2000-01 record: 19-11; 8-8 in ACC (5th) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Butler 79-63 in first round of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Howard 13.6 ppg | Rebounds: Songaila 6.0 rpg | Assists: Murray 2.9 apg | FG %: Songaila 50.0% | 3pt %: Howard 39.1% | FT %: Songaila 81.6% 00-01 Stats: Wake Forest | ACC

		Wed., Oct. 31 The single biggest key for Wake Forest is adapting to a new style of play. Skip Prosser has talent with Darius Songaila and Josh Howard leading the way, but the Deacons need to learn the mindset of pressing up instead of getting back, and it will take great mental toughness to stick with it through the inevitable tough times the ACC schedule brings.

Outlook
Skip Prosser gets the chance to do what Dave Odom could not -- get the Deacons over the post-Tim Duncan hump.

Prosser will be starting over at center, with four-year regulars Josh Shoemaker and Rafael Vidaurreta gone, but power forward Darius Songaila (13.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) back after what was, frankly, a disappointing junior season. Many ACC observers expected the 6-foot-9 Lithuanian to emerge as a dominant player last season. Maybe this is the year. Still, he wasn't bad.

Josh Howard (13.6 ppg), a 6-7 junior small forward, also has an NBA future after making a huge improvement last season. Senior Antwan Scott (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) is what he is -- a potent scorer, a great athlete, a decent rebounder and a struggling defender. Freshman forwards Jamal Levy and Vytas Danelius will be asked to contribute immediately.

As with Virginia's Hand and Clemson's Solomon, Wake Forest's loss of Robert O'Kelley could be -- maybe, maybe not -- an example of addition by subtraction. O'Kelley's shooting stroke was a game-by-game distraction for the Deacons, and without it to worry about, maybe seniors like Craig Dawson (12.5 ppg) and Broderick Hicks (6.8 ppg) will feel free to score more. Senior Ervin Murray (3.23 assist-turnover ratio) probably won't feel that way, but he's not a scorer. He's a steady hand and a 6-5 defender.

Freshman guard Taron Downey has been a high-scorer in college and prep school, and 6-5 Northwestern transfer Steve Lepore becomes eligible with the reputation for sweet shooting.

What we like: Prosser's first team is awfully deep and experienced on the perimeter, and Howard and Songaila give it the right amount of star power. If someone can help Songaila on the boards, watch out.

What we don't like: Winning with a freshman center won't be easy for the Deacons, especially with Songaila's penchant for finding early foul trouble.

The bottom line: The Deacons have the talent to get to the NCAA tournament, but they could find themselves struggling to finish in the top six in the ACC.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Josh Howard	Jr.	F	6-6/207	PTS: 13.6 | REB: 5.9 | AST: 1.8
Darius Songaila	Sr.	F	6-9/243	PTS: 13.2 | REB: 6.0 | AST: 1.7
Craig Dawson	Sr.	G	6-5/206	PTS: 12.5 | REB: 2.2 | AST: 2.0
Broderick Hicks	Sr.	G	6-1/177	PTS: 6.9 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 2.6

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Robert O'Kelley	G	6-1/184	PTS: 12.6 | REB: 1.5 | AST: 2.6
Josh Shoemaker	C	6-9/237	PTS: 6.0 | REB: 7.4 | AST: 1.7

Wake Forest Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Vytas Danelius	F	6-7	Indianapolis-Park Tudor (Ind.)
Jamaal Levy	F	6-8	Homestead-Berkshire (Fla.)
Tayron Downey	G	6-1	Fork Union Military Academy (Va.)
Dshamal Schoetz	C	7-0	Cottbus, Germany/High Point Wesleyan Academy