Currently the number two team in the nation, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have bounced back from some of their worst years in history. In 20 tournament appearances, the Deacons have won 27 games, never bringing home a championship. Players like Tim Duncan, Josh Howard, and Chris Paul have done their best in their time at Wake, but none of the above players have even made it to the Final Four. In 2005, the Deacons entered the tournament as a number two seed, but failed to make it past the second round. Wake Forest basketball has struggled recently, and with the death of former head coach Skip Prosser, things did not get any easier.
This year, however, the Deacons have come out of nowhere starting the season an astounding 15-0. Wake even upset the powerhouse North Carolina Tar Heels where standout sophomore Jeff Teague dropped 34 points. Teague, who has the roll of filling the point guard role since Chris Paul left, has exploded this year averaging over 21 points per game. He has a strong shot and excellent penetrating ability, keeping defenses on their toes. His athleticism is outstanding and puts pressure on any defense. ESPN.com's Chad Ford considers Teague to be a top 2009 NBA draft point guard prospect.
Along with Teague, Wake Forest has been fortunate to have another strong young player in Al-Farouq Aminu, the freshman forward. Aminu has contributed solid play game in and game out, which is essential to any team's success.
The Deacons have proven to be one of the best teams in their history, with strong play from their younger athletes. Some believe they won't do well in the tournament due to inexperience, but within a next year the Deacons could possibly go all the way. Though the Deacons have been through tough times recently, things have started to change. The past few years they've seemed asleep, but this year, the team has truly aWAKEn.
