WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The upcoming college basketball season in the ACC is looking like a tough assignment for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

• Four of Coach Manning's top scorers will have to be replaced
• Junior Brandon Childress will step in to help younger players
• First exhibition will be against Belmont Abbey Nov. 2

Head Coach Danny Manning will have to find a way to replace four of his top five scorers from a season ago, and also find some leadership in his very young team. 

Enter Brandon Childress. The junior will shift his role from sixth man to leading seven new players, along with four returning sophomores.

"I'm the vet," Childress said with a grin.  "I'm probably the youngest vet in Wake Forest history, but it's fun.  I love helping out the guys.  They're all great kids, good players, and all willing to listen.  I can just do my job, by helping these guys out as much as I can.  I'm actually one of the few players on the team with actual game-time experience."

Wake Forest will open the season with an exhibition against Belmont Abbey on Nov. 2.  The regular season begins Nov. 10 against North Carolina A&T and then Wake will head to the Myrtle Beach Invitational where they open tournament play against St. Joseph's.