Gameday Preview: Wake Forest vs Georgia Tech – Sat March 8th 2025

Winston Salem, NC: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20-10, 12-7 ACC) host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (16-14, 10-9 ACC) in the last game of the ACC regular season. The Deacons come into Saturday’s matchup in desperate need of a win as they have lost 4 of their last 6 games, going from the last team in the NCAA tournament to the last team on the “Next Four Out” line of Joe Lunardi’s bracket prediction.

The Deacons are coming off a blowout loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the swan song for Cooper Flagg and the rest of the Devils in Cameron Indoor this season. In an extremely physical opening minutes, the teams were tied at 2 at the under 16 minute media timeout and the Deacons had a 4-2 lead at the 14 minute mark of the first half. The Deacs last lead of the game was 6-5 before the Blue Devils turned up the heat on the offensive end. The Devils had a 40-27 lead at the half and took home a 93-60 victory. The Blue Devils successfully shut down Cameron Hildreth who did not score a single point in the matchup. Hunter Salis was held in single digits with 9. The Deacons were led by Ty-Laur Johnson and Efron Reid’s 14 points.

The Yellow Jackets have run through the bottom of the ACC standings as of late and have won 5 of their last 6 games, including a 3 game win streak. Lance Terry of the Yellow Jackets led Georgia Tech in their latest win over the Miami Hurricanes scoring 31 points in the Jackets 89-74 victory. The Jackets shot 45% from three behind Terry’s 6-11 performance from deep. Baye Ndongo added 22 points for the Yellow Jackets. 

Key Points:

Wake

• Effort- The Deacs need to go 110% for the full 40 minutes. Along with a win, they need to pass the “eye-test” and soundly beat the Yellow Jackets.
• Senior Night (Day)- Hunter Salis, Efton Reid, and Cameron Hildreth have been the cornerstone of the Deacs turnaround of the last few seasons. They need to play like it, and their teammates and fans need to support them to get their best. Go out like a lion, not a lamb, 
• Play your game. The three pointer has not been there this season and will not magically come today. Dominate the paint and mid-range and build momentum going into the ACC tournament.

Georgia Tech

• Lean on experience- the Yellow Jackets have had a knack for taking out superior teams in the last few seasons. The Jackets love to play villain and they can put the final nail in the Deacs coffin 
• Make the three- The Jackets are coming off an incredible three point shooting game going 45% from the arc against the Hurricanes. The Deacs are still incapable of making the shot and a significant difference in three pointers give the Jackets the W
• Take the energy out of the Joel- It’s senior night and the Deacs and their fans are looking to send Salis, Hildreth and Reid out on a positive note. Swing the momentum early and the will of the Deacs will follow shortly.