Dave Odom has done an amazing job with this year's Wake Forest team. The Demon Deacons have built on the momentum from last season, when they won the NIT championship.

Wake Forest enters Saturday's game at North Carolina (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) with a 17-game win streak (12 this season), the school's longest since a 20-game run in 1927. Only Michigan State has a longer streak in America right now.

	Wake Forest's Darius Songaila held his own against the Dream Team in Sydney.

Why are the Demon Deacons so successful? It's balance, depth and experience, my friends. They have so much balance that their leading scorer, Craig Dawson, comes off the bench. Antwan Scott, the team's top shot blocker, also comes in as a reserve.

Back from knee surgery, 6-foot-9 senior center Rafael Vidaurreta also comes off the bench. He is one of Wake Forest's premier inside threats and a tough rebounder.

The Demon Deacons can beat you in so many different ways. Erwin Murray, who battled mono earlier this season, gives them solid point-guard play. He distributes the ball effectively to Robert O'Kelley on one wing and Josh Howard on the other.

America should get ready to learn more about Howard. He's explosive in transition, solid on the glass (especially on the offensive end) and a premier defender.

I haven't even mentioned Darius Songaila, the Lithuanian Olympian. Remember when his country took the Dream Team right to the wire? He has been a major factor on the interior.

One thing Odom has done is reduced Songaila's minutes because of the team's depth. The result has been interesting; Songaila doesn't have to worry as much about foul trouble. Earlier in his career, foul trouble really plagued him and that concern affected his performance.

Songaila was brilliant against Virginia, hitting 11-of-12 field goals en route to 27 points in just 25 minutes.

Yes, the Demon Deacons will give problems to Matt Doherty's Tar Heels.

Remember, Saturday's game is in Chapel Hill. North Carolina comes in with some momentum of its own, rallying from a 12-point deficit to win at Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels played a brilliant second half, outscoring the Ramblin' Wreck by 26 points.

Joseph Forte did a great job in all facets of the game -- passing, making good decisions while scoring 20 points. Max Owens was a factor off the bench with 17 points. Kris Lang was tough on the interior with 18 points.

North Carolina provides matchup problems inside with Lang, Brendan Haywood and Jason Capel. It's unbelievable that Haywood did not score in 21 minutes against Georgia Tech! You know he's going to come out with fire against Wake Forest.

Doherty will have his team emotionally ready. One question is Ronald Curry, who is getting solid minutes at the point. How will he handle the aggressive multiple defenses he'll see from the Demon Deacons?

It should be a classic ACC showdown. I can't wait to get to Chapel Hill for this one.