Handicappers Note Wake Forest Firing. Sportsbook handicappers may have to change their approach on Wake Forest next season. The Demon Deacons fired head basketball coach Dino Gaudio on Wednesday. Wake Forest finished this past college basketball season 20-11 straight up and 16-12 against the spread at the Internet sportsbook
Sportsbook odds on Wake Forest were up and down in recent seasons under Gaudio. The Demon Deacons had some regular season success but they struggled in the postseason. It was that lack of postseason success that cost Gaudio his job. The Demon Deacons were just 1-5 in ACC and NCAA Tournament action under Gaudio. “This was not a snap decision. It was not a snap judgment,” said athletic director Ron Wellman.
Wake Forest was 61-31 under Gaudio so the firing was somewhat of a surprise. Gaudio actually received a contract extension in October. The problem for him was the tournament performances. “Six months ago, I was convinced that we were going to perform better at the end of the season,” Wellman said. “That did not happen.”
During the 2008-09 season the Demon Deacons started 16-0 and they were the top ranked team in the country and a major force at the sportsbook. They finished that year 24-7 but lost in the ACC tourney and then lost in the first round to No. 13 seed Cleveland State. Wake Forest has had some good players but they have left early for the NBA. Jeff Teague and James Johnson left early last season and this time it was Al-Farouq Aminu who has declared for the NBA Draft.
The new head coach will face a tough season next year. The Demon Deacons not only lose Aminu but they also lose their second leading scorer, Ishmael Smith, center Chas McFarland and L.D. Williams. Anytime a team has to replace their two leading scorers it is tough vs. Internet sportsbook odds but now Wake Forest will start with a new head coach as well.
Wake Forest could take a step down next season in the ACC. The Demon Deacons play in a very good conference and they have more than held their own in recent years. They have had no postseason success but just getting to the postseason next year may be difficult. Sometimes when a team fires a head coach they don’t realize just how good they had it until he is gone. That might be the case next season without Gaudio leading the Demon Deacons.