Wake Forest Men's Basketball: The Ultimate Choking Machine

Well Dino Gaudio, what do you have to say for yourself?

After gaining a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Demon Deacons' first round match against the Cleveland State Vikings was supposed to be a breeze, right?

Sure Dino, sure.

Your fellow ACC lot from Florida State are not the jokes of the first round this year. I mean, it was ONLY Wisconsin that they lost to.

Nor is it Ohio State, who lost to Siena 74-72 in two overtimes, in an evenly-contested 8-9 match.

Dino, let it be known that you and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, after your 84-69 defeat, are given the title of "Ultimate Choking Machine" by yours truly.

Ouch. Pretty hard to take, isn't it?

I'm sure it is.

I mean, let's be serious, guy. How can L.D. Williams only get five points in 30 minutes of play? Or Ishmael Smith six in 26?

Your center, Tony Woods, wasn't even a factor with zero points.

Zero points?

Deil colic the warne o' ye, Dino!

The Vikings only have eight players on their team. Strength in numbers, maybe? You let former no-names like J'Nathan Bullock (21 points), Norris Cole (22 points) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, 3-4 from three-point range) school you?

Jeff Teague...where was he? He accounted for only 10 points.

Ten points from a future star in the NBA? That's it?

Sure, I will agree that your bench outplayed Cleveland, but if this were to be some kind of consolation for the "Old Gold and Black" students, boosters and alums in Miami, it's just as nice as a regifted holiday fruitcake with a questionable odor.

You'll need to take this on the chin, and mind you, the recrimination in Winston-Salem is being printed as we speak.

Of course, let's give credit to Cleveland State.

Coming from a city whose Cavaliers are in a race with the Lakers for the best record in the NBA, some inspiration from the hurler of chalk dust may have contributed to the dusting down of the Demon Deacons.

But as for you, Dino Gaudio, one can only speculate if your career or legacy is on the line, as your Demon Deacons and your season are sent to the dustbin after being pulverized by the Horizon League champions.

Someone give me an hourglass.