Wake Forest Basketball: Breaking down 2017-18 non-conference schedule
By Taylor Sturm
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons announced their non-conference schedule for the 2017-18 college basketball season. We’ve broken it down for you.
Last season, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons finished No. 10 in the ACC with an overall 19-14 record, making it to the First Four of the 2017 NCAA Tournament where they lost to the Kansas State Wildcats.
Heading into 2017-18, however, the expectations are a bit higher, with the thought that Wake Forest should be able to at least be able to secure a non-play-in berth in the Big Dance – even with some of their key players missing.
That being said, most of the team’s damage is going to have to be done in ACC play, as their recently released non-conference schedule is embarrassingly easy. One or two losses could be the difference between the NIT and NCAA Tournament once again.
The good news is that with a few upsets in conference play the Demon Deacons should be able to hit 20 wins and all but secure a place in the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest will play a few games early in November, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands in mid-November for the Paradise Jam, and then finish out the non-conference schedule with just two true road games.
Despite losing a big name in John Collins who went to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 19 in the 2017 NBA Draft, Wake Forest has a ridiculously easy non-conference schedule. While I think they lose one or two games, it is entirely possible that the Demon Deacons enter ACC play undefeated.