Wake Forest

[Xavgrad08]

Wake lost to Georgia Tech tonight by a score of 39 to 74. This brings their record to 7-12 and they might not win a game in the ACC all year long. I was reading their messageboard and their fans are irate, whis is understandable.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that the wake A.D is good friends with Bzdelik which somewhat explains the hire. Bzdelik comes across very mundane and lacks charisma which is important in recruiting. Combine that with the fact that coach Bzdelik is a bit older and the hiring becomes even more perplexing. Another unusual thing about the hire is Bzdelik was told he had to retain the previous assistants. Overall, the wake program looks to be in disarray and their recruiting class is not that great.

The ironic thing is Dino was let go last year after he got Wake to the second round of the NCAA. I guess you have to be careful what you wish for. I am so glad Xavier is run by such smart people. I could never imagine such a mess happening at X. Sorry, about the long diatribe about wake. I just thought the situation was interesting and certainly worth keeping an eye on in the future.

[MuskieCinci]

I wonder if after this season when Kelsey goes somewhere else to become a head coach Mack would bring Dino on as an assistant coach? I'm not sure if Mack would even want him or if Dino would want it but they are close and Dino does hang around the program somewhat and isn't doing anything better right now that I know of.

[PMI]

Please let's not rehash that one MuskieCinci...

I could not believe it when they fired Dino to hire Bzdelik. Could. Not. Believe it. I still can't. What a mess they've made of Wake Forest basketball. The Skip Prosser Classic might be a nice RPI game by about 2017 if we're lucky, and that really pisses me off because I was looking forward to that being one of our biggest games every year. Thanks Wellman.

[cinskyline]

I could not believe it when they fired Dino to hire Bzdelik. Could. Not. Believe it. I still can't. What a mess they've made of Wake Forest basketball. The Skip Prosser Classic might be a nice RPI game by about 2017 if we're lucky, and that really pisses me off because I was looking forward to that being one of our biggest games every year. Thanks Wellman.

It wouldn't surprise me if the series isn't mutually ended. Last year, didn't Dino mention something about ending the series after this year's game?

I said at the time of Dino's firing that Wake had better find someone better, or it would end up being a bad move. A bad move it was. And I'm not really a fan of Dino's coaching either.

[X-band '01]

I can only imagine how Skip would feel if the series ended because of a pair of boneheaded coaching moves by Wake Forest.

It's not just Wake getting worse, it's Colorado getting BETTER after Bzdelik left that program.

[DC Muskie]

Please let's not rehash that one MuskieCinci...

I could not believe it when they fired Dino to hire Bzdelik. Could. Not. Believe it. I still can't. What a mess they've made of Wake Forest basketball. The Skip Prosser Classic might be a nice RPI game by about 2017 if we're lucky, and that really pisses me off because I was looking forward to that being one of our biggest games every year. Thanks Wellman.

Actually I could believe it. The ACC the last few years, especially this year and last, is Duke...and everyone else. Wake getting bounced from the tournament like they did in 2009 and not advancing past the second round in 2010 with pretty good talent, is pretty bad. Also under Dino, both in 08 and 10, Wake fared terribly down the stretch. And it wasn't like Wake would be all that better if Dino was the coach this season. Which I'll get to in a minute...


It's not just Wake getting worse, it's Colorado getting BETTER after Bzdelik left that program.

This is an incredibly over simplistic view of Bzdelik is as a coach. At Wake he has two seniors, only one who plays and boatload of freshmen. Some have talent, some do not.

At Colorado, Bzdelik took over a program that was just awful. Now they have a senior laden team that is playing very well.

Look Wake shouldn't be this bad. But don't think they were about to string along 20 wins again and get back to the dance with Dino. Bzdelik will be given time to see what he can do to turn this around. But Wake went from first round NBA draft picks and early exits, to no NBA caliber players overnight.

[Lamont Sanford]

If Ari Stewart wanted to transfer to X, I would accept it in a heartbeat! He is one of the few shining stars on that team.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Wake is young team with very talented feshman and sophomores. That being said, they should be getting better as the season goes on but they are flat out getting worse and worse. That's on the coach.

[waggy]

A first year coach gets a pass at most places. Except Xavier of course.

[MCXU]

If Ari Stewart wanted to transfer to X, I would accept it in a heartbeat! He is one of the few shining stars on that team.


THIS!:logo:

[Xavgrad08]

I have no idea whether Dino was a good or bad coach. With that being said if you fire a coach that made the second round of the tourney you better have a big name waiting to take over. I think the Wake A.D. thought the job is more attractive than it really is. Reading the wake messageboard and they are saying they don't know how Bzdelik can recover from this mess. I guess winning cures all but if they keep getting blown out I don't think he will be given much time. No way he will be fired after one year but maybe after two.

Also if you were a coach would you want to work for an A.D that fired a coach that got to the second round? There is a reason why most schools don't do that.

[gladdenguy]

I think Wake just wanted to get rid of the whole Skip Prosser regime.....which was continued by Dino who was only hired because of the tragic passing of Prosser. People were not even happy with Prosser's resume. It was the same situation when he was here....he couldn't win in March.
I was happy Prosser left. I hated watching his teams piss the bed in March.

Tough year for Wake. They might be in for a tough couple years now.

[PMI]

Actually I could believe it. The ACC the last few years, especially this year and last, is Duke...and everyone else. Wake getting bounced from the tournament like they did in 2009 and not advancing past the second round in 2010 with pretty good talent, is pretty bad. Also under Dino, both in 08 and 10, Wake fared terribly down the stretch. And it wasn't like Wake would be all that better if Dino was the coach this season. Which I'll get to in a minute....

I know we beat this horse to death when it was all going down, but I still wholeheartedly disagree. I just think Bzdelik is doing a shitty coaching job, just like he did in Colorado. Dino got great talent to come to Wake. If you're going to fire him for the results, fine (I don't think he did nearly as bad a job as some) but don't drop him for a worse coach who's old and can't recruit as well. Players don't win games for Bzdelik. They don't. The proof is in the pudding. Wake lost some very tough tournament games under Gaudio. A few more bounces their way and this whole mess never happens, and WF is still a perennial top 25 team and the Skip Prosser Classic shreds. Instead, Wake Forest basketball has become a laughing stock in mere months into this clown's tenure.

[dc_x]

Wake's defense is pathetic and, IMO, that is on the coach. He has the athletes to compete, but they have not bought in to his sytstem and don't play with any effort on the defensive end. On top of that the guy can't recruit. The sooner they change coaches down there, the better.

[Xavgrad08]

According to a USA today article a while back the Wake Forest Athletic department is operating in the red. If this is still the case I can't imagine they can afford to buy out Bzdelik while still paying Dino's buyout and afford to bring in a new coach. The Wake AD has certainly messed up big time with the Bzdelik hire.

[DC Muskie]

Players don't win games for Bzdelik. They don't. The proof is in the pudding.


Wake's defense is pathetic and, IMO, that is on the coach. He has the athletes to compete, but they have not bought in to his sytstem and don't play with any effort on the defensive end.

Two good points.

I certainly don't think Dino is a great coach, or that good really, but Wake shouldn't go from 20 wins to 10 in one season with a coaching change.

[Juice]

Two good points.

I certainly don't think Dino is a great coach, or that good really, but Wake shouldn't go from 20 wins to 10 in one season with a coaching change.

They did lose Ish Smith, Al Farouq Aminu, and Tony Woods but I still agree with your overall point.

[CinciX12]

Hilarity is for sure happening with Colorado rapidly improving the year he leaves. Senior laden team or not, I am willing to bet if he was still there they wouldn't be half the team they were. He either turns it around next year or he can probably forget about ever being the head of a program with a realistic shot of the NCAA tournament. Wake will not tolerate what he is doing.

[PMI]

Wake will not tolerate what he is doing.

I hope you're right, but I'm a little skeptical. I'm not too knowledgeable about their situation, but aren't they going to be in a pretty steep financial hole if they fire another coach so soon? They may have to swallow it and see how it plays out for a couple years, which probably sets them back about a half decade, which renders the SPC a much less substantial event. I'm very pessimistic about the future of Wake Forest basketball and I think it's a real shame. I hope I'm wrong.

[stophorseabuse]

I don't think we give away a home and home with an ACC team even if they are bad. ESPECIALLY now that Dino is gone. Hold them to it and make them pay for their stupid ass hire. Or offer them 3 straight at Cintas and series over. That would work too.

[Xavgrad08]

Wake finishes the year with an 8-24 record. Will be interesting to see if anyone transfers out, and it will be interesting to follow their recruiting. Bzdelik needs to show some improvement next year, or it will be a short stay in Winston Salem.

[Masterofreality]

What do you think Ari Stewart is thinking about now?

[Norman Dale]

I'll tell you what Stewart is thinking he's thinking he will test the NBA waters this offseason

[94GRAD]

How happy do you think Dino is? Ron Wellman can suck a bag of !@#$%