GAME NOTES: The Tulane Green Wave will kick their season off Monday night with a matchup against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a non-conference clash at Devlin Fieldhouse.

Wake Forest started its season on Friday night, as the Deacons buried UNC Asheville, 80-69, in Winston-Salem. The Demon Deacons are trying to rebound from a 2013-14 campaign in which they finished in 11th place in the ACC standings at 6-12.

Tulane finished the 2013-14 season with an even record at 17-17 overall, and managed an 8-8 mark in Conference USA. The Green Wave switched over to the American Athletic Conference before the start of the new season.

These two programs have met just five times on the court in their program histories, and Wake Forest has won all five of those matchups. Just last season, Wake Forest defeated Tulane, 72-57, on Dec. 4.

Despite the fact that Wake Forest finished 6-12 in conference play, the team did end things with a winning record last season. So in the offseason, the Deacons went and made a big splash by hiring Danny Manning to be the team's new head coach. Conference USA's Coach of the Year with Tulsa has shown up to Winston-Salem with some new ideas. And with returning players like Codi Miller-McIntyre in the backcourt, perhaps the Deacons can start to turn things around in the ACC right away.

Devin Thomas led the team in scoring in the opening win with 25 points, adding 13 rebounds for the double-double against UNC Asheville. The only other Wake Forest player to notch a scoring total in double figures was Konstantinos Mitoglou, who chipped in 17 points with eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Miller-McIntyre added eight points of his own, and freshman Mitchell Wilbekin (younger brother of former Florida guard Scottie) saw 15 minutes on the floor.

Tulane returns plenty of experience from last season to the roster, which will be necessary as the Green Wave embark on a new adventure in the AAC, the home of the reigning national champion Connecticut Huskies. Things need to change offensively for Tulane this season, considering the squad finished in the bottom two in Conference USA with a 63.6 ppg margin and a 41.3 field goal percentage. Louis Dabney, Jonathan Stark and Jay Hook can be the leaders and counted on players from last season, as Tulane should be able to be successful in its first year in the conference.

The Green Wave took down Loyola (New Orleans) in an exhibition match last week, and had no trouble coming away with an 87-43 win. Dabney led Tulane with 15 points in the win, while Kajon Mack (14) Hook and Payton Henson (11) and Cameron Reynolds (10) all chipped in with double figures. Mack and Stark each led the Green Wave with eight rebounds apiece.

The starting lineup for Tulane is solid and consists of players with plenty of playing experience. Wake Forest has some key role players back, but with two freshmen in the starting lineup, the Deacons may need some more time to jell together. If Tulane can get over the 70-point hump, it should have the advantage at home.