Guard Ish Smith has been cleared to begin his junior season at Wake Forest, but probably won't play in tonight's game against UNC Wilmington at Joel Coliseum.
"I think it would be remote for him to play at all (tonight)," Coach Dino Gaudio said yesterday afternoon. "Maybe if he's dressed out we're going to use him at the free-throw line if we need him."
Although Gaudio made the statement deadpan, he couldn't resist a smile immediately afterward. Smith has struggled at the line during his career, and made only 29 percent of his free-throw attempts last year.
But he does have speed, quickness and the experience that comes from starting 60 games over the past two seasons. He missed a game for the first time in the Deacons' opener against N.C. Central last Friday while recovering from a broken foot he suffered during a pickup game on Sept. 19.
He got the good news yesterday afternoon when he was examined by Dr. Robert Teasdall, the orthopedic surgeon who performed the operation on Sept. 22.
"I've got to start some running and things like that to get back into it, but yeah, I'm released," Smith said. "The bone has healed.
"I'm ready to be back. It's going to be a great year. Injuries are bad but I learned a lot from sitting on the sidelines, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."
Smith did some shooting and jogging at yesterday's practice, but didn't scrimmage or participate in any five-on-five drills. Athletics trainer Greg Collins said that it's too early to tell when Smith will return to action.
The Deacons' next game is against Winston-Salem State on Nov. 24.
"Obviously, we'll start off slow and see how he responds from day to day," Collins said.
Smith averaged 8.6 points a game last season and led the Deacons with 4.7 assists a game.
"I think it's been a long eight weeks of chomping at the bit for Ish," Gaudio said. "It's a big plus for our basketball team because he's an integral part of it."
The Seahawks are off to a flying start after two high-scoring home victories. They beat Appalachian State 108-101 in overtime on Nov. 14 and Troy 107-95 on Monday.
They're small, with a starting lineup of 5-11 Chad Tomko, 6-3 Johnny Wolf and 6-3 Darryl Felder in a three-man backcourt, 6-5 Montez Downey at power forward and 6-7 Dominique Lacy at center. Darion Jeralds is a 6-1 junior from West Forsyth High School who played 16 minutes against Appalachian State and 12 against Troy.
Tomko, a sophomore from Charlotte Independence High School, is averaging 30 points a game. Wolf, a junior who transferred from Xavier, is averaging 23.5 and has made eight of 14 3-point attempts for 57 percent. Lacy, besides averaging 22 points a game, leads the Seahawks with 10.5 rebounds a game.
Downey, who went to Bishop McGuinness High School, is a brother of Taron Downey, who played basketball at Wake Forest from the 2001-02 season through 2004-05.
UNC Wilmington made 12 of 35 3-point attempts against Appalachian State and 16 of 36 against Troy. Wake Forest, on the other hand, is a taller team less reliant on outside shooting.
"They're an explosive offensive team shooting 35 3-pointers a game," Gaudio said. "I told our guys, ‘We're going to see who's going to exert their will on the other.'"
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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