Game Preview: Wake Forest vs. High Point

Wake Forest (2-0) vs.
High Point (1-0)
8 p.m.
Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum
ISP Sports(Wake crew)/98.3 FM (High Point crew)

The Deacs are home at the Joel to take on the High Point Panthers. The Panthers are led by UNC alum and first-year head coach Scott Cherry. High Point did not exactly set the world on fire last year, (9-21, 4-14), and finished with a 325 RPI/305 KenPom.

Scott Cherry will be putting a lot of emphasis on recruting, but he isn't going to see a lot of that success for a couple years. The Panthers do return three starters--6-2 sophomore Nick Barbour (14.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 6-2 senior Eugene Harris (12.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg) and David Singleton (5.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.8 apg). 

Barbour is their best player. He put up 38 in their win over UNC-Pembroke last week and is not afraid to jack it up. He was 13-16 and 10-11 from 3. That is actually incredible when I look at it on the screen. Wow. So obviously, somebody's gotta pick him up and I expect L.D. Williams to draw him.

High Point is not a very big team at all, but they'll play a quick tempo and some trap defense, so expect a high scoring game for the Deacs. I fully expect the bigs to have a great game--I look for Tony Woods to possibly have a double-double, Chas McFarland to have a better game and Al-Farouq Aminu to be Al-Farouq Aminu and put up 20 and 10.

This is another good opportunity for the freshmen to get some good minutes and tune up their game. C.J. Harris has been money so far and Ari Stewart and Konner Tucker have looked good too. This could be a big game for Stewart.

High Point might improve this year over their 9 wins a year ago, and Cherry was a coveted coach (you'll also remember Pat Kelsey's name was thrown in the High Point coaching rumors), but this team has a long ways to go. That said, I would not be surprised to see them finish in the top half of the Big South as long as their starters can lead the way and they can get quality minutes out of newcomers Tehran Cox and Jairus Simms.

Wake 93, High Point 70