March 16, 2003

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest (24-5, 13-3 ACC) has earned a No. 2 seed in the field of 64 for the 2003 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. The Demon Deacons, seeded second in the East Region, will head to Tampa, Fla. for a first-round matchup with East Tennessee State on Friday, March 21.

With its at-large bid to the 2003 event, WFU makes its third consecutive and 18th overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Deacons own a overall record of 23-17 in NCAA Tournament play. This year¡¦s bracket marks Wake Forest¡¦s seventh appearance in the East Region. The Deacs have competed in the East more times than any other region in its tournament history, owning a 9-5 record.

Wake Forest¡¦s first-round opponent, East Tennessee State, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Southern Conference Championship. The Buccaneers are 20-10 overall and finished tied for first in the SoCon¡¦s North Division with a 11-5 conference mark. ETSU is making its fifth overall NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 1992.

The Deacons and the Bucs are scheduled to tip off on Friday, March 21 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. The winner will advance to a second-round matchup with either seventh-seeded St. Joseph¡¦s or 10th-seeded Auburn on Sunday, March 23. Times and ticket information, as well as WFU¡¦s itinerary, will be announced as soon as it becomes available.