| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | |
| Current: | 2023–24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team |
| Firstseason: | 1906 |
| Record: | 1,558–1,274 (.550) |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Location: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Coach: | Steve Forbes |
| Tenure: | 4th |
| Arena: | Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| Capacity: | 14,665 |
| Studentsection: | Screamin' Demons |
| H Pattern B: | _thinblacksides |
| H Body: | ffffff |
| H Shorts: | 2C2A29 |
| H Pattern S: | _blanksides2 |
| A Pattern B: | _vegasgoldsides |
| A Body: | 2C2A29 |
| A Shorts: | 2C2A29 |
| A Pattern S: | _vegasgoldsides |
| 3 Pattern B: | _thinblacksides |
| 3 Body: | CEB888 |
| 3 Shorts: | CEB888 |
| 3 Pattern S: | _blacksides |
| Ncaafinalfour: | 1962 |
| Ncaaeliteeight: | 1939, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1984, 1996 |
| Ncaasweetsixteen: | 1953, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004 |
| Ncaaroundof32: | 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 |
| Ncaatourneys: | 1939, 1953, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2017 |
| Conference Tournament: | 1953, 1961, 1962, 1995, 1996 |
| Conference Season: | 1939, 1960, 1962, 1995, 2003 |
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team represents Wake Forest University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Through the years, the program has produced many NBA players, among them are Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, 12× All-Star Chris Paul, 1× All-Star Jeff Teague, Sixth Man of the Year Rodney Rogers, and 1× All-Star Josh Howard. The Demon Deacons have won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament four times, in 1961, 1962, 1995, and 1996. Wake Forest has appeared in 23 NCAA tournaments, most recently appearing in 2017. The current coach is Steve Forbes, who was hired on April 30, 2020.[1]
See also: List of Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball seasons.
In 1989, Wake Forest would name Dave Odom as its new head coach.[2] During his 12 seasons, Odom led the Demon Deacons to back-to-back ACC men's basketball tournament championship's in 1995 where the team defeated North Carolina[3] and 1996 by defeating Georgia Tech.[4] Tim Duncan would also win back to back-to-back ACC Player of the Year awards in 1996 and 1997.[5]
Prosser began his career at Wake Forest in 2001 and led the Demon Deacons to the NCAA tournament in each of his first four years there.[6] Prosser is credited for sparking participation in the Wake Forest student Screamin' Demons and increasing attendance with game-time antics, like having the Demon Deacon mascot enter Lawrence Joel on a Harley Davidson and filling the coliseum with Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400" at tip-off and when the Deacons would go on a run. During Prosser's tenure as head coach, home season tickets sold out for the first time ever in 2004.[7] During the 2004–05 season, the team was ranked #1 by the Associated Press for the first time in the school's history and won a school-record 27 games. At Wake Forest, Prosser won 100 games faster than all but two ACC coaches.[7] In 2003, his Demon Deacons squad became the first from the ACC to ever lead the nation in rebounding.[7] In the summer of 2007, Prosser had organized what was said to be a top-five recruiting class for the upcoming year.[8]
Every senior whom Prosser coached earned his degree in four years.[7]
On April 8, 2014, Wake Forest announced the hiring of Danny Manning.[9] Despite high expectations entering his first season, the Demon Deacons only finished with a 13–19 overall record and 5–13 record in the ACC. They would lose to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament.[10]
In Manning's second season, Wake Forest's 2015 recruiting class added the commitments of John Collins, Bryant Crawford, and Doral Moore.[11] [12] However, Wake Forest would have another disappointing season finishing the year 11–20 on the regular season and a 2–16 overall record in ACC play.[13]
During Manning's third year at helm, despite losing seniors Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas, Wake Forest started the 2016–17 season off very strong. Wake Forest entered the 2017 ACC tournament as the 10th seed and defeated Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament.[14] On March 8, 2017, Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament. The team also earned a bid in the NCAA Tournament. Wake Forest finished 19–14 on the season and 9–9 in ACC play finishing 10th in the standings.[15] Following the 2019–20 season, after six seasons with the team, Manning was relieved of his duties as head coach.[16]
On April 30, 2020, Steve Forbes was named as the new head coach for Wake Forest.[17] [18]
The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum[22] (also known as The Joel) is a 14,407-seat multi-purpose arena in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was named after Lawrence Joel, an Army medic from Winston-Salem who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1967 for action in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. The memorial was designed by James Ford in New York, and includes the poem "The Fallen" engraved on an interior wall. It is home to Wake Forest's men's and women's basketball teams, and is adjacent to the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. The arena replaced the old Winston-Salem War Memorial Coliseum, which was torn down for the LJVM Coliseum's construction.
Banners hang in the rafters commemorating past players' retired numbers (including Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, and Randolph Childress) and the late Skip Prosser. There are also banners recognizing the Demon Deacons' past NCAA and ACC successes. The arena is home to the Screamin' Demon student section. Wake Forest's black and gold tie-dyed apparel and "Zombie Nation" were both implemented upon Prosser's arrival at Wake Forest.
The Miller Center[23] is the basketball team's on-campus home. It houses the players' locker rooms, team meeting rooms, coaches' offices, and the Dave Budd Practice Gym. The players utilize the Miller Center for practice, meetings, academic work, and relaxing with their teammates.
The Dave Budd Practice Gym has a full-length court, six stand alone baskets, bleacher seating and banners honoring some of the best players to ever don the black and gold. The locker room includes a separate player lounge which features multiple large flat screen TVs, multiple entertainment systems (Blu-ray, streaming software, and gaming systems) plus the latest video software, as well as dedicated equipment and training rooms. On August 7, 2018, Chris Paul donated $2.5 million to the Wake Forest basketball program.[24]
The grand opening for the Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Shah Basketball Complex occurred in September, 2019 and provides Wake Forest with a state-of-the-art center for strength and conditioning and nutrition as well as providing space for coaches offices, team meeting rooms, and heritage areas that celebrate the success of Wake Forest's sports programs.[25]
Ben Sutton ('80, JD '83) donated $15 million for the construction of the Sutton Sports Performance Center. The four-level, 87,000 square foot facility provides strength and conditioning facilities for all of Wake Forest's student-athletes. Preliminary site work began in October 2017 and was completed in September, 2019. The facility connects to McCreary Field House and the Miller Center. The Sutton Sports Performance Center provides more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated strength and conditioning equipment for football. There is also space for strength and conditioning equipment for men's and women's Olympic sports.
The third floor of the Sutton Sports Performance Center includes 17,000 square feet of meeting rooms, coaches offices and a heritage area for the men's and women's basketball program. The fourth floor has over 18,000 square feet for football coaches offices, team meeting rooms and a heritage area. Over 1,500 square feet comprises a customized nutrition center. The Shah Basketball Complex, named in honor of Mit Shah ('91) whose $5 million lead gift made the facility possible, includes 24,400 square feet that allows both the men's and women's basketball programs to have dedicated practice areas. The $12 million project features the addition a regulation court that allows both programs to have interconnected practice areas featuring two practice courts and a total of 13 baskets. The Shah Complex features 6,000 square feet of strength and conditioning equipment for both the men's and women's basketball teams.
The Demon Deacons have appeared in the NCAA tournament 23 times. Their combined record is 28–23.
| Elite Eight | Ohio State | L 52–64 | |||
| Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place | Holy Cross Lebanon Valley | L 71–79 W 91–71 | |||
| First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | St. John's St. Bonaventure Saint Joseph's | W 97–74 W 78–73 L 86–96 | |||
| First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd Place | Yale Saint Joseph's Villanova Ohio State UCLA | W 92–82OT W 96–85OT W 79–69 L 68–84 W 82–80 | |||
| First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | Arkansas Southern Illinois Marquette | W 86–80 W 86–81 L 68–82 | |||
| Second Round |
| L 64–67 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 74–57 L 55–56 | ||
| Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
| W 69–59 W 73–71OT L 63–68 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 71–65 L 88–96 | ||
| First Round |
| L 58–81 | ||
| First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
| W 81–58 W 84–78 L 69–103 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 68–58 L 58–69 | ||
| First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
| W 79–47 W 64–59 L 66–71 | ||
| First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
| W 64–50 W 65–62 W 60–59 L 63–83 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 68–46 L 66–72 | ||
| First Round |
| L 63–79 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 83–74 L 87–92 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 76–73 L 62–68 | ||
| First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
| W 79–78 W 84–80 L 80–84 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 70–54 L 105–1112OT | ||
| First Round |
| L 69–84 | ||
| First Round Second Round |
| W 81–80OT L 60–90 | ||
| First Four |
| L 88–95 |
The Demon Deacons have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) eight times. Their combined record is 13–7. They were NIT champions in 2000.
| First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Murray State Vanderbilt South Carolina Fresno State | W 87–70 W 75–68 W 78–61 L 62–86 | ||
| First Round | South Florida | L 66–77 | ||
| First Round Second Round | UNC Wilmington Vanderbilt | W 56–52 L 72–68 | ||
| First Round Second Round | Alabama Xavier | W 73–57 L 87–76 | ||
| First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final | Vanderbilt New Mexico California NC State Notre Dame | W 83–68 W 72–65 W 76–59 W 62–59 W 71–61 | ||
| First Round | Minnesota | L 58–73 | ||
| 2022 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Towson VCU Texas A&M | W 74–64 W 80–74 L 52–67 | |
| 2024 | First Round Second Round | Appalachian State Georgia | W 87–76 L 66–72 |
See main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers.
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons retired numbers | |||||||||
| width=40px style="" | No. | width=150px style="" | Player | width=50px style="" | Pos. | width=100px style="" | Tenure | width=50px style="" | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2005 | [26] [27] | ||||||||
| 1999–2003 | |||||||||
| 1968–1971 | |||||||||
| 1983–1987 | |||||||||
| 1973–1977 | |||||||||
| 1993–1997 | |||||||||
| 1991–1995 | |||||||||
| 1951–1955 | |||||||||
| 1974–1978 | |||||||||
| 1959–1962 | |||||||||
| 1990–1993 | |||||||||
Head coaches that have been honored with their names hanging on the Coliseum rafters:
| 2001–2007 | 2018 [28] | ||
| 1989–2001 | 2020 [29] |
National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame:
John R. Wooden Award:
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award:
McDonald's All-Americans
ACC Coach of the Year:
ACC Player of the Year:
ACC Rookie of the Year:
ACC Most Improved Player of the Year
| Year | Player(s) |
|---|---|
| 1954 | Dickie Hemric |
| 1955 | Dickie Hemric |
| 1957 | Jackie Murdock |
| 1961 | Len Chappell |
| 1962 | Len Chappell |
| 1971 | Charlie Davis |
| 1977 | Skip Brown, Rod Griffin |
| 1978 | Rod Griffin |
| 1981 | Frank Johnson |
| 1993 | Rodney Rogers |
| 1995 | Randolph Childress, Tim Duncan |
| 1996 | Tim Duncan |
| 1997 | Tim Duncan |
| 2003 | Josh Howard[31] |
| 2005 | Chris Paul[32] |
| 2009 | Jeff Teague[33] |
| 2010 | Al-Farouq Aminu[34] |
| Year | Player(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Dickie Hemric, Lowell Davis* | |
| 1955 | Dickie Hemric, Lowell Davis* | |
| 1956 | Lowell Davis, Jackie Murdock* | |
| 1957 | Jackie Murdock, Jack Williams, Ernie Wiggins* | |
| 1958 | Dave Budd | |
| 1960 | Len Chappell, Dave Budd*, Billy Packer* | |
| 1961 | Len Chappell, Billy Packer | |
| 1962 | Len Chappell, Dave Wiedeman*, | |
| 1963 | Dave Wiedeman | |
| 1964 | Frank Christie, Butch Hassell*, Ronny Watts* | |
| 1965 | Bob Leonard, Ronny Watts* | |
| 1966 | Bob Leonard, Paul Long* | |
| 1967 | Paul Long | |
| 1969 | Charlie Davis | |
| 1970 | Charlie Davis | |
| 1971 | Charlie Davis | |
| 1973 | Tony Byers* | |
| 1974 | Tony Byers* | |
| 1975 | Skip Brown | |
| 1976 | Skip Brown*, Rod Griffin* | |
| 1977 | Skip Brown, Rod Griffin | |
| 1978 | Rod Griffin, Frank Johnson* | |
| 1979 | Frank Johnson* | |
| 1981 | Frank Johnson | |
| 1982 | Jim Johnstone | |
| 1984 | Kenny Green | |
| 1985 | Kenny Green* | |
| 1987 | Tyrone Bogues | |
| 1988 | Sam Ivy* | |
| 1991 | Rodney Rogers | |
| 1992 | Rodney Rogers | |
| 1993 | Rodney Rogers, Randolph Childress* | |
| 1994 | Randolph Childress, Trelonnie Owens** | |
| 1995 | Randolph Childress, Tim Duncan | |
| 1996 | Tim Duncan | |
| 1997 | Tim Duncan, Tony Rutland** | |
| 1999 | Robert O'Kelley* | |
| 2000 | Darius Songaila | |
| 2001 | Josh Howard | |
| 2002 | Darius Songaila*, Josh Howard** | |
| 2003 | Josh Howard, Vytas Danelius* | |
| 2004 | Justin Gray, Chris Paul** | |
| 2005 | Chris Paul, Justin Gray*, Eric Williams* | |
| 2006 | Justin Gray*, Eric Williams** | |
| 2007 | Kyle Visser | |
| 2008 | James Johnson | |
| 2009 | Jeff Teague
| |
| 2010 | Al-Farouq Aminu | |
| 2012 | C. J. Harris | |
| 2013 | C. J. Harris**[37] | |
| 2017 | John Collins[38] | |
| 2022 | Alondes Williams, Jake LaRavia*[39] | |
| 2023 | Tyree Appleby | |
| 2024 | Hunter Sallis |
| Year | Player | Round # | Pick # | Overall # | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 4 | 10 | Boston Celtics | ||
| 2nd | 2 | 10 | New York Knicks | ||
| 1st | 4 | 4 | Syracuse Nationals | ||
| 7th | 1 | 54 | New York Knicks | ||
| Ron Watts | 2nd | 9 | 17 | Boston Celtics | |
| Paul Long | 5th | 2 | 45 | Detroit Pistons | |
| Dickie Walker | 11th | 7 | 177 | Buffalo Braves | |
| 6th | 4 | 89 | Cincinnati Royals | ||
| 8th | 1 | 120 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||
| Rich Habegger | 15th | 1 | 188 | Portland Trail Blazers | |
| 11th | 2 | 167 | Portland Trail Blazers | ||
| Tony Byers | 5th | 9 | 81 | Buffalo Braves | |
| Daryl Peterson | 6th | 12 | 98 | Seattle SuperSonics | |
| 3rd | 12 | 56 | Boston Celtics | ||
| Jerry Schellenberg | 3rd | 17 | 61 | Washington Bullets | |
| 1st | 17 | 17 | Denver Nuggets | ||
| Leroy McDonald | 4th | 10 | 76 | San Diego Clippers | |
| 1st | 11 | 11 | Washington Bullets | ||
| Guy Morgan | 2nd | 17 | 40 | Indiana Pacers | |
| 3rd | 5 | 51 | Kansas City Kings | ||
| Mike Helms | 7th | 16 | 154 | Houston Rockets | |
| Alvis Rogers | 6th | 14 | 130 | Kansas City Kings | |
| 2nd | 15 | 39 | Seattle SuperSonics | ||
| Anthony Teachey | 2nd | 16 | 40 | Dallas Mavericks | |
| 1st | 12 | 12 | Washington Bullets | ||
| 4th | 13 | 83 | Utah Jazz | ||
| 1st | 12 | 12 | Washington Bullets | ||
| 2nd | 18 | 45 | Seattle SuperSonics | ||
| 1st | 9 | 9 | Denver Nuggets | ||
| 1st | 19 | 19 | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 1st | 1 | 1 | San Antonio Spurs | ||
| 2nd | 21 | 49 | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1st | 29 | 29 | Dallas Mavericks | ||
| 1st | 4 | 4 | New Orleans Hornets | ||
| 1st | 16 | 16 | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1st | 19 | 19 | Atlanta Hawks | ||
| 1st | 8 | 8 | Los Angeles Clippers | ||
| 1st | 19 | 19 | Atlanta Hawks | ||
| 1st | 19 | 19 | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||
| Forward | ||||||
| Forward | ||||||
| Guard | ||||||
| Forward |
| 2020[40] |
| 5[41] | |||
| 1[42] | |||
| Boston Celtics | 1 | ||
| Rusty LaRue | Chicago Bulls | 1 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1 | ||
| 1 |
See also: Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball statistical leaders.
| Rank | Player[47] | Years | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1951–55 | 2,587 | |
| 2. | 1990–95 | 2,208 | |
| 3. | 1959–62 | 2,165 | |
| 4. | 1993–97 | 2,117 | |
| 5. | 1973–77 | 2,034 | |
| 6. | 1974–78 | 1,985 | |
| 7. | 1968–71 | 1,970 | |
| 8. | 2002–06 | 1,946 | |
| 9. | 1997–01 | 1,885 | |
| 10. | 1998–02 | 1,859 | |
| 11. | 1999–03 | 1,765 | |
| 12. | 1976–81 | 1,749 | |
| 13. | 2002–06 | 1,738 | |
| 14. | 1988–92 | 1,721 | |
| 15. | 1990–93 | 1,720 | |
| 16. | 2010–14 | 1,687 | |
| 17. | 1963–66 | 1,637 | |
| 18. | 2009–13 | 1,613 | |
| 19. | 1952–56 | 1,564 | |
| 20. | 1986–90 | 1,551 | |
| Rank | Player[48] | Years | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1951–55 | 1,802 | |
| 2. | 1993–97 | 1,570 | |
| 3. | 1959–62 | 1,213 | |
| 4. | 2012–16 | 1,061 | |
| 5. | 1974–78 | 947 | |
| 6. | 1980–84 | 869 | |
| 7. | 2002–06 | 858 | |
| 8. | 1968–71 | 850 | |
| 9. | 1999–03 | 836 | |
| 10. | 1962–65 | 833 | |
| 11. | 2010–14 | 816 | |
| 12. | 1998–02 | 813 | |
| 13. | 1953–57 | 751 | |
| 14. | 2001–05 | 743 | |
| 15. | 1997–01 | 727 | |
| 16. | 1990–93 | 705 | |
| 17. | 1978–82 | 703 | |
| 18. | 1986–90 | 695 | |
| 19. | 1988–92 | 690 | |
| 20. | 1957–60 | 682 | |
| Rank | Player[49] | Years | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1983–87 | 781 | ||
| 2. | 2006–10 | 612 | ||
| 3. | 1973–77 | 579 | ||
| 4. | 1988–92 | 575 | ||
| 5. | 1980–84 | 493[50] | ||
| 6. | 1990–95 | 472[51] | ||
| 7. | 2015–18 | 467[52] | ||
| 8. | 1976–81 | 460[53] | ||
| 9. | 2016–20 | 443[54] | ||
| 10. | 2012–16 | 441[55] |
| Rank | Player[56] | Years | Steals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1983–87 | 275 | |
| 2. | 1999–03 | 215 | |
| 3. | 1976–81 | 204 | |
| 4. | 1973–77 | 195 | |
| 5. | 1980–84 | 194 | |
| 6. | 1990–95 | 180 | |
| 7. | 2003–05 | 160 | |
| 8. | 2006–10 | 153 | |
| 9. | 2015–18 | 149 | |
| 10. | 1990–93 | 146 | |
| Rank | Player | Years | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1993–97 | 481 | |
| 2. | 1980–84 | 203 | |
| 3. | 1975–79 | 188 | |
| 4. | 1978–82 | 182 | |
| 5. | 2008–12 | 144 | |
| 5. | 2012–16 | 144 | |
| 7. | 1999–03 | 143 | |
| 8. | 1998–02 | 140 | |
| 9. | 2003–07 | 116 | |
| 10. | 2006–10 | 114 | |