Preview: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Preview:   Wake Forest Demon Deacons

WBB Website

January 15 Update:  

The Demon Deacons are 7-9 overall and 0-5 in conference.  Best games were a 76-81 loss in overtime to a solid 12-5 Louisville team, and their last road game losing 56-61 to the 12-4 Virginia Tech.  Minutes are distributed with 9 players averaging 18.8 minutes per game or more.  

Scoring is also distributed with their top scorer, #21 Elise Williams, averaging 10.9 ppg and their 5th highest scorer averaging 8.2 ppg.  Their team averages 61.5 ppg and opponents are being held to 59.9 ppg.   

Last Season:   7-25 and 2 –16 in league play

Started this season 6-3 playing a weak schedule. 5 players are averaging about 10 ppg, led by Rylie Theuerkauf, a 5-9 Soph Guard, at 10.1 ppg

The Coaches:  

Megan Gebbia is the Head Coach and in her 3^rd year.  History of recent Wake Forest: 17 wins in Gebbia’s first season 2022-23 tied for the most wins since 2011-12.

Nikki Flores is in her 3^rd year.

Millette Green is in her 3^rd year.

Emily Stallings is in her 3^rd year.

 

Losses:  

Kaia Harrison scored 9 ppg.

Alexandria Scruggs scored 7 ppg.

Kate Deeble scored 6 ppg. 

 

 Additions:

Aurora Sorbye, 5-9 Frosh Guard

Kennedy Moore, 6-2 Frosh Forward.

Tamia Jones, 5-8 Grad Student Guard transfer from SMU.  Jones averaged 9 points and 4 assists.  Thus far Jones is averaged 10 ppg.

Emily Johns, 6-1 Grad Student Forward transfer from American where she averaged 12 ppg.

 

Schedule:      

St Johns plus Villanova who they lost to 64-56.

 

The Team:

Alyssa Andrews, 6-0 Sr Wing who averaged 3 points and 4 rebounds.

Makaela Quimby, 5-9 Soph Guard who played little however ranked top 30 out of HS by Blue Star.

Raegyn Conley, 6-0 SR Wing who averaged 5 ppg.

Malaya Cowles, 6-3 Redshirt JR Forward who averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Rylie Theuerkauf, 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 4 ppg.   Thus far she is averaging 10 ppg.

Elise Williams, 5-9 SR Guard who averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Madisyn Jordan, 6-1 Soph Wing averaged 4 ppg.

DeMeara Hinds, 6-2 Redshirt SR Forward who averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds.

 

Prediction: 

Wake Forest will struggle. 

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Milan Brown, 5-9 Combo Guard

Caitlyn Jones, 5-8 Point Guard

Opal Bird 6-3 Forward from Australia           

Grace Galbavy, 6-0 Forward

 

  

Preview: Virginia Tech Hokies

 

Preview:   Virginia Tech Hokies

WBB Website

Last Season:   25-8 and 14 –4 in league play

 Feb 19 Update:

Virginia Tech is 16-9 on the season and 7-7 in conference play. Their net ranking is #46 vs Stanford's #48 net ranking.  Their conference losses are a road game to #9 Duke,  home losses to Florida State, Virginia and #1 Notre Dame, and a road loss to #14 NC State.  Their last game was a 72-67 road loss to #12 ranked North Carolina.    

Below is a 5 minute highlight video of that game against North Carolina

Virginia Tech has balance scoring led by four starters who average between 11.8 and 14.4 ppg, while their 5th starter averages 9.7 ppg. Their leading rebounder, #4 Rose Micheaux averages 8 mpg followed by #10 Carys Baker with 6.4 rpg.

The team is scoring 75.5 ppg while holding opponents to 68.2 ppg.  They are dangerous from 3-point range averaging 37.7%, with 5 players hitting between 38% and 52% of their 3 pointers.

 Stanford's road game against Virginia Tech may come down to who shoots better from three point range.  Given their similar net rankings it should be a fairly close game that would be a great road win for Stanford.  Having a healthy Nunu back could be a game changer.

Click on image to enlarge

The Coaches:  Megan Duffy is the Head Coach in her first season.  She was the Head Coach at Marquette for 5 years and played at Notre Dame.

Itoro Coleman is the Associate Head Coach in her first season after coaching at North Carolina.

Sharnee Zoll-Norman is in her first year after several seasons at Penn State.

Jen Hoover is in her first season.  Hoover was for 10 years the Head Coach at Wake Forest and before that an assistant at Cal for several years.

 

Losses:

Head Coach Kenny Brooks moved to Kentucky as the Head Coach.

Clara Strack, 6’5, C, Fr. (4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) → Kentucky

Georgia Amoore, 5’6, G, Sr. (18.8 ppg, 6.8 apg) → Kentucky

Elizabeth Kitley who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Cayra King who averaged 7 ppg.

 

Additions:

Leila Wells, 5-9 Frosh Guard

Myah Haxelton, 6-4 Frosh Forward/Post

Ramiya White, 6-5 Frosh Post

Kayl Petersen, 6-0 Frosh Wing

Lani White, 5-11 JR Guard transfer from Utah

 

Schedule:

Iowa who they lost to 52-71.  Rutgers who they beat 91-80.  Michigan and Georgia.

 

The Team:

Carleigh Wenzel, 6-0 Redshirt Soph Guard who averaged 4 ppg.  Weenzel is averaging 14 ppg thus far.

Mackenzie Nelson, 5-8 Redshirt Soph Guard who sat out last season.  Nelson was ranked # 65 out of HS.

Rose Micheaux, 6-2 SR Forward who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds.  However at Minnesota as Soph she averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds.  Micheaux is averaging 14 ppg and 9 rebounds thus far.  

Carys Baker, 6-2 Soph Forward who averaged 3 ppg.

Matilta Ekh, 6-0 SR Wing who averaged 10 ppg and made 78 threes at 40%.

Samyha Suffren, 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 7 minutes per game. 

 

Prediction:

Losing 53 points hurts, but new successful coach in Duffy.  The returning players averaged just 21 ppg.   It’s certainly a rebuilding year.  

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Kate Sears 5-9 Point Guard, ranked # 87

Amani Jenkins, 6-2 Post, ranked # 81

Aniya Trent, 6-3 Wing

 

Preview: Virginia Cavaliers

Preview:   Virginia Cavaliers

WBB Website

Last Season:   16-16 and 7 –11 in league play

Virginia started the season 4-1 however the loss to Oklahoma was by 44 points. 

The Coaches:

Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is the Head Coach and in her 3^rd year after Head Coach at Missouri State for 3 years and before that Assistant at Michigan State.

CJ Jones is in his 3^rd year. 

Tori Jankoska is in her 3^rd year.

Alysiah Bond is in her 3^rd year.

 

Losses:

Camryn Taylor averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds.

London Clarkson averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds.

Sam Brunelle averaged 6 points.  

Kaydan Lawson, 6′, G, Sr. (2.1 ppg) → Seton Hall

Cady Pauley, 5’11, G, Soph. (2.9 ppg) → Missouri State

Alexia Smith, 5’8, G, Sr. (4.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) → Oklahoma State

Mir McLean, 5’11, G, Sr. (12.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg) → Maryland

 

Additions:

Rylee Grays, 6-4 Soph Post transfer from North Carolina where she played just 5 games.

Hawa Doumbouya, 6-7 Soph Post who transferred from Maryland where she played little.

Casey Valenti-Paea, 5-9 Grad Student Guard transfer from Long Beach State and before that 3 years at Buffalo.  Last season at LBS she averaged 9 ppg.

Kamryn Kitchen, 5-9 Frosh Guard

Payton Dunbar, 5-11 Frosh Guard

Breona Hurd, 6-2 Frosh Forward.  Hurd had averaged 13 ppg after the first 5 games. 

Latasha Lattimore, 6-4 SR Post who transferred from Miami where she averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds.  Lattimore played at Texas prior to Miami.  

 

Schedule:   Oklahoma who they lost to 95-51.  They also play Auburn and Washington State. 

 

Team:

Paris Clark 5-8 JR Guard who transferred from Arizona a year ago.  Last season at Virginia Clark averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds.

Jillian Brown, 5-10 SR guard who is out for the year after averaging 5 ppg last season. 

Yonya Vaughn, 5-8 JR Guard who averaged 3 ppg.

Edessa Noyan, 6-3 Soph Forward from Sweden.  Last season Noyan averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds. 

Kymora Johnson, 5-7 Soph Guard who averaged 15 points and 5 assists and was 2^nd team All ACC.  Johnson has averaged 18 ppg after the first 5 games. 

Taylor Lauterbach, 6-7 Grad Student Post who averaged 1 point and 2 rebounds.  

 

Prediction:

They lost 48 points from last season players so a rebuilding year for Virginia

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Gabby White, 5-10 Guard from NC.

  

Preview: Syracuse Orange

 

Preview:   Syracuse Orange

WBB Website

Last Season:   24-8 and 13-5 in league play

Syracuse has started the season 2-2

Feb 12 update:

Syracuse is 10-13 on the season and is 4-8 in conference play.  Their net ranking is 81 while Stanford is 41 so at home Stanford is the favorite.  Syracuse is 6-7 at home, 3-5 on the road and 1-1 at neutral sites.  They are coming off two road wins over Virginia Tech (93-87) and Wake Forest (62-50).  The Virginia Tech win was perhaps their best win of the season, and a 67-74 loss to #14 NC State in late January was their best loss.

The season stats below shows that the minutes played is spread as 13 players average playing more than 11 minutes per game.  Georgia Woodley is their leading scorer with 15 ppg while only hitting 35.5% of her shots.  Kyra Wood provides inside scoring with 12 ppg with a 53.9% FG percentage.  Wood is their leading rebounder with 7.3 per game.  Sophie Burrows averages 11.6 ppg and she leads the team in 3-pts made with 50 while hitting at a 38.9% clip.

Syracuse averages 71.5 ppg while opponents are averaging 71.4 ppg.  This is a very winnable game that likely will be a close game.

Click on image to enlarge

The Coaches:  

Felisha Legette-Jack is in her 3^rd year as the Head Coach.  Legette-Jack has been a Head Coach for 22 years.

Kristen Sharkey is in her 3^rd year as Associate Head Coach.   Sharkey has played or coached with Legette-Jack for the play 10 years.

Khyreed Carter is in his 3^rd year at Syracuse.

Ty Evans is in his first year.

 

Losses: 

Dyaisha Fair who averaged 22 ppg and 115 threes just over half of the team total.

Alaina Rice who averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds. 

Marilena Triantafilly, 6’5, C, Fr. (0.8 ppg) → Saint Louis

Kennedi Perkins, 5’6, G, Soph. (2.6 ppg) → Marquette

Cheyenne McEvans, 5’9, G, Sr. (2.8 ppg) → Florida A&M

Alyssa Latham, 6’2, F, Fr. (8.6 ppg, 7 rpg) → Tennessee

 

Additions:

Keira Scott, 6-1 Frosh Forward

Shy Hawkins, 6-2 Frosh Wing

Madeline Potts, 6-0 Frosh Guard from Australia.

Olivia Schmitt, 5-5 Frosh Guard                  

 

Schedule:

Maryland, Texas A&M and Missouri are the highlights. 

 

The Team:

Sophie Burrows, 6-2 Soph Wing who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds. 

Dominique Camp, 5-8 Grad Student Guard who missed last season at Syracuse with injuries.  However the season before she averaged 10 points and 4 assists at Akron.

Lexie McNabb, 5-7 JR Guard who averaged 1 ppg.

Journey Thompson, 6-3 JR Forward.

Georgia Woolley, 6-0 SR Guard who averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds.  In the first 4 games this season Woolley is averaging 16 ppg.   

Angelica Velez, 5-7 Soph Guard

Izabel Varejao, 6-4 Grad Student Post who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds.

Saniaa Wilson, 6-0 SR Forward who averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds.

Kyra Wood, 6-3 SR Forward who averaged 6 points and 7 rebounds.   In the first 4 games of this season Wood is averaging 13 ppg thus far.

 

Prediction: Preseason ranked 11th in ACC out of 18 teams 

2025 Recruiting:  

Jasmyn Cooper, 6-1 Wing from MA. Ranked # 48.

Camdyn Nelson, 5-8 Point Guard from CT

Justus Fitzgerald, 6-1 Wing from GA

 

Preview: SMU Mustangs

  

Preview:   SMU Mustangs

WBB Website

Last Season:   14-16 and 8-10 in league play.  SMU is new to the ACC.    

Dec 21 UPDATE: SMU is 8-5 this season with wins coming against  easiest teams and losses to ASU, Minnesota, Missouri, Florida State and Old Dominion.  Best road loss against a good Florida State team 85-93 and best win over Texas Tech.  Team is 6-1 at home and 1-3 on the road and 1-1 on neutral site.  

Nia Robertson is averaging 20.1 ppg, Chantae Embry 12.6 ppg, and Jessica Peterson is a force with 10.8 ppg and 12.2 rebounds per game.

The Coaches:  

Toyelle Wilson is the Head Coach in her 4^th season.

Deneed Parker is the Associate Head Coach in her 2^nd season however in years before she spent 21 years at SMU as an assistant.  

Danielle Edwards is in her 5th year.

Anthony Anderson is in his 3^rd year.

Alex Furr is in her 2^nd year.

Losses:   

Reagan Bradley who averaged 9 ppg.

Tiara Young who averaged 17 points and 5 rebounds. 

Jiya Perry, 5’10, G, Soph. (3.1 ppg) → Delaware

Maya Chandler, 5’7, G, Sr. (5 ppg) transfer

Tamia Jones, 5’8, G, Sr. (9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.1 apg) transfer

Amirah Abdur-Rahim, 6’3, F, Sr. (11.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) to Texas A&M

Plus two who didn’t play much transferred 

 

Additions:

Nya Robertson a 5-7 JR Guard transfer from George Washington where she averaged 16 ppg.   In her first game this current season she scored 21 points. Roberston scored 29 points in Game # 2.

Kayanna Cox, 5-10 Frosh Guard who was outstandimg in basketball, volleyball and Track & Field in HS. 

Zanai Jones, Sr Guard a transfer from Villanova where she averaged 6 ppg.   

Kaysia Woods, 6-0 SR Wing transfer from Xavier where she averaged 7 ppg.

Sandra Magolico, 6-2 SR  Forward transfer from ASU where she averaged 1 ppg.

Nicole Rodriguez, 5-8 Grad Student Guard transfer from Loyola Marymount where she averaged 10 ppg.

Kylie Marshall, 5-11 Soph Guard transfer from Texas A&M where she averaged 4 minutes per game.  

Brianna McLeod, 6-3 JR Post transfer from Colorado where she averaged one ppg. 

 

Schedule:

ASU, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas Tech are the highlights.

 

The Team: 

TK Pitts, 6-1 JR Wing who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds. 

Ella Brow, 5-8 Soph Guard who missed last season with injuries.  As a Frosh at SMU she averaged 4 ppg.

Donavia Hall, 5-10 JR Guard who averaged 1 ppg.

Chantae Embry, 6-1 Forward who averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds.

Jessica Peterson, 6-2 SR Post who missed last season with injuries.  The season before she averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds.   In her first game this season she had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

 

 

Prediction:

Lost to Old Dominion Saturday.  Preseason ranked is 16 in the ACC

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Sania Richardson, 5-5 PG from Oklahoma.

Alba Caballero, from Spain.

Mireia Jurado, 6-0 Guard from Spain 

Preview: Pittsburgh Panthers

 

Preview:   Pitt Panthers

WBB Website

Last Season:   8-24 and 2 –16 in league play.  Returned only 4 players.

January 28 Update: 

Stanford's next home game on Thursday, Jan 30 at 7 pm will be against Pittsburgh which has a 9-12 overall record and is 1-7 in conference play.  The Panthers have a net ranking of 155 vs Stanford's 44.  

Their only conference win was 72-59 over SMU at home and their best loss at 56-65 was to a very good Louisville team at home.  

Their top 5 scorers are shown below - click on image to enlarge.

We should expect to win this home match-up coming off the close loss to Cal in which Stanford employed a season first full court press in the 2nd half to close a 19 point deficit to 3 points at game end.

Coaches:  Troy Verdi is the Head Coach and in his 2^nd season.

Candice Finley is in her first season.

John Marcum is in his first season.  

Devan Newman also in his first season.  

Anthony Brammer is in his first season.

 

Losses:   Lost 4 transfers

Two who totaled 5 ppg transferred out.

Rapuluchi Ayodele averaged 6 ppg and transferred to Seton Hall.

Liatu King averaged 18 ppg and transferred to Notre Dame.

Jaya Jordan averaged 8 ppg.

 

 

Additions 7 transfers, 2 freshmen: 

Brooklynn Miles, 5-5 SR Guard Transfer from Kentucky who averaged 6 ppg. 

Amiya Jenkins, 5-10 JR Guard transfer from Kentucky who averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds.

MaKayla Elmore, 6-3 SR Forward transfer from Clemson who averaged 4 points and 5 rebounds.

Bella Perkins, 5-9 SR Guard transfer from USC where she averaged 8 ppg and made 52 Threes. 

Kiaia Williams, 6-0 Frosh Wing from Florida, sadly will miss the season with a knee injury.

Audrey Biggs, 6-0 Frosh Guard from KY 

Raevan Boswell, 5-11 JR Guard who transferred from Ga Tech.  Boswell who played just 8 games last season.

Khadija Faye, 6-4 Grad Student Post who transferred from Texas.  Faye payed at Texas Tech before Texas.   Faye averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds last season.

Mikayla Johnson, 6-1 Redshirt Soph Wing who transferred from Colorado.   Johnson scored 29 points on the season last year. 

 

Schedule:

Kansas and Auburn are the highlights.

 

The Team:  

Aaryn Battle, 5-10 Soph Guard who averaged 5 ppg.

Marley Washenitz, 5-7 JR Guard who averaged 4 ppg. 

Lauren Rust, 6-0 Soph Forward who averaged 3 minutes per game. 

Aislin Malcolm, 5-10 JR Guard who averaged 9 ppg.  

 

Prediction: Projected to finish last in the ACC.  

 

2025 Recruiting:  6 recruits, 5 from other countries

Macie Arzner, 5-11 Guard from Oregon.

Theresa Hagans, 5-8 Guard from Canada

Angela Le Faou, 5-11 Wing from Spain

Jayda Queeley, 5-10 PG from Canada

Divine Tumba, 6-3 Forward from Canada

Meredith Venner, 6-2 Forward from Colombia 

 

Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

  

Preview:   Notre Dame

WBB Website

Last Season:   28-7 and 13 –5 in league play

Feb 6 Update:

The #3 ranked Notre Dame team is a contender for the national championship with a 19-2 record and 10-0 in ACC play.  They are led by the brilliant guard, Hannah Hidalgo who is consider a national player of the year candidate.  She averages 26.1 ppg on 50.1% shooting while hitting 42.5% of her 3-point shots, and will receive consideration as the national defensive.

But the team is loaded with a number of other top players.  The team averages 87 ppg while holding opponents to 62.1 ppg.  It would be a major upset if Stanford could beat the Irish on the road.

Included below is a 6 minute highlight video of Notre Dame's win over Louisville.

The Coaches:  

Niele Ivey is in her 4^th season as the Head Coach

Carol Owens is the Associate Head Coach and in her 25 season at Notre Dame.

Michaela Mabrey is in her 6 th season

Charel Allen is in her 3rd season.

 

Losses: 

Marshall who averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds and transferred to Miami.

 

Additions:

Kate Koval, 6-5 Frosh Post ranked # 5 out of HS.

Liatu King, 6-0 Grad Student Wing transfer from Pitt.  King averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds last season at Pitt.

Liza Karlen, 6-2 Grad Student Forward who transferred from Marquette.   Last Season Karlen averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds at Marquette.

 

Schedule: Notre Dame plays a strong schedule outside the ACC

The Team:  

Hannah Hidalgo, 5-6 Soph Guard who averaged 22 points and 4 steals per game.  She's a pre=season All-American.

Olivia Miles, 5-10 JR in elgibility however already a Grad Student. Out last season with an injury however averaged 14 points, 67 assists per game the previous season.

Sonia Citron, 6-0 SR Wing who averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds.

Mandy Westbeld, 6-3 Grad Student Forward who averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Kylee Watson, 6-4 SR Post who averaged 6 points and 3 rebounds.

Cassandre Prosper, Soph Wing who averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds last season.

KK Bransford, 5-11 JR Guard who averaged 7 ppg.

Sarah Cernugel, 5-4 Guard Grad Student who averaged one ppg.  

Emma Risch, 6-1 Soph Wing.  Only played 7 games last season averaged 4 ppg before a hip injury ended her season.  Emma was ranked # 20 out of HS.

 

Prediction:  Pre season rank is # 4.   A definite candidate to win the national title.

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Leah Macy 6-3 Wing/Forward from KY, ranked # 16.