Wake Forest Basketball: Where Did They Go Wrong?

The Atlantic Coast Conference has been known for their dominance in basketball. Even with the growing strength in football, the ACC has been a basketball conference and will always be one. There are four teams that truly defined the ACC and basketball specifically: North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, and Wake Forest.

Nov 27, 2012; Winston Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard C.J. Harris (11) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

However, it has been some time since anyone has heard from Wake Forest and seen them as contenders in anything.

The Demon Deacons have not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 under the reigns of Dino Gaudio where they 20-11 overall and were eliminated in the second round of the tournament.

Their last ACC championship came in 1996.

Since the days of Dave Odom where they were truly a team that could contend, the Demon Deacons really have not been what they used to be.

The four big North Carolina schools that define the ACC and basketball have really been condensed to two: North Carolina and Duke.

Until the resurgence of State under Mark Gottfried, State had really struggled to make a challenge in the ACC for several years too.

So is it a coaching or recruiting issue? Or has North Carolina, Duke, and State figured out how to move on and advance with the times while Wake Forest is struggling?

It seems Roy Williams and North Carolina have figured out how to win despite facing adversity. Coach K and Duke has done the same thing many times before as well. However, Wake Forest in the past two seasons has become the laughing stock of ACC & North Carolina basketball.

I think Wake Forest really needs to fire Bzdelik and look at who can really recruit and other younger coaches that have true potential. The Deacons need some fuel under their fire and soon!