Manning to return to Wake despite 3rd 20-loss season

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Danny Manning will return for a sixth season at Wake Forest despite his third 20-loss season in five years.

Retiring athletic director Ron Wellman announced the decision Friday, 10 days after the Demon Deacons ended an 11-20 season with a loss to Miami in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Wellman said in a statement the two had an “extensive set of meetings” about the program’s future. He dded that he expects Manning will “take the steps needed to show improvement on the court next season.”

The 52-year-old former Kansas star and No. 1 NBA draft pick is 65-93 with one NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons with the Demon Deacons.