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Deacs Lose in Heartbreaker to Redbirds
The Deacs season has ended. With 2 seconds remaining, the Illinois State Redbirds hit a 3 pointer to take the lead for good. The Deacs fall at home by a score of 68-65. This was an incredible game of basketball, even if it was not the result you might want.
Standout Stats
How many times have I said this year that Juke Harris had a huge game? Juke continues to be one of the most consistent scorers I have ever seen. His performance today moved him into 2nd place in program history for points scored in a single season. The 1st place spot is still held by the legendary Len Chappell for his 1961-62 season.
Tre’Von Spillers played maybe his best game of the season at the right time. Spillers led the Deacs in scoring with 24 points on a perfect 11-11 shooting from the field and 2-3 from the free throw line. Spillers also had 8 rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal. Omaha Biliew also had perfect game shooting, with 11 points on 3-3 from the field and 4-4 from the line. Biliew also recorded 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a steal. Myles Colvin had 10 points shooting 3-7 from the field, 1-2 from three, and 3-4 from the line. Colvin also added 2 rebounds and 2 assists to his tally.
As A Team
Outside of two or three categories, the team stats look almost identical. The Deacs shot 50% from the field, 31% from beyond the arc, and 67% from the free throw line. However, the three-point percentage is a bit misleading. The Redbirds shot 41% from the field, 30% from three, and 86% from three. Despite having the lower three-point percentage, the Redbirds made twice as many threes as the Deacs.
On the other hand, the free throw shooting numbers tell thestoryof this game. Each team was awarded 21 free throw attempts, meaning we get a rare direct statistical 1:1 comparison. The Deacs made 14-21, and the Redbirds made 18-21. In a game decided on the final possession, those thin margins are where wins and losses are made. The Deacs also had more rebounds, steals, assists, and blocks than the Redbirds.
Moving Forward
It is difficult to look at the back third of this season and not wonder “what if?” If this was the team we had seen all season, the Demon Deaconsare almostcertainly dancing instead of hosting the NIT. If you truly believe that losing Nate Calmesefor almost half the season is not a major factor in the results, I can’t help you. What Coach Forbes wasable to do despite the injury issues was absolutely remarkable. The Deacs were on the outside looking in at the ACC tournament with only a couple weeks left and managed to claw their way back. The players (and myself for that matter) attribute that turnaround to Coach Forbes.
The Deacs are are likely headed for an eventful offseason. The fanbase is not particularly happy with the leadership of theathletic department. There have been whispers of Juke Harris leaving in the portal for what feels like months now. However, Coach Forbes is already attacking the offseason.
Forbes and Juke Harris were seen courtside at the NCHSAA state title game to scout and recruit Mr. Basketball NC winner Dionte Neal. Neal is considered one of the greatest athletes in the history of North Carolina high school sports. The 5’7 pointguard has won multiple state titles in both football and basketball. In fact, as good as Neal is at basketball, he is even better at football.
At halftime of the football state title game, neal had 250 yards, multiple touchdowns, an interception in the endzone, and 2 touchdowns. Since decomitting from UNCG, Dionte Neal has received an offer from both the Wake Forest football and basketball programs. Wake Forest is currently the only P4 football school to offer Neal for both sports.
It will likely be a very eventful offseason for the Demon Deacons, and it will be difficult to holdonto keyplayers without strongfinancial support from fans and donors. That being said, the thought of pairing Dionte Neal with a pure scorer in Juke Harris should be exciting to not just Wake Forest fans, but also to those that enjoy high level basketball.
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