2011-2012 Season in Review: Wake Forest

13-18 overall, 4-12 ACC

It was hard to get much worse than what happened to Wake two seasons ago.  Only one ACC win, and 14 losses in conference by double digits.  The good news is this past year was better - a little better.  Wake didn't have a disastrous non-conference season, getting a decent road win at Nebraska and beating Texas Tech at a neutral site.  They did lose their last non-conference game at home to Wofford, perhaps a sign of things to come.

After starting out conference play with a home win over Virginia Tech, the Deacs lost 9 of their next 10, with the lone win at doormat Boston College.  In fact, all four of Wake's conference wins came against the three teams that finished below them in the standings.  They went 1-7 on the road in conference, five of those losses by double digits.

Wake actually had two pretty decent players in C.J. Harris and Travis McKie.  Those two combined for nearly 33 points per game.  The problem was the lack of production behind them.  They had some tall guys who could block shots, but no one else who could provide consistent offense.  They also suffered from a lack of leadership, which was a problem in the previous season.  I have been a critic of Coach Jeff Bzdelik from the start, and he hasn't shown me that he can coach this team.  I'm not even really sure what kind of identity he has as a coach, what kind of system he runs.  And the early returns aren't looking good for next year either.

Biggest Win:

58-55 vs. Virginia Tech (January 7)

It's hard to find a win that Wake can really hang their hat on.  This is the best I could find.  Even though they finished below Wake in the standings, Virginia Tech was a better team, with better talent.  And Wake came out in this first conference game and outplayed them from the opening tip.  They got a clutch three from Harris in the last minute to win.  Interestingly, this is the only conference game Wake won by less than nine points.

Worst Loss:

76-40 vs. N.C. State (January 14)

After that Virginia Tech game, Wake played Maryland close on the road.  They came in probably feeling pretty good, but got absolutely destroyed at home against N.C. State.  This game was a sign that it was the same old Wake.  The Deacs shot 29% for the game, and 2-20 from three.

Postseason Play:

The postseason was short for Wake, and not pretty.  They played Maryland in one of the most mismatched 8/9 games you'll ever see, and lost, 82-60.  They were only down five at halftime, but Maryland blew them out in the second half and put an end to the Wake season.

Next Year:

Turn away now if you are a Wake Forest fan.  The good news is they don't lose much to graduation, with Nikita Mescheriakov and Ty Walker being the only players who played significant minutes.  The bad news is the attrition for the rest of the team.  Carson Desrosiers (4.8 PPG, 1.9 BPG) is transferring.  Tony Chennault (9 PPG) is transferring.  Anthony Fields (barely played) is transferring.  Why are so many players leaving?

Harris and McKie will be back, which is good.  But the only other returning player who had any kind of impact this past season is Chase Fischer, a 35% shooter.  Wake brings in a couple four star recruits, who will need to be good right away.  With so much attrition it's hard to imagine them being any better than they were this past year.  They will probably be fighting BC for the cellar, and it will be the final year for Bzdelik.