This article represents the view of Nat Wiegmann, not the Old Gold & Black.
The Demon Deacons once again found themselves on the outside looking in after not hearing their name called during the NCAA Tournament selection show. This marks the eighth consecutive year without a tournament appearance and the fourth straight season in which Wake Forest was in contention for a bid but ultimately fell short.
However, this year’s disappointment stings more than most. With the return of three key starters (Hunter Sallis, Efton Reid, and Cameron Hildreth), expectations were high among fans who believed this would be the year the program would return to the Big Dance. It doesn’t help that the team finished with their best record in the ACC since 2009, finishing at 13-7, finishing fourth in the ACC, and still missed the tournament.
Wake Forest was firmly on the right side of the bubble after a road win at SMU on February 15, but down the stretch, familiar issues resurfaced. The Demon Deacons dropped four of their final six games, squandering their tournament hopes. Time and time again, when it has mattered most, Wake has struggled to win the games it needs to secure a bid.
The frustration was only magnified when the program declined an NIT invitation—further proof that neither the team nor its fans view anything short of an NCAA Tournament berth as good enough. At this point, just being in the conversation isn’t enough; the expectation is to make the field, not settle for consolation prizes.
Lots of big questions now arise for this program. With Hunter Sallis, Efton Reid, and Cameron Hildreth all graduating, the Demon Deacons will lose three starters who averaged 40 points a game and were the heart and soul of the team these last 2 years. Their departures leave significant holes on both ends of the floor.
The offseason hit even harder when three young guards (Parker Friedrichsen, Davin Cosby, and Ty-Laur Johnson) all entered the transfer portal shortly after the season ended. While not all were major contributors this year, they were expected to play important roles in the future.
With only one incoming freshman, Isaac Carr, the Deacs will once again need to lean heavily on the transfer portal to rebuild the roster. Steve Forbes has had success in the portal before, but the pressure is now higher than ever. Another bubble season won’t cut it—Wake Forest fans are desperate to see their team back in the NCAA Tournament.
Forbes has made Wake relevant again, but until the Deacs break their tournament drought, “close” won’t be enough. The clock is ticking.
