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WINSTON-SALEM -- A few years ago, the NCAA implemented a series of measures designed to dissuade Division II basketball programs from jumping to Division I. On Friday, N.C. Central looked like it didn't take the hint.

The unfortunate Eagles, lacking conference affiliation and dressing only eight players, were perfect opening-night fodder for 21st-ranked Wake Forest, which had plenty of opportunity to integrate its freshmen and do whatever else it pleased in a 94-48 pasting. The Eagles, who won't be eligible for postseason play until 2012 as a condition of their self-promotion, missed 22 of their first 23 shots in starting their second D-I season. (They were 6-24 a year ago, and they lost two post players to knee injuries before this season started.)

"We went in with the attitude that they couldn't score on us, that they wouldn't get 10," Deacon forward James Johnson said. "When they had eight, we were a little upset."

At that point, Wake had 39.

Deacons coach Dino Gaudio employed several combinations and worked on his zone offense, which most opponents figure to put to the test. Wake was the ACC's worst 3-point shooting team a year ago and will be dared to fire away as foes try to lock down a versatile frontcourt. The Deacs were 2-for-11 from beyond the arc against the Eagles, but they seem to know their strengths. The long balls accounted for less than one-fifth of their overall field-goal attempts.

"I'm fine if that (ratio) is one-eighth," Gaudio said.

So much of college basketball in November comes with caveats and other admonitions of context. But with all in mind, some impressions are still safe.

l Al-Farouq Aminu is an active and patient freshman who started Friday and will be hard to dislodge. His 21-point, 10-rebound performance was in no way jittery.

"Everything I expected. And more," swingman L.D. Williams said of his teammate.

l The Deacs still need Ishmael Smith. Sidelined with a broken foot, the junior will have X-rays Tuesday and hopes to return for the Deacons' tournament in Anaheim, Calif., on Thanksgiving weekend. They aren't nearly as efficient or smooth when directed by Harvey Hale, a shooting guard who is out of position at the point.

Gaudio praised the efforts of trainer Greg Collins in rehabilitating Smith, but joked that that the waiting isn't easy.

"It's now seven weeks and four days and nine hours," the coach said, referring to the timing of the injury. "My great-grandfather, Nunziato Magnone, came back to the steel mill after a heart attack quicker than that."

l Teague is equally effective at the point and on the wing, and until somebody conclusively proves otherwise, he's the club's only excellent 3-point shooter. That's not necessarily a huge problem, however. The Deacs have as much size as anybody in the country.

l Gaudio will be tempted to use subsequent blowouts -- and they will come -- to tinker with combinations. In the most unconventional lineup, Teague operated with four guys 6-feet-9 or taller: Aminu, Johnson, Chas McFarland and Tony Woods.

l Ty Walker, a 7-0, 206-pound freshman from Wilmington, won't redshirt but may not play much as a rookie.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com

N.C. CENTRAL (0-1)

FG FT Reb

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Worthy 29 0-2 0-0 1-3 1 4 0

Worah-Ozimo 37 0-4 1-4 5-9 0 4 1

Branch 29 1-8 0-0 0-3 0 2 3

Briscoe 28 6-19 3-6 2-2 1 2 18

Davis 30 4-19 1-2 3-6 1 4 10

Glasker 12 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 2 3

Walters 16 3-4 5-7 1-1 0 1 11

Holloway 19 1-3 0-0 2-4 0 2 2

Totals 200 16-60 10-19 17-34 3 21 48

Percentages: FG .267, FT .526.

3-point goals: 6-22, .273 (Briscoe 3-6, Glasker 1-1, Davis 1-6, Branch 1-7, Worthy 0-1, Walters 0-1).

Team rebounds: 5.

Blocks: 6 (Davis 2, Worthy 2, Worah-Ozimo, Holloway).

Turnovers: 22 (Branch 5, Briscoe 4, Walters 3, Davis 2, Worah-Ozimo 2, Worthy 2, Holloway 2, Glasker).

Steals: 8 (Briscoe 2, Worthy 2, Worah-Ozimo 2, Glasker, Davis).

WAKE FOREST (1-0)

FG FT Reb

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Aminu 28 9-12 3-5 4-10 0 3 21

Johnson 28 7-11 3-4 2-10 5 1 18

McFarland 21 4-4 4-4 1-7 2 0 12

Teague 22 5-11 4-4 0-3 6 1 14

Williams 17 1-3 0-0 0-1 2 4 2

Clark 19 2-4 1-2 0-1 1 2 5

Hale 19 2-4 2-2 1-2 1 2 7

Lepore 2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Walker 5 1-4 0-0 1-2 0 0 2

Weaver 15 0-1 1-2 2-3 3 1 1

Hoekstra 2 0-0 0-0 1-1 0 0 0

Woods 22 6-7 0-1 1-2 0 3 12

Totals 200 37-62 18-24 14-45 20 17 94

Percentages: FG .597, FT .750.

3-point goals: 2-11, .182 (Hale 1-2, Johnson 1-3, Williams 0-1, Lepore 0-1, Clark 0-1, Teague 0-1, Aminu 0-2).

Team rebounds: 3.

Blocks: 7 (Aminu 3, Teague 2, McFarland, Williams).

Turnovers: 13 (Johnson 3, Williams 2, Teague 2, Woods 2, Aminu, McFarland, Hoekstra, Clark).

Steals: 14 (Teague 3, Johnson 3, Hale 3, Williams 2, Aminu, Hoekstra, Clark).

N.C. Central 22 26 -- 48

Wake Forest 46 48 -- 94

A--9,573. Officials--Les Jones, Mike Nance, Jerry Heater.