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Today is Selection Sunday, a time when teams find out where they will be going for postseason play in the NCAA Tournament, or if they even made the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest is once again sitting at home after yet another 20 loss season under Danny Manning, so I thought I’d take a look at postseason bids throughout Wake Forest’s history.
It should be noted that the NCAA Tournament was created in 1939 and featured only eight teams. The National Invitational Tournament was the more prestigious tournament at first and where the National Champion was determined. The NCAA Tournament was expanded to 16 teams in 1951-52, 22 teams in 1953, 25 teams in 1969, 32 teams in 1975, 40 teams in 1979, 48 teams in 1980, 52 teams in 1983, 53 teams in 1984, 64 teams in 1985, 65 teams in 2001, and has been in the current format of 68 teams since 2011.
The seeding process did not begin until the 1978 NCAA Tournament.
Note: Years not listed featured no postseason appearance.
Murray Greason
1938-39: Murray Greason’s team was invited to the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1938-39 after finishing the regular season with a record of 18-5 and winning the Southern Conference Championship.
1952-53: Wake Forest reached the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals after winning the Southern Conference Tournament in the final year in the Southern Conference. Wake Forest received a first round bye.
Bones McKinney
1960-61: After winning the ACC Tournament, Wake Forest made it to the Regional Final, or what is now known as the Elite Eight, of the NCAA Tournament.
1961-62: Wake Forest dominated the ACC, winning both the regular season and ACC Tournament titles. The Demon Deacons made it to what is now known as the Final Four, and won the now-defunct National Third Place Game after losing in the Final Four.
Jack Murdock
Did not reach the postseason in his one year.
Jack McCloskey
Did not reach the postseason during his coaching tenure.
Carl Tacy
1976-77: Wake Forest finished in a tie for second in the ACC and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Demon Deacons lost in the Elite Eight.
1980-81: #4 Seed in Mideast Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1981-82: #7 Seed in East Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1982-83: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the National Invitational Tournament and eventually lost in the Semifinals.
1983-84: #4 Seed in Midwest Region. Lost in the Elite Eight.
1984-85: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT. They lost in the first round.
Bob Staak
Did not reach postseason during his coaching tenure.
Dave Odom
1990-91: #5 Seed in Southeast Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1991-92: #9 Seed in West Region. Lost in First Round/Round of 64.
1992-93: #5 Seed in Southeast Region. Lost in Sweet Sixteen.
1993-94: #5 Seed in Southeast Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1994-95: #1 Seed! in East Region (First and only #1 Seed in School History!). Lost in Sweet 16.
1995-96: #2 Seed in Midwest Region. Lost in Elite Eight.
1996-97: #3 Seed in West Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1997-98: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT and lost in the Second Round.
1998-99: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT and lost in the Second Round.
1999-2000: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but was the National Invitational Tournament Champion!
2000-01: #7 Seed in Midwest Regional. Lost in First Round/Round of 64.
Skip Prosser
2001-02: #7 Seed in Midwest Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
2002-03: #2 Seed in East Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
2003-04: #4 Seed in East Regional. Lost in Sweet Sixteen.
2004-05: #2 Seed in Albuquerque Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
2005-06: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT as a #5 Seed and lost in the First Round.
Dino Gaudio
2008-09: #4 Seed in the Midwest Region. Lost in First Round/Round of 64.
2009-10: #9 Seed in East Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
Jeff Bzdelik
Did not reach postseason during his coaching tenure.
Danny Manning
2016-17: #11 Seed for Play-In Game for South Region. Lost in First Four/Play-In Game.
Dave Odom has the only #1 seeded team in school history during Tim Duncan’s sophomore and Randolph Childress’ senior year of 1994-95.
Wake Forest made some form of postseason every single year from 1981 to 1985 and 1991 to 2006. The Deacs made the NCAA Tournament every year from 1991 to 1997 and from 2001 to 2005.
Highest Seed by Coach
Murray Greason: Not Applicable
Bones McKinney: Not Applicable
Jack Murdock: Not Applicable
Jack McCloskey: Not Applicable
Carl Tacy: #4 (twice)
Bob Staak: None
Dave Odom: #1!
Skip Prosser: #2 (twice)
Dino Gaudio: #4
Jeff Bzdelik: None
Danny Manning: #11*
*Did not make the actual tournament, but the seed still technically counts.
Best Postseason Finish by Coach
Murray Greason: Regional Semifinal/Sweet Sixteen
Bones McKinney: Third Place Game Winner
Jack Murdock: No Postseason
Jack McCloskey: No Postseason
Carl Tacy: Elite Eight
Bob Staak: No Postseason
Dave Odom: Elite Eight
Skip Prosser: Sweet Sixteen
Dino Gaudio: Second Round/Round of 32
Jeff Bzdelik: No Postseason
Danny Manning: First Four
Here’s hoping that the Deacs can get back to the level we were at under Dave Odom and Skip Prosser when we made a postseason tournament in 16 straight seasons.