Answers were as hard to come by as points Wednesday night for Al-Farouq Aminu.
For the first time in 58 college games, Aminu failed to score as the Deacons lost 51-47 to Florida State at the Tucker Center. He took only two field-goal attempts -- a short jumper and a 3-point shot, both in the first half -- before fouling out with 5:51 left in Wake Forest's fourth straight loss.
Considered a strong candidate for first-team All-ACC as recently as a week ago, Aminu has fallen into the deepest slump of his career at the worst possible time. The doldrums set in during Saturday's loss to North Carolina, when he made two of seven shots and scored only seven points.
Aminu said that nothing is wrong physically or personally.
"No, I'm cool," he said.
But his game is ice cold. He acknowledged the impact his drought has had on the Deacons, who were eliminated from any chance at a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament.
"They're relying on me to make shots, so I'm going to have to be more aggressive and start making shots." Aminu said.
Other than giving credit to Florida State's defense, however, Aminu could provide no explanation for his struggles.
"I don't know," he said. "It could be a mystery.
"But they're a good defensive team. They're long, and I just couldn't find my shots in the flow of the game."
Coach Dino Gaudio shook up the lineup Wednesday, putting Tony Woods in the post with Chas McFarland and moving Aminu to the wing. But the first two times Aminu made an offensive move on the perimeter, after the Deacons had bolted to a 6-2 lead, the ball was knocked out of his hands for turnovers.
He took his first field-goal attempt, missing a 3-point shot, with 3½ minutes left in the first half, then missed a short jumper on the Deacons' final possession before halftime.
He played 10 minutes in the second half without taking a shot.
"What Coach tried to do was put him at (wing forward) and have him come out and try to shoot the ball," Ish Smith said. "Coach put an offense in where he was looking for me and L.D. (Williams) and Farouq to drive the basketball.
"We were putting it in there, but obviously it's up to me as the point guard to get him some touches."
Smith also gave credit to Florida State, which shut down the Deacons with a confounding 1-2-2 zone.
"It was the zone," Smith said. "The zone was trying to take away our break, keep me out of the lane and keep Farouq off the offensive (boards) and doing what he does best -- as far as driving and slashing and hitting his little pull-ups."
Aminu finished with four rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 28 minutes and committed four turnovers.
Gaudio noted afterward how hard it will be for the Deacons to stop their slide without more production from Aminu, the team's leading scorer with 15.8 points a game.
Wake Forest will close its regular season Sunday at home against Clemson.
After Wednesday's loss, Gaudio was asked what was going on with Aminu.
"I wish I had the answer to that," he said. "I wish I had the answer to how he's playing on offense.
"You know, four turnovers, doesn't get a bucket, one offensive rebound. He's got to play well for us to win, and not to get a bucket….
"I wish I had the answer to that one."
dcollins@wsjournal.com
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