Wake Forest Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Demon Deacons

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12: The Deacon, the mascot for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on the court in the ACC Quarterfinal game against the Maryland Terrapins on March 12, 2004 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Terps won 87-86. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 22: Jaylen Hoard #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons drives past De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on January 22, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

2018-19 Summary

Wake Forest wasn’t a good basketball team last year.

There’s not much elaboration needed, but here it is anyway. The Deacons lost to St. Joe’s (189 in KenPom), Houston Baptist (281), Richmond (203) and Gardner-Webb (163). That all happened before New Year’s.

The Demon Deacons beat Notre Dame, 75-68, on the road in February. They won three other ACC games, all of which came by four points or less. All but one of their conference losses came by double-digits, except for one inexplicable March night where Brandon Childress missed a last-second three that would have given them a win over a Zion Williamson-less Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Miami summarily ended Wake’s season, 79-71, in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

Statistically, it’d be easier to list off the things the Demon Deacons did competently. They got to the line (54th in the country, per KenPom), crashed the offensive glass (33.8 ORB%), hit 72 percent of their free throws and defended the three reasonably well. We need not speak of the rest.

Quick Hits

2018-19 record: 11-20 (4-14 ACC)

Final KenPom rank: 174th (15th in ACC)

Offensive efficiency: 175th (14th)

Defensive efficiency: 186th (15th)

Adjusted Tempo: 179 (4th)

Departees: F Jaylen Hoard (13.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 45.8 fg%), F Ikenna Smart (2.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.3 bpg), G Aaron Spivey (0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 apg), G Anthony Bilas (0.5 ppg, 0.1 rpg, 50.0 3pt%), G Jamie Lewis (0.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.3 apg)

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