ACC Hoops: Wake Forest Battles Back to Beat Notre Dame, 74-71

Winston Salem, NC: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20-9, 12-6 ACC) battle back from a double-digit deficit to beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-17, 6-12 ACC), 74-71.

The Deacons were finally able to get past their demon of losing to sub .500 teams in a game where Cameron Hildreth willed his team to a victory. The win by the Deacs did not move the needle, which is not the worst thing for the Deacs at the moment. Since Notre Dame is a quad 4 opponent, a win does not move the needle at all. The good news for the Deacs is that they did not complicate their resume further with another terrible loss. 

It took until the 4 minute mark of the second half for the Deacons to get a lead, but they did not relinquish it. The Deacs took a 5 point halftime deficit and turned it into a 3 point victory. ACC play has seen a passing of the guard from the Deacs with the emergence of Cam Hildreth as the most important player for the Deacons over last year’s star Hunter Salis. Hildreth once again led the Deacons in scoring as he poured in 28 points and 6 boards. Salis was the only other Deac in double figures with 17 points. The Deacs finally got minimal production from the bench as the 3 reserves combined for 10 points with Juke Harris scoring 8. 

The Fighting Irish were led by Markus Burton’s 29 points and Tae Davis’ 15 points. Despite the second half collapse, the Irish had multiple opportunities on the last possession of the game as they missed 3 three point shot attempts in the last ten seconds to tie the game. The finishing blow to the Irish came right under the 1 minute mark of the game when Cam Hildreth was fouled on a three point attempt. This time, he made all 3 free throws that gave the Deacs a 4 point advantage.

The Deacs now travel to Durham to take on the Blue Devils on a quick 48 hour turnaround. The Blue Devils won another ACC game by over 30 points and scored 100 points. Like every game for the rest of the season, this is a must win game for the Deacons in a gym they have not won in since the times of Tim Duncan in the 1900’s. Like the Deacs, the Blue Devils still need wins to secure the #1 seed in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.

Going into Monday night, Wake sits at #77 in KenPoms rankings. The Deacs are slightly better in  the NET sitting at 69, one spot away from the 68 team NCAA field. The Deacs are 2-6 against Quad 1 opponents, 5-0 in Quad 2, 7-3 in Quad 3, and 6-0 against Quad 4 opponents. This is the Deacs last Quad 1 opportunity outside the ACC tournament. As the dust settles from the weekend, it looks as if the Deacs need to beat the Blue Devils and make a run to at least the semi’s if not the championship game to make the Big Dance.