Wake Forest -- Friday, January 6th, 2012 @ 6:30 pm (Joel Memorial Coliseum) TV: RSN

2011 Wake Forest Snapshot: 15-17, 5-9 ACC, No Postseason Play

Last Meeting: ACC QF: #1 Devils Thump #9 Wake, 79-50.

Current Records: Duke 10-2, Wake Forest 10-3

Current Rankings: Duke #8/#7 (AP/USA Today), Wake Forest is not ranked

Significant Losses: The Deacs lost their leading scorer, forward Brittany Waters. She averaged 12 ppg and 5.5 rpg, though she was in and out of the starting lineup due to her inconsistency. Also gone are little-used senior Kem Wilson (1 ppg) and frosh Jaymee Carnes (2 ppg).

Returning Players: Wake returns most of their lineup, led by junior center Sandra Garcia (11 ppg, 5 rpg), who had a rough start to her last season but played well down the stretch. Returning from an ACL tear is 5th year senior Camille Collier, a leader who averaged 5 ppg. Sophomore guard Chelsea Douglas (9 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg) and junior guard Lakevia Boykin (9 ppg, 3 rpg) emerged as the team's primary perimeter scorers. Seniors Secily Ray (6 ppg, 5 rpg) and Brooke Thomas (5 ppg, 3 rpg) had disappointing junior campaigns but will be called upon to step up this season. Junior guards Mykala Walker (5 ppg, 4 rpg), Asia Williams (3 ppg, 4 rpg) and Patrice Johnson (2 ppg, 1 rpg) will have a chance to contribute, as will soph guard Erin Hall (3 ppg) and soph post Lindsy Wright (3 ppg, 3 rpg).

Wake Forest coach Mike Petersen.

The Skinny: Wake is a perpetually odd team that has talent and athletes, but goes through scoring droughts and shooting slumps that make it hard for them to beat good opponents. They are one of the deeper and more experienced teams in the league, as ten players are receiving double digit minutes and eight are playing fifteen minutes or more a game. They also have plenty of bodies to throw at every position. What Wake doesn't have is a dynamic scorer who can take over a game. Instead, there are solid players who can occasionally get hot, like Ray and Boykin. Garcia is the team's leading scorer at 12 ppg and is a fine back-to-the-basket player as well as one who can step outside and drill a jumpshot. When she's fully engaged and communicating with her teammates, she is a dangerous opponent.

In general the Deacs have solid club but aren't great at anything in particular. They're a poor rebounding club (they're in the red on the boards for the year, and this is against some less-than-stellar competition) and not great from the perimeter. Douglas and Boykin, who take the bulk of the team's three point shots, have both shot under 30% for the year. Wake forces 24 turnovers a game and will likely try a variety of traps and presses against Duke. That will require them to score fairly regularly, so if Duke's defense clamps down across the board, the Devils will be in great shape. Wake might try to run to take advantage of their speed, but Duke can match that speed as well and would no doubt love the opportunity to score when the opposing defense hasn't had time to set up yet.

Duke will no doubt want to pressure the ball as they normally do, but this is a game that calls for zone and lots of it, given Wake's ability to penetrate and problems they have with shooting. The last thing Duke wants is to give Wake some confidence by letting them have open looks. On offense, Duke needs to be patient; running off turnovers will be available, but the Devils have to stop throwing bad passes just because their foe is picking them up fullcourt. Duke just needs to relax and match their hustle level to their talent level against Wake.

Playing too fast against Wake's press.

Editor's Note - to read more about Wake Forest and the other ACC teams, please check out our 2012 ACC Preview at Amazon.com.