Wake Forest Eliminated from NIT Tournament

Demon Deacons' season ends with defensive struggles in second-round loss

Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:21am

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The Wake Forest men's basketball team saw its season come to an end in the second round of the NIT tournament, falling to an opponent they could not stop defensively. The Demon Deacons finished the year with an 18-17 record after the early postseason exit.

Why it matters

Wake Forest had high hopes for a strong finish to the season by making a run in the NIT, but their inability to get key defensive stops proved to be their downfall. The early tournament exit raises questions about the team's defensive identity and whether changes are needed heading into the offseason.

The details

Wake Forest struggled to contain their opponent's offense, failing to come up with the necessary stops down the stretch to secure the victory. The Demon Deacons' defensive woes have plagued them throughout the season and ultimately led to their second-round NIT elimination.

  • The game took place on March 23, 2026.
  • Wake Forest finished the regular season with an 18-16 record.

The players

Wake Forest

The Wake Forest men's basketball team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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The takeaway

The early NIT exit highlights the need for Wake Forest to focus on improving its defensive performance in the offseason if the team hopes to make a deeper postseason run next year.