It’s really hard to draw too many conclusions from these early buy games, but one thing that gave me a lot of confidence in this Wake Forest team was the ball movement on offense. The Deacs were consistently swinging the ball around and finding the open man, resulting in an impressive 20 assists on 31 made baskets.
To put that in perspective, in 32 games last season, Wake Forest never recorded more than 17 assists in a single game. This improvement is a great sign that the offense is returning to a more team-oriented approach.
Point guard Nate Calmese was a standout, finishing with 10 points, 9 assists, and just 2 turnovers. He remained poised and in control throughout the entire game, doing a fantastic job running the offense. This was a noticeable upgrade compared to last season’s point guard play—or lack thereof.
The defense was another bright spot. The Deacs were extremely aggressive, blitzing pick-and-rolls and doubling the post. Their active hands and relentless pressure led to 16 steals against the Eagles, which Wake promptly converted into 32 points. One of the highlights included an electrifying alley-oop from Purdue transfer Myles Colvin.
That said, it wasn’t a perfect performance. The 7-for-25 shooting from beyond the arc raised some concerns. Given last season’s struggles with three-point shooting, it’s understandable to be a little nervous. However, with just one game played, there’s no need to panic yet—it’s definitely something to monitor moving forward.
Another issue was Wake’s inability to put the game away early. The starters were on the floor for nearly the entire second half. For a team expected to be 10-11 deep, playing only six players down the stretch isn’t ideal. Fatigue has historically been a problem for Wake in February and March under coach Steve Forbes, so depth and energy late in the season will be key.
Defensively, Wake was a bit overzealous in the second half, which allowed the Eagles too many easy points inside. Giving up 32 points in the paint to a Patriot League opponent is concerning. The lack of a true big man could become a significant issue once ACC play ramps up.
That said, these negatives should be balanced against the fact that Wake won the game by 14 points and maintained a double-digit lead through nearly the entire second half.
Tre’von Spillers was my pick for player of the game, finishing with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting and grabbing 8 rebounds. Washington transfer Mekhi Mason also impressed in his Deacs debut, scoring 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Mason made 3 of Wake’s 7 three-pointers, providing a much-needed boost from beyond the arc.
Between Calmese, Mason, Colvin, Juke Harris, and Spillers, Wake Forest boasts plenty of speed and elite athleticism this season. The more they can play uptempo and attack the basket, the better their chances will be moving forward.
https://www.bloggersodear.com/wake-forest-basketball/23409/recap-wake-forest-starts-season-with-88-74-win-over-american
