UNCW Ready For Road Test At Wake

UNCW makes its first road trip of the season tonight when the Seahawks travel up I-40 to take on ACC power Wake Forest. Coach Benny Moss and his young club hiked their record to 2-0 on the new season with a 107-95 decision over visiting Troy Monday night at Trask Coliseum.

For The Seahawks, Chad Tomko will be challenged to maintain his 30.0 points per game average, but UNCW will need him to step up offensively in every big game this year. Tomko is also averaging 4.5 rebounds/game and 6.0 assists/game. Transfer Johnny Wolf had to sit out last year and apparently missed scoring greatly; Through two games, the 6′2″ 185lb junior is averaging 23.5 points. Add in Dominique Lacy’s 22 points per game, and you can see that scoring won’t be the problem this year.

In games one and two of the ‘08-’09 season, UNCW faced teams willing to play an up-tempo style… they played right into the Seahawks’ trap. But in facing Wake, UNCW will have to battle, scrap, and make some stops.

In games one and two, UNCW went up against teams with small front lines… UNCW has been able to hold their own on the boards. But in facing Wake, the Seahawks’ weakness will be challenged. Can they make up for their lack of height? Dominique Lacy has averaged 10.5 rebounds per game so far, and freshman Jerel Stephenson snagged 12 rebounds against Troy, but these guys will be going up against a front line that goes 7′0″, 6′9″, 6′9″ and the Deacs have 6′11″ Tony Woods ready to come off the bench. 7′0″ Wilmington native Ty Walker should see some time as well.

The Seahawks have erased big deficits in each of their first two contests. UNCW trailed by 18 points with 3:10 remaining in the first half before rallying past Appalachian, 108-101, in overtime last Friday and then fell behind 49-33 to Troy. The better not try that strategy against Wake. They did beat ASU in OT and rallied for a 107-95 verdict on Monday against Troy, but against the Deacs, UNCW will have to be ready to play right from the opening tip. We should know if the Seahawks are capable of pulling the upset by the second media timeout. The first eight or so minutes will be crucial.

Wake 1-0

Wake Forest plays its second game of the 2008-09 campaign tonight after dispatching N.C. Central, 94-48, last Friday at Lawrence Joel. Freshman forward Al-Farouq Aminu had a spectacular debut, scoring 21 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. New Hanover alum Ty Walker chipped in with five points.

UNCW vs. Wake

UNCW and Wake Forest are meeting for the 11th time tonight.The Demon Deacons have won all 10 games in the series, but six of those contests have been decided by five points or less. UNCW and WFU have met the last two times in the NIT (1997-98) and Preseason NIT (2001-02).

Tonight’s game is the first in a four-game series between the Seahawks and Demon Deacons. The two clubs will meet in Wilmington next season before battling in Greensboro in

2010-11. The series returns to Lawrence Joel in 2011-12.

Road Ahead

Following tonight’s clash with Wake, the Seahawks embark on a five-game road trip, beginning with a Sun-day afternoon tipoff (4:30 p.m.) at Kent State. UNCW then plays at Texas A&M on Tuesday, Nov. 25, before moving down to the Texas coast to play in the South Padre Island Invitational.

-Information for this story provided by UNCW
-Photo credit courtesy Brian Westerholt

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT