Wake Forest Basketball

Steve Forbes has been Wake Forest's head coach for less than a full week, but he hasn't wasted any time in potentially making himself some enemies.

Demon Deacons center Olivier Sarr entered the transfer portal last Friday, with ESPN's Jeff Borzello noting Kentucky would likely be a suitor for the 7-footer.

In an interview with WSJS Sports Hub based in North Carolina, Forbes sent a shot across the bow of the Wildcats: "Why would you go to Wake for three years and put all that time in to get this prestigious degree and then end up getting your degree at a place like Kentucky? That's what I told him."

Forbes, who coached the last five seasons at East Tennessee State, added he meant "no disrespect to Kentucky" and "I obviously respect" the Wildcats. However, that's unlikely to change how his comment will be read in Lexington.

U.S. News & World Report placed Wake Forest 27th in its 2020 ranking of the best colleges, with Kentucky coming in 132nd. Granted, some question the value of the annual list as a barometer for the quality of education a student receives.

Forbes can't exactly lean on Wake Forest's on-court reputation in a competition with Kentucky.

The Demon Deacons have made the NCAA tournament once since 2010 and finished with a winning record just twice during that span. Wake, which finished 13-18 last season, fired former star player Danny Manning after six years.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, are a tournament mainstay and regularly send players on to the NBA. The school had three players (PJ Washington, Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson) selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft.

Sarr was second on Wake in scoring (13.7) and first in rebounds (9.0) as a junior in 2019-20.

Losing him to Kentucky or another school would be a big blow for Forbes as he looks to turn the program around. If Forbes can convince the Frenchman to stick around, it would be a great endorsement for his vision in 2020-21 and beyond.

Wake Forest center Olivier Sarr is entering the transfer portal following the school's hiring of Steve Forbes as its head basketball coach this week.

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Sarr explained he initially planned to return for his senior season after speaking with former head coach Danny Manning:

"What happened was I wanted to test the [NBA draft] waters. I requested the UAC [Undergraduate Advisory Committee]. I tried to test the waters; then I had a conversation with Coach, and he convinced me to stay and get my degree. He had plans for me. I was going to do great things in the ACC, with the team and individually of course. It was late April; Coach was going to stay. Then 24-48 hours before the [draft] deadline, Coach got fired. I didn't get the chance to put my name in and change my mind."

Wake Forest Director of Athletics John Currie announced April 25 that Danny Manning had been fired after six seasons with the program.

Currie said the decision came after a "comprehensive review of the men's basketball program." The Demon Deacons went 78-111 with one NCAA tournament appearance under Manning.

Borzello noted that Sarr will be the top transfer target this spring, though the French center didn't rule out returning to Wake Forest.

"I want to give Wake Forest a chance and listen to what [Forbes] has to say," Sarr said. "I'm entering the transfer portal because I want to listen to all the options. I want to be able to pick my own coach, not have one chosen for me."

Despite not being able to graduate before transferring, Sarr did say "there's no way I sit out" for a year.

The NCAA Board of Directors has recommended delaying a proposal to adopt a one-time transfer waiver in time for the 2020-21 academic year, but Sarr could potentially receive a transfer waiver exception to play next season if he goes to another school.

Sarr (7'0", 255 lbs) averaged 13.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 30 games (26.7 MPG) as a junior.

Wake Forest called upon the services of Oklahoma City Thunder star Chris Paul and San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan as part of the search to find a new head basketball coach, according to 247Sports' Evan Daniels.

The Demon Deacons announced last week they fired Danny Manning. Daniels reported they will hire Steve Forbes as Manning's replacement. Forbes has spent the past five seasons at East Tennessee State, compiling a 130-43 record.

While it's unclear how much work Paul and Duncan did to vet Forbes specifically, Daniels noted the two interviewed coaching candidates on Zoom.

Duncan played four years for the Demon Deacons, helping them reach the Sweet 16 in 1995 and Elite Eight in 1996.

"We don't make it this far without the people around us," Duncan said in November 2017 as he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. "Wake Forest gave me the opportunity. Coach [Dave] Odom gave me the opportunity, probably to a kid that didn't deserve it. But I made the most of it."

Paul was Wake's starting point guard for two years before making the jump to the NBA. The team reached the Sweet 16 in 2004, his freshman season.

In August 2018, he donated $2.5 million to the program.

By virtue of getting the job, Forbes seemingly received the seal of approval from Duncan and Paul. Getting endorsements from two famous alumni would help him hit the ground running with the fanbase.

East Tennessee State head basketball coach Steve Forbes is reportedly leaving the school to accept the same position at Wake Forest.

Jeff Goodman of Stadium reported Thursday that Forbes will be the Demon Deacons' choice to replace Danny Manning, who was fired Saturday after six seasons, "barring a collapse in negotiations."

"After a comprehensive review of the men's basketball program, and with the support of president [Nathan] Hatch and university leadership, I have determined that it is time for a change in our head coaching position," athletic director John Currie said in a statement Saturday.

Currie previously crossed paths with Forbes when he was the executive associate athletic director at Tennessee and Forbes was an assistant on the Volunteers' coaching staff.

The 55-year-old Iowa native led East Tennessee State to a 30-4 record in 2019-20 with regular-season and postseason championships in the Southern Conference. The Buccaneers would have represented the SoCon in the 2020 NCAA tournament, but it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Forbes received the 2020 Hugh Durham Award as the top mid-major coach in the country.

"My mom asked me who voted on it, and I said one person," Forbes jokingly told Joe Avento of the Johnson City Press. "Seriously, any time you get those kind of awards, it's a reflection of your players and staff. I'm very honored to receive something like that, as honored as I am to coach these players and work with the guys I work with. Everybody shares in that."

The Southern Arkansas University product served as head coach at Southwestern Community College in Iowa, Barton County Community College in Kansas and Northwest Florida State College during a coaching career that started in 1989 and has included numerous stops as an assistant.

He's led the East Tennessee State program since March 2015.

Forbes guided the Bucs to a 130-43 record (.751 winning percentage) with two NCAA tournament berths across five years. They lost to Florida as a No. 13 seed in the first round of the 2017 Big Dance.

He'll take over from Manning, who only generated one winning season in six years at Wake and finished his tenure with a 78-111 mark.

Wake Forest head basketball coach Danny Manning was fired after six seasons with the Demon Deacons.

Stadium's Jeff Goodman and CBS Sports' Gary Parrish both reported the news Saturday, and Wake Forest athletic director John Currie later announced the coaching change.

"After a comprehensive review of the men's basketball program, and with the support of president [Nathan] Hatch and university leadership, I have determined that it is time for a change in our head coaching position," he said.

The announcement included a statement from Manning about the decision:

"I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to lead the Wake Forest men's basketball program. I am very proud of the numerous student-athletes I had the pleasure of coaching, especially the student-athletes who earned their degrees. I am particularly thankful for all of the hard work my staff has put in through the years. I am so grateful to the Wake Forest community, who have made Winston-Salem a special home for my family and I from the second we stepped on campus in 2014. I wish the program nothing but success going forward."

Associate head coach Randolph Childress will take over the program on an interim basis.

Manning was a standout forward at the University of Kansas before getting selected with the first overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

After a 15-year playing career, he joined the Jayhawks' coaching staff in 2003. He became a head coach for the first time at Tulsa in 2012 and accepted the Wake Forest job in April 2014.

"I first met Danny Manning in college, and our son played for him at Wake Forest. Our family has been beyond fortunate that our son has had Danny Manning as his coach, mentor and role model," ESPN's Jay Bilas wrote on Twitter. "Manning is one of the finest people I've known in this business. First class, always."

The Deacs struggled to find consistent success under the 53-year-old Mississippi native, though.

Wake Forest posted a 78-111 record during his tenure with five losing seasons in six years. It went 19-14 during the 2016-17 campaign to earn an NCAA tournament berth.

Manning previously led the Golden Hurricane to a 38-29 mark across two years at Tulsa with a Conference USA championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 2013-14.

Carl Tacy, former basketball coach at Wake Forest and Marshall, died Thursday at the age of 87. 

Per the Associated Press, Tacy's son, Carl Jr., confirmed his father's death after the senior Tacy was diagnosed with leukemia in December. 

Carl Jr. noted his father had been transferred to hospice care in Yadkinville, North Carolina, last week. 

Tacy began his coaching career at Marshall in 1971-72. He led the Thundering Herd to a 23-4 record and the second NCAA tournament appearance in school history. 

Wake Forest was able to hire Tacy away starting with the 1972-73 season. The West Virginia native was tasked with turning around a program that missed the NCAA tournament in 10 straight seasons prior to his arrival. 

In 13 seasons with the Demon Deacons, Tacy posted a 222-149 record with four tournament appearances. He led them to the Elite Eight in 1977 and 1984.

Wake Forest inducted Tacy into its Hall of Fame in 1985. He ranks third all-time in school history with 222 victories.

Jamill Jones resigned as an assistant coach for the Wake Forest men's basketball team Friday after he allegedly punched a man who later died in August 2018.

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com), Jones said stepping down was "in the best interest of both the team and me personally."

Jones is alleged to have punched 35-year-old Sandor Szabo on Aug. 5, 2018, in Queens, New York, causing Szabo to fall and hit his head on a sidewalk. Szabo later died from his injuries.

Since Aug. 10, Jones had been on leave. He has since pleaded not guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault.

Per Andrew Carter of the News & Observer, police said Szabo was a Florida man who was in New York for his step-sister's wedding. Police added Szabo had been drinking when he approached Jones' vehicle a few blocks away from a wedding-related gathering at a Long Island hotel.

Jones allegedly punched Szabo and then drove away. It is believed Szabo thought Jones was his transportation.

Upon announcing his resignation, Jones said he was attempting to relieve the team of any distractions "while I focus all of my attention and energy on resolving my legal case."

Jones joined the Wake Forest coaching staff in 2017 following stints as an assistant at UCF, VCU and Florida Gulf Coast.

Jones will next appear in court May 6.

Wake Forest announced Friday that Danny Manning will return next season as the school's head men's basketball coach.

According to Stadium's Jeff Goodman, a "huge" buyout in Manning's contract played a role in the decision.

Manning has been the head coach at Wake Forest for the past five seasons. He has led the Demon Deacons to one NCAA tournament appearance during that time, and they have finished 11-20 in each of the past two seasons.

Despite the team's struggles in recent years, Manning said:

"I am excited about the future of our program. Even though it took longer than we wanted, I believe we have the foundation for future success. We didn't have the record we wanted last season, but our team showed its potential, especially toward the end of the season.

"This group of players kept fighting and improved throughout the year. With our returning players, our transfers who will become eligible next season and our incoming recruiting class, I believe that this team will have the ability, desire and chemistry to take a step forward next season."

Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman added:

"Following the season, Danny and I had an extensive series of meetings to discuss the future of the program. We were in agreement that this past season did not approach the expectations either of us has for Wake Forest basketball.

"Our discussion focused on the steps that are needed to ensure that our team is highly competitive on the court next season. I expect that Danny will take the steps needed to show improvement on the court next season while continuing to lead our student-athletes to represent Wake Forest positively in the classroom and in the community."

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Manning has a guaranteed contract that runs through 2025.

After leading Tulsa to the NCAA tournament in his second season at the helm in 2013-14, Wake Forest scooped him up.

Manning posted a losing record in each of his first two seasons at Wake before taking the Demon Deacons to the NCAA tournament in 2016-17. Wake lost to Kansas State in the First Four, though, and finished the season 19-14.

Wake Forest has just one winning season under Manning, and he's 65-93 overall. The Demon Deacons are 4-14 in ACC play in each of the past two campaigns.

The 52-year-old Manning has a great resume as a player, as he starred at Kansas before going No. 1 overall in the 1988 NBA draft and becoming a two-time All-Star, but that hasn't translated to coaching success yet.

Most of his top contributors this season were underclassmen, however, and each of his top six scorers are set to return.

Duke Blue Devils fans likely didn't exhale until the final buzzer of their team's 71-70 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday.

Wake Forest's Brandon Childress cut a three-point deficit to one with nine seconds remaining before Duke's Jack White stepped on the line on the ensuing inbounds for a costly turnover. That gave the Demon Deacons one final chance to win the game with a buzzer-beater, but Chaundee Brown was unable to connect on a final-second putback after he grabbed an offensive rebound.

Brown led the team with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but he surely will be replaying his final miss for some time after the dramatic loss.

The Blue Devils were playing without the injured Zion Williamson and relied on RJ Barrett for much of their offense. The freshman finished with 28 points, five rebounds and four assists.