Wake Forest rises to No. 1

Dino Gaudio knew his Wake Forest team probably would move to No. 1 after becoming Division I's only unbeaten team.

"I told the team when we got off the bus on Saturday, 'If you guys are happy being No. 1 on Jan. 19, then you're not the team I think you are,'" Gaudio said yesterday. "All we care worry about is getting better. There is tremendous room for improvement with these lads."

Not as far as national ranking goes.

The Demon Deacons (16-0) beat Clemson 78-68 on Saturday, then top-ranked Pittsburgh lost 69-63 at Louisville hours later to set up their jump from No. 2.

Wake Forest received all but four first-place votes from the 72-member national media panel. The Demon Deacons are No. 1 for the first time since a two-week run in November 2004, when they had Chris Paul at point guard.

Duke (16-1), which beat Georgia Tech and Georgia Tech last week, received the other four first-place votes and moved up one place to second. Connecticut (16-1), which beat St. John's and Seton Hall last week, moved from fourth to third, followed by Pittsburgh.

The Demon Deacons' first game as No. 1 will be at home tomorrow against Virginia Tech. Their next game is one week later, at home against Duke in what could be the 39th 1-vs.-2 matchup.

Poll, Page C5