Wake Forest Basketball to Open Season November 2
The Demon Deacons begin their seventh season under coach Steve Forbes with a significantly overhauled roster.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Basketball
Live Poll
Should local fans maintain high expectations for a university team after several years of inconsistent performance?
Wake Forest basketball is set to open its season on November 2, 2026, against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The program enters the year following a major roster transformation that includes the departure of the team's top eight scorers.
Why it matters
The team is undergoing a rebuild after finishing last season with an 18-17 record and struggling significantly with rebounding. Coaching staff prioritized adding size and perimeter depth through transfers to address these deficiencies.
Wake Forest finished last season with a minus-1.6 rebounding margin, including eight games where they were outrebounded by double-digit figures. The team is currently projected to finish 14th in the ACC.
The players
Steve Forbes
He is entering his seventh season as the head coach of the Wake Forest basketball team.
Justin Ray
A transfer addition to the team who previously shot 42% on three-pointers.
Gavin Placide
A player expected to see significant minutes during the upcoming season who stands 6-11.
Antonio Dorn
A transfer addition brought in to help address the team's rebounding deficiencies.
Xander Pintelon
A transfer addition added to the roster to provide necessary size in the frontcourt.
The details
Coach Steve Forbes looks to integrate new talent such as Antonio Dorn and Xander Pintelon to bolster the frontcourt. Additionally, the team added perimeter shooting depth, including Justin Ray, who posted a 42% three-point shooting rate last season.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Wake Forest opens the season against Maryland-Eastern Shore.
November 5, 2026: The team plays a road game at Vanderbilt.
January 2, 2027: Wake Forest hosts Virginia Tech for the ACC opener.
Season Trajectory
The team aims to return to the national stage, building on the legacy of the 2017 NCAA Tournament First Four appearance. This season is a critical test for the coaching staff to improve upon the program's limited postseason presence over the last decade.
With the team projected to finish 14th in the conference, the early non-conference games will dictate the rotation and potential ACC standing. Fans should monitor the rebounding margin and shooting efficiency of transfers to assess the team's competitiveness.
The takeaway
Wake Forest is entering a rebuilding phase that relies heavily on integrating transfer players to solve rebounding and depth issues. Success this season will be measured by how quickly these new additions can adjust to ACC-level competition.
Further reading
Find more coverage on the upcoming schedule and roster developments on the Winston-Salem Basketball page.
Live Poll
Should local fans maintain high expectations for a university team after several years of inconsistent performance?
