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Behind Enemy Lines: Q&A with Wake Forest's Blogger So Dear

It's Hoos-Deacs redux, this time in Winston-Salem

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Oh these guys again. After a short interval between games against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, we had some fun with this version of Behind Enemy Lines. Blogger So Dear asked us questions as well; see our answers over on their site.

STL: Ol' Dinos just torched us last time out, and seems to have found his stride as of late. What's been the biggest difference you've seen in him the last month or so?

BSD: The thing that Coach Manning has done exceptionally well in his first year is make sure players know their role and they stick to it. Dinos is out there to hit threes, rebound the ball, and block some shots. He is the typical stretch four. Playing within himself has paid dividends over the past few games and he has avoided the freshman wall up to this point.

STL: Devin Thomas, on the other hand, was pretty much a non-factor, playing only 16 minutes and logging a whopping 3 points. But he busted out of his slump in a big way against Notre Dame. What's the determining factor in whether it's Good Devin or Bad Devin on the floor any given night? How early can you tell which one it's going to be?

BSD: Devin Thomas is an enigma for sure. He is one of the more passionate players to ever play the game for Wake Forest. You have to take the good (Notre Dame, Louisville, Duke) with the bad (UVA, Delaware State, Georgia Tech). He has made strides in his demeanor and temper from last year but still struggles with them. You can tell pretty early on if he is clicking or not. Against ND he had 6 and 6 at the 15 minute mark. If he is scoreless at the under 16 it could be a long night individually.

STL: Aside from Mitoglou, all of Wake's freshmen played important minutes against Virginia. Who has been the most impressive to you as their debut season nears its end? Who has the brightest future?

BSD: Coach Manning brought Dinos, Crab, Wilbekin, and the grad transfer Leonard to Wake after he got the job. It was a great group given the limited time he had to recruit. They can all shoot the three ball and have been great contributors. I think that Hudson (Crab as we call him) may have the highest ceiling. He can knock down the three ball, has damn good athleticism, and if he can put a slashing mentality in his game will be a terror on the offensive end.

STL: If you were to assign Disney songs to a few of Wake's players, what would they be and why?

BSD:

  • Dinos: Zero to Hero (Hercules). He is Greek and also came out of nowhere.
  • Thomas: Circle of Life (Lion King). Circular play and inconsistent. Learning life lessons on and off the court.
  • Hudson: Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid). His nickname is Crab and it's definitely "better when he's wet(ter) shooting from three"
  • Miller-McIntyre: Can't Wait to be King (The Lion King). Been the guy for a couple of years now, next year he could have a big year.
  • STL: Verdict for the rematch?

    BSD: This one is tough. I think UVA will take the Deacs a little more seriously than they did last time, but it may be without Perrantes. Odds are that Mitoglou won't be as effective, and Thomas won't be as ineffective. Heck I'm going for the upset this week. Deacs 62, UVA 58.