It was late in the Deacons’ stunning 84-53 victory over No. 3-ranked Kansas on Thursday night at Joel Coliseum, and Odom took exception to the students chanting, “Overrated, Overrated.”

“That’s the most absurd thing I heard tonight,” Odom said. “I turned around and told them I hope (the Jayhawks) aren’t overrated because that means we’re not any good.”

Odom still thinks Kansas is pretty darned good.

“They’re not overrated,” he said. “We saw a talented team off its game tonight. Did we have anything to do with that? I’d like to think so.”

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo

Wake Forest received a career-high 21-point performance from Josh Howard, a 6-foot-6 sophomore.

“We were just executing and running our plays,” Howard said. “Winning by 30 points? That’s a real surprise, but it shows we can do anything.”

Josh Shoemaker, a 6-9 senior who grabbed 12 boards and helped the Deacons to a 43-26 rebounding bulge, was also queried about the 31-point margin.

“Surprised? Not really. We expected to win. By 30? I don’t know about that,” Shoemaker said.

Craig Dawson, a 6-5 junior, came off the bench to score 20 points.

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo

“It was just a great effort,” Dawson said. “We played together. We wanted it bad and it was on national TV.”

Wake Forest led 38-25 at halftime, then blew it open by hitting seven of its first eight shots to begin the second half.

“We came in here at the half and talked about maintaining our intensity,” Dawson said. “We talked among ourselves about playing like it was zero to zero.”

Wake Forest’s players will start taking final exams next week. They’ll take those tests on a wave of momentum.

“I don’t know how we could play any better this time of year,” the 58-year-old Odom said. “We were on top of our games. I’m just so pleased for every one of my kids.”

Although KU coach Roy Williams didn’t think the absence of Kenny Gregory, who sat out with a foot injury, was a factor, Odom did.

“Without fear of contradiction,” Odom said, “I think the game would have been played differently if Gregory had played. We were surprised he didn’t play. When you lose Kenny Gregory on the spur of the moment, that makes a big difference.”

On the whole, Odom just hopes his players don’t miss the forest for the trees. In other words, it’s a long way from December to March.

“We’ve got a season to play,” he said. “That’s a great performance. We didn’t expect to win by that (much). But one game doesn’t make a season, win or lose.”

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