Demon Deacons Face Must-Win Situation Against Cavaliers Tonight

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Wake Forest Demon Deacons, standing at 19-8 overall and 11-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), will aim to rebound from a recent loss as they host the Virginia Cavaliers on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET at LJVM Coliseum. This matchup is critical for Wake Forest’s hopes of remaining relevant in NCAA Tournament discussions, especially after their disappointing 85-73 defeat to NC State on Saturday.

Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes emphasized the need for urgency following the recent loss, stating, “I didn’t think we came in with a sense of urgency.” The Deacons currently cling to fourth place in the ACC but recognize the challenge posed by a Virginia team that has also struggled recently, dropping its last two games. The Cavaliers, with a 13-14 record and 6-10 in the conference, need a victory to secure their standing ahead of the ACC tournament.

Virginia’s interim head coach Ron Sanchez pointed to defensive lapses in their previous game, a 81-66 defeat to North Carolina, explaining, “We have to contest the 3-point line better without fouling.” His team is looking to tighten that aspect as they prepare to face a Wake Forest squad that has not relied heavily on three-point shots, attempting just nine in their last game.

One bright spot for Wake Forest has been the return of key player Cameron Hildreth, who led the team with 16 points against NC State. His performance, alongside that of guard Isaac McKneely for Virginia, will be pivotal in the execution of each team’s game plan. McKneely has emerged as a scoring leader for the Cavaliers, having led the team in five of their last seven contests. His contribution will be crucial considering Virginia’s offensive struggles.

The teams met once before this season, where Wake suffered a narrow loss against the Cavaliers in their previous matchup, but both squads are navigating challenging stretches. Virginia’s uphill battle for a strong finish in conference play juxtaposes Wake’s aspirations of improving their NCAA Tournament resume, making tonight’s clash a must-watch for college basketball fans.