A History of Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team, representing Wake Forest University, has a storied history in the NCAA Division I college basketball tournament. As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Wake Forest has established itself as a competitive program, consistently vying for a spot in the national tournament. This article delves into the Demon Deacons' NCAA tournament appearances, highlighting key moments, players, and coaches that have shaped the program's legacy.

Program Overview

Wake Forest University's athletic teams were originally known as The Old Gold and Black or the Baptists, due to its association with the Baptist Convention. In 1923, after a win against Trinity College (predecessor of Duke University) a reporter wrote that the Deacons "fought like Demons", giving rise to the "Demon Deacons". The Demon Deacons have appeared in the NCAA tournament 23 times.

Through the years, the program has produced many NBA players, among them are Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, 12× All-Star Chris Paul, 1× All-Star Jeff Teague, Sixth Man of the Year Rodney Rogers, and 1× All-Star Josh Howard.

The Demon Deacons have also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) eight times. Their combined record is 13-7.

Early Years and Conference Championships

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament four times, in 1961, 1962, 1995, and 1996.

Murray Greason Era:

1938-39: Murray Greason’s team was invited to the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1938-39 after finishing the regular season with a record of 18-5 and winning the Southern Conference Championship.
1952-53: Wake Forest reached the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals after winning the Southern Conference Tournament in the final year in the Southern Conference. Wake Forest received a first round bye.

Bones McKinney Era:

1960-61: After winning the ACC Tournament, Wake Forest made it to the Regional Final, or what is now known as the Elite Eight, of the NCAA Tournament.
1961-62: Wake Forest dominated the ACC, winning both the regular season and ACC Tournament titles. The Demon Deacons made it to what is now known as the Final Four, and won the now-defunct National Third Place Game after losing in the Final Four.

The Tacy Era

Carl Tacy took the helm and led the Demon Deacons to several NCAA Tournament appearances.

1976-77: Wake Forest finished in a tie for second in the ACC and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Demon Deacons lost in the Elite Eight.
1980-81: #4 Seed in Mideast Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1981-82: #7 Seed in East Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1982-83: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the National Invitational Tournament and eventually lost in the Semifinals.
1983-84: #4 Seed in Midwest Region. Lost in the Elite Eight.
1984-85: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT. They lost in the first round.

The Dave Odom Era

Dave Odom brought a new level of success to the program, including its only #1 seed in tournament history.

1990-91: #5 Seed in Southeast Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1991-92: #9 Seed in West Region. Lost in First Round/Round of 64.
1992-93: #5 Seed in Southeast Region. Lost in Sweet Sixteen.
1993-94: #5 Seed in Southeast Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1994-95: #1 Seed! in East Region (First and only #1 Seed in School History!). Lost in Sweet 16.
1995-96: #2 Seed in Midwest Region. Lost in Elite Eight.
1996-97: #3 Seed in West Region. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
1997-98: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT and lost in the Second Round.
1998-99: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT and lost in the Second Round.
1999-2000: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but was the National Invitational Tournament Champion!
2000-01: #7 Seed in Midwest Regional. Lost in First Round/Round of 64.

The Skip Prosser Era

Skip Prosser began his career at Wake Forest in 2001 and led the Demon Deacons to the NCAA tournament in each of his first four years there.

2001-02: #7 Seed in Midwest Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
2002-03: #2 Seed in East Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
2003-04: #4 Seed in East Regional. Lost in Sweet Sixteen.
2004-05: #2 Seed in Albuquerque Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.
2005-06: Wake Forest did not make the NCAA Tournament, but made the NIT as a #5 Seed and lost in the First Round.

Prosser is credited for sparking participation in the Wake Forest student Screamin' Demons and increasing attendance with game-time antics, like having the Demon Deacon mascot enter Lawrence Joel on a Harley Davidson and filling the coliseum with Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400" at tip-off and when the Deacons would go on a run. During Prosser's tenure as head coach, home season tickets sold out for the first time ever in 2004. During the 2004-05 season, the team was ranked #1 by the Associated Press for the first time in the school's history and won a school-record 27 games.

Recent Appearances

Dino Gaudio Era:

2008-09: #4 Seed in the Midwest Region. Lost in First Round/Round of 64.
2009-10: #9 Seed in East Regional. Lost in Second Round/Round of 32.

Danny Manning Era:

On April 8, 2014, Wake Forest announced the hiring of Danny Manning.

Read also: Understanding Wake Forest Costs

2016-17: #11 Seed for Play-In Game for South Region. Lost in First Four/Play-In Game. Wake Forest entered the 2017 ACC tournament as the 10th seed and defeated Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament. On March 8, 2017, Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament. The team also earned a bid in the NCAA Tournament. Wake Forest most recently appeared in 2017.

Despite high expectations entering his first season, the Demon Deacons only finished with a 13-19 overall record and 5-13 record in the ACC. During Manning's third year at helm, despite losing seniors Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas, Wake Forest started the 2016-17 season off very strong.

Facilities and Fan Support

The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (also known as The Joel) is a 14,407-seat multi-purpose arena in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was named after Lawrence Joel, an Army medic from Winston-Salem who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1967 for action in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. It is home to Wake Forest's men's and women's basketball teams, and is adjacent to the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. Banners hang in the rafters commemorating past players' retired numbers (including Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, and Randolph Childress) and the late Skip Prosser. There are also banners recognizing the Demon Deacons' past NCAA and ACC successes. The arena is home to the Screamin' Demon student section.

The Miller Center is the basketball team's on-campus home. It houses the players' locker rooms, team meeting rooms, coaches' offices, and the Dave Budd Practice Gym. The Dave Budd Practice Gym has a full-length court, six stand alone baskets, bleacher seating and banners honoring some of the best players to ever don the black and gold. The locker room includes a separate player lounge which features multiple large flat screen TVs, multiple entertainment systems (Blu-ray, streaming software, and gaming systems) plus the latest video software, as well as dedicated equipment and training rooms.

Ben Sutton donated $15 million for the construction of the Sutton Sports Performance Center. The four-level, 87,000 square foot facility provides strength and conditioning facilities for all of Wake Forest's student-athletes. Preliminary site work began in October 2017 and was completed in September, 2019. The facility connects to McCreary Field House and the Miller Center. The Sutton Sports Performance Center provides more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated strength and conditioning equipment for football. The third floor of the Sutton Sports Performance Center includes 17,000 square feet of meeting rooms, coaches offices and a heritage area for the men's and women's basketball program. The fourth floor has over 18,000 square feet for football coaches offices, team meeting rooms and a heritage area. Over 1,500 square feet comprises a customized nutrition center.

The Shah Basketball Complex, named in honor of Mit Shah, includes 24,400 square feet that allows both the men's and women's basketball programs to have dedicated practice areas. The $12 million project features the addition a regulation court that allows both programs to have interconnected practice areas featuring two practice courts and a total of 13 baskets.

Read also: Wake Forest Student Body

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