. The Cards rank first in the conference in 3 point % in ACC games (45%), and 37% (#3) of their offense comes from behind the arc. They also like to crash the offensive boards rebounding 32% (#3) of their missed shots in conference play. L'ville struggles to score from in the paint in conference games, shooting only 46% (#14) from 2 in ACC games; the Cards also are prone to TOs, turning it over on 19% of their offensive positions. Defensively, the Cards are solid defending the paint, holding opponents to 44% (#3) on their two point shots, but they also have been good at defending 3 point shots, limiting ACC opponents to 31% (#4) from deep. Important to WF, L'ville doesn't foul often (#4 in opponents FTA per FGA). L'ville does not force a lot of TOs on D (17% - #10).
Lineup: In Saturday's game at State, the Cards started: 6-0 Lamarr Kimble (St. Joe's transfer), 6-2 Darius Perry, 6-5 Dwayne Sutton (UNCA transfer), 6-7 Jordan Nwora and 6-10 Stephen Enoch (UCONN transfer) and 4 additional players saw at least 14 minutes of action: 6-0 Ryan McMahon (hit 7 threes against State; hit 4 against WF last year), 6-5 David Johnson, 6-7 Samuell Williamson, 6-11 Malik Williams. Nwora is their star and leading scorer (he has scored in double figures against every opponent except KY and Duke; scored 32 against FSU). All 9 in the Cards rotation can hit the 3 with McMahon (45%), Nwora (43%) and Perry (41%) being the most dangerous.
Bottom line: Bad matchup for the Deacs. KP projects a 78-63 L'ville win giving WF an 8% chance at the upset. If WF stays healthy, think this will be the only non-competitive game the rest of the way (yes, that includes Duke's February 25 visit to LJVM). The last two seasons, L'ville beat WF by 19 and 28 (you know Dino loved walking out of the Joel with a 82-54 win). So, this hasn't been a great matchup for WF in recent meetings. Defensively, WF has try to take away the 3 point shot; offensively, the Deacs need Sarr to be the best big man on the court, and for the rest of the Deacs to hit open shots when the Cards collapse. Even if WF executes, L'ville just has too many weapons to win. Ryan McMahon is the kind of player that just destroys Wake Forest; fully expect him to have a 6 for 8 from 3 point land type of game for the Cards. Deacs lose handily. Dino tries to keep the s*** eating grin off his face in the post-game handshake line.
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