As Wake Forest fans rushed the court Sunday, the FSN camera panned to a banner honoring the late Skip Prosser in the Joel Coliseum rafters.

But this night was about the future, not the past. This was a statement that this Deacons program has a rising trajectory, and the only question now is how far Dino Gaudio can take it in the weeks, and years, ahead.

Promoting Gaudio was risky after Prosser’s stunning death. Gaudio’s had once been the head coach at Army, and West Pointers weren’t exactly calling him the next Mike Krzyzewski.

But Gaudio was calm throughout Sunday’s 86-73 win, never seeming overwhelmed as the game surged back and forth.

He also has a talented team around him.

Wake’s roster is stuffed with a pair of brilliant freshmen in 6-foot-2 guard Jeff Teague and 6-8 forward James Johnson. Teague had a monster game, with 26 points, and he drew DeMarcus Nelson’s fifth foul with a quick move that caught the Duke captain off-guard.

Johnson was sensational, getting 24 points and dominating the boards. The aggressiveness displayed by those two freshmen led a tenacious game by Wake.

“We wanted to drive the ball,” Gaudio said after the game. “I thought we did a good job of that.”

No kidding. Wake forced the action in a game with an odd, and ragged, feel. The officiating crew fouled out five Duke players and probably would have fouled out Grant Hill and Chris Carrawell if they’d been in the building.

Much of that was due to Wake’s aggressive play, but there were stretches when one wondered where the next call would go.

That said, this outcome was one Wake Forest desired. The Deacons won because they were quicker, stronger and better. They are also playing much better defense this season, a point of emphasis for Gaudio.

Wake Forest allowed rivals to shoot 46.8 percent from the floor last year, easily the worst number in the ACC. Coming into this game, rivals were shooting just 42.0 percent.

The Deacons are now 16-8 overall and 6-5 in the league. That record is better than it looks. Wake lost at Clemson in overtime and on a miraculous tip at N.C. State. And the Deacons are coming together with a team that starts two freshmen and three sophomores.

More talent is on the way. Next year, Wake recruiting class includes five-star recruits Al-Farouq Aminu (a small forward) and Ty Walker and four-star center Tony Woods.
As Wake moves forward, it will remember Prosser, the popular coach who brought those on the Deacon bench to this moment.

But it will also recognize that it appears poised to have a remarkable future.