Gameday guys. I'm still waiting to figure out exactly how those of us who are outside the ACC viewing area will be able to watch the game, so keep an eye out--I'll let you know as soon as I know. Until then, hopefully we'll be able to hit you up with everything you'll need to get ready for tonight. And that means starting you all off with this morning's links. 

Teel time - dailypress.com
Wake Forest (14-4, 4-2): Ish Smith's speed and Al-Farouq Aminu's size make the Deacons imposing for anyone. Non-conference victories over Gonzaga, Richmond and Xavier make them a virtual tournament lock, but memories of last season's first-round implosion against Cleveland State linger. NCAA odds: 85 percent.

Smith, Deacons making waves in ACC play | wake, making, acc - Sports - Gaston Gazette
Ishmael Smith was gobbling up a piece of a teammate’s birthday cake in the victorious moments after slicing through Wake Forest’s latest opponent. That’s when a television reporter approached, armed with a camera ready to film, and started to fire off questions. "Come on now," Smith said cheerfully, before pausing to chew some more. "I’ve got chocolate all over my mouth!" The senior guard’s megawatt smile beamed through despite a mouthful of cake and icing.

CFBLive: 2009-10 NCAA Football Family Atmosphere Rankings
12. WAKE FOREST: Too many coaches need to feed their egos. Head coach Jim Grobe isn’t one of them. Throughout the years, Grobe’s contagious philosophy is passed to his assistants. They feel their program should be models for children in the stands and students on campus. Grobe believes in two traits that his players should respect: responsibility and accountability. It’s no wonder he’s often on the list for both coaching and humanitarian awards.

The State Of Recruiting In: North Carolina Articles
4. A.J. MARSHALL, DB (5-11, 170) Southern Durham – When it comes to pass coverage, Marshall is hands down the best in the state this year. He has sprinter’s speed (4.4 in 40), is extremely agile and has the soft hands of a receiver. Those skills helped him earn All-Pac 6 4-A Conference and Shrine Bowl all-star game honors as a senior. Don’t be surprised to see Marshall become one of those rare freshmen who play their first year under Jim Grobe at Wake Forest in 2010. Wake gained a commitment from Marshall in July over 12 other major offers.

Order Of The Court: Possessed Demon Deacon
Odom often told this story about Childress: During his freshman season, the guard airballed two straight shots, and the coach was about to take him out. Childress responded by saying, "Not now, coach, I’m heating up." The takeaway lesson is that shooters just keep shooting.

Wake Forest-Georgia Tech Should Be Entertaining - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com
Wake has two precocious freshmen of its own, guard C.J. Harris (11.7 points, 41.4 percent 3-point shooter) and wing Ari Stewart (8.1 points, 43.6 percent 3-point shooter). The senior Ishmael Smith (13.5 points, 5.9 assists) is the latest in a steady line of steady point guards for the Demon Deacons, following Randolph Childress, Justin Gray, Chris Paul and Jeff Teague. Smith had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks against Virginia. And only 2 turnovers in 38 minutes.

Top recruit Hinds in the ’House tonight- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut
This was said before Hinds had nine 3-pointers, and 39 points total, in a game this season for the 9-3 Knights. "He can hurt you inside or outside," Cimmino said last week. "He’s a student of the gme, a humble kid who wants to keep on getting better and better. He is an extension of the coaching staff on the floor."

Swinney to use Ford's four-hour rule The Post and Courier - Charleston SC newspaper
"It is an entirely different era," Luginbill said. "With media exposure, the Internet, the ability to gather more information on kids faster and more thoroughly than ever before. If you tried to (recruit exclusively locally) nowadays you'd be a two- or three-win team. "You have to expand your recruiting net because the reality is everyone else is. Wake Forest is recruiting like crazy in Florida, Rutgers is recruiting Florida like crazy."

College Hoops Thursday: Your Commentary | College Basketball by Collegehoops.net
On the other side is the ACC's (and maybe America's) fastest point guard in Ishmael Smith, who ranks third in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio. If the aforementioned Yellow Jacket duo can't keep Smith in front of them (he was clocked on two different occasions against North Carolina at going coast-to-coast in less than five seconds) it's going to be a long night at the Thriller Dome for the home team. Both teams struggle from beyond the arc and rank among the top three in the ACC in field goal percentage defense, likely placing the emphasis on rebounding margin and turnover ratio.

Scout.com: Senior Bowl: Wednesday's Top Five Performers
Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest: Ghee had sort of been lost in the shuffle, with both rosters featuring several NFL-caliber cornerbacks. This was Ghee's day to shine, though. During one-on-one coverage drills, Ghee broke up a deep ball to Mardy Gilyard and a slant to Gilyard, then he started a seven-on-seven passing period with another breakup.

Rivalry Continues Between Gophers and Wake Forest - Gophersports.com—Official Web Site of University of Minnesota Athletics
A recent rivalry with Wake Forest renews itself this weekend when the Gophers face the Demon Deacons in the opening round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kick-Off Weekend tournament in Lexington, Ky. The Gophers knocked off then 21st-ranked Wake Forest on Feb. 20 of last season at the Baseline Tennis Center as the teams met for the seventh time in the last eight years. Wake Forest had won five of those previous six meetings, including three straight, prior to last year's Minnesota win. The Demon Deacons lead the all-time series 5-3.

Now a star, Ish recalls night he almost quit - CharlotteObserver.com
Gwen Smith listened to her son and felt his pain. But if Smith was looking for a soft shoulder on which to cry, he was in the wrong car. "I said, 'You wanted this. Now go out and get what you want and don't be weak about it again,'" she says.

Wake Forest-Georgia Tech Preview - Jan. 27, 2010 - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com
Georgia Tech, which starts two freshman, is second in the ACC with 16.2 turnovers per game. "Taking care of the ball - that's the most important thing," coach Paul Hewitt said. "Each possession becomes so magnified, especially when you go down the stretch in this league. You take care of the basketball, and you'll get good shots."

Talking Wake, FT shooting, Mfon minutes and more | Tech
Someone asked Paul Hewitt today before practice when was the last time he’d seen someone so fast with the ball in his hands as Smith. "Tywon Lawson," Hewitt said, laughing. "I’m glad he’s not here anymore. Actually, Ishmael smith might be faster with the ball." Hey, not too many breaks in the ACC. And Tech is in the thick of it now.