Wake Forest's latest setback: JT Terrell leaves school

Its going to be a while before Wake Forest improves on their 8-24 record from last season.

Four times since Jeff Bzdelik took over for Dino Gaudio 18 months ago, a player has left the program or been suspended by the university. Only one of those decisions was optional. Tony Woods was booted off the team last April after assaulting his girlfriend. Ari Stewart announced his decision to transfer to USC back in April of this year. Melvin Tabb was suspended in July and eventually kicked out of the school in August stemming from a June incident that resulted in a number of charges, including breaking and entering and fraud. And then there is Ty Walker, who was suspended by the university indefinitely on July 11th and will not be eligible to play in games until Dec. 10th.

Throw in the alleged rape during the Demon Deacon's 2009 NCAA Tournament trip that a former Wake Forest student spoke about on the Today Show, and I think its safe to say there hasn't been any positive news about the Demon Deacons in Bzdelik's short tenure.


On Monday, it got worse.

JT Terrell, the team's second-leading scorer as a freshman last season, has decided to leave the university following a 3:00 am arrest on Saturday morning for DWI. According to the Winston-Salem Journal, Terrell -- who is only 19 -- was found passed out behind the wheel of his car with the engine running. His BAC was 0.09, which is above the legal limit of 0.08 in North Carolina. Terrell also has a pending charge from a different county for being in possession of a malt beverage.

"At approximately 3:00 a.m. (Saturday) morning, J.T. Terrell was arrested by the Winston-Salem Police Department and charged with driving while impaired," said Terrell's attorney, Mike Grace, in a statement. "Due to circumstances surrounding his arrest, along with other recent indicators, it is obvious to J.T. and his family that J.T. suffers from a serious medical condition which requires immediate attention."

"He's just going through a difficult time,'' Grace said. "He's got to step back and get some personal issues addressed and get himself back into basketball and school a little later on. He's smart enough to know he's got to get it taken care of."

That's an impressive run of trouble-making, and it will make some folks question just how much control Bzdelik has over the program. I see it differently, however. It makes me wonder what, exactly, Dino Gaudio was fired for. Did he lose his job because of disappointing NCAA Tournament performances, or did he get fired -- after back-to-back tournament appearances, mind you -- because he allowed his players to run amok?

Before you rip Bzdelik, keep in mind that the players that have gotten in trouble on his watch have had stern consequences. They aren't with the program anymore. Also keep in mind that these aren't "his players"; its the group that he inherited from Gaudio.

Isn't it possible that Bzdelik is simply cleaning house, trying to get rid of the players that aren't taking basketball seriously and don't appreciate the opportunity given to them?