Today is the first day of basketball practice for Wake since Dino skipped the last week of individual workouts to get an extra day of practice. I'm excited for the season and am ready to forget about that game down in Miami last year.
Today's links feature some content from basketball media day and, of course, some Clemson articles. Also, the feature on James Johnson is a must read. Only two days until Death Valley...
ACC-SEC rankings - CharlotteObserver.com
11. WAKE FOREST 82, 12: Riley Skinner's ad-libbing drawing comparisons to Matt Ryan.
Tigers want Parker to use running ability more often - The Sun News
"That's one of the things we've really challenged him on this week, because he can run," coach Dabo Swinney said. "He's done that."
ACC's Atlantic Division: Parity or parody? - Breaking News - Sports - MiamiHerald.com
So, who stands the best chance to claim the Atlantic's spot in the winner-take-all title game and play for an Orange Bowl berth? - Wake Forest? The Demon Deacons' two overall losses have come by a combined six points, but their two rotating Coastal opponents are Miami and Georgia Tech.
BULLS: Bulls rookies Johnson and Gibson look to make an impact
Confidence, and kindness. In high school he was one of those guys who spent time with everyone. "I don’t just hang out with one group," Johnson says now. "I hung out with kids who played sports and kids who didn’t. I’d hang out at lunch with students who had special needs and play basketball with them." "I have a caring heart, but I’m also competitive. I want to play hard but I want to shake hands afterwards."
Tigers study long and short of first down - Sports - The State
Nor has Wake Forest gone with an empty backfield. But defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said what separates the Demon Deacons is they can and will throw surprises at the defense - from option runs to bootleg passes to orbit motion, and then some. "The big thing is, it must be good coaching and really attentive and accountable players, they have the ability to switch gears in personnel groupings and style of offense from game to game and even during the game, and execute it very well," Steele said. "So it's one of those deals where you're working on everything you've seen and then more.
Game in Death Valley to shed light on Atlantic Division race - College Football Nation - ESPN
"Where we’ve had some troubles has been a lack of execution consistently," Swinney said. "We’ve gone back this week and really tried to coach the details, and fundamentals of play on either side of the ball. … We may not do much, but we’re going to try to do it right. Hopefully we’ll play like we’ve practiced, because we’ve had good practices the past week and a half." Meanwhile, though, Wake Forest has had good games.
Wake Ready To Start With Eye On A Strong Finish Wires
"We started off 16-0, No. 1 in the country, then lay an egg in the NCAA tournament - it tore us to pieces when we knew we weren’t going to finish our dream," guard L.D. Williams said Wednesday. "All season long, coach (Dino) Gaudio talked about ‘Final Four, Final Four, Final Four,’ and we don’t even make the final 32. It kills us every day. "Guys don’t want that feeling again. We didn’t finish, and that’s the big staple of everything this year - to finish."
Gaudio's contract extended: He gets new deal to be Wake Forest's basketball coach through 2013-14 season
"We certainly talked about postseason and the importance of it and how that has evolved into the most important part of the season, and the regular season has been diminished somewhat over the last decade or so," Wellman said. "Dino has good thoughts about how we need to improve in that area, and obviously that has been a weakness the last couple of years. "But it wasn't such a concern that I didn't want to go forward with the commitment to him because, again, overall I just feel he has done a superb job in a very difficult situation. And I see a very bright future for our program with him at the helm."
ACC Notebook: Butler says Clemson still eyeing title
"The door is wide open," senior cornerback Crezdon Butler said. "We know that, and the coaches know that. We just have to be more focused and get the job done and win some games. "(Saturday) is big. It's a must-win for us. We have to win this game."
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