WINSTON-SALEM – With three post players 6-11 or taller and a 6-9 wing player at his disposal, Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio usually didn’t think about size being an issue this season.
Tonight’s NCAA East regional first-round game against Texas in New Orleans (tip: approximately 9:30 p.m.) is one of those times.
The Longhorns feature 6-7, 225-pound forward Damion James, their leading scorer at 18 points per game who also grabs 10.4 rebounds per contest.
They also have 6-10, 290-pound center Dexter Pittman, third on the scoring list at 10.6 ppg, plus 6-8, 238-pound forward Gary Johnson.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for our big kids with Dexter Pittman, Damion and Gary Johnson,” Gaudio said “Those are big, strong, physical guys. I’ve seen Dexter before. I think our guys are going to be surprised when they see how big that young man is.”
Pittman is about the same size as Miami’s Reggie Johnson, who went 8-for-8 from the field and scored 22 points as the Hurricanes crushed the Deacons in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
“That front line is a big matchup,” Gaudio said. “They are very, very good rebounding team. We’re going to have to do a good job on getting in there on the glass and boxing them out. There’s no question that our front line and their front line is one of the factors in the game.”
Both teams enter the tournament on a down note. Wake, seeded ninth, has lost five of its last six to fall to 19-10. Texas, the No. 8 seed, reached No. 1 in the AP poll for two weeks but collapsed to finish 24-9 and sixth in the Big 12 at 9-7. All of the Longhorns losses came in their last 15 games. In two of their last three games, they were blown out by Baylor.
“The teams who do well in the tournament are the ones that come out with fire and emotion,” Gaudio said.
“Winning these games is more about what happens above the shoulders than what happens below.”
gsmith@hpe.com | 888-3519
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