No One Looking Past Songaila

Darius Songaila describes himself as “a nice guy” in his profile in the Wake Forest basketball media guide.

Right. So what prompted Virginia Coach Pete Gillen to call Songaila “a mangler who kills innocent bystanders in the post” after the Demon Deacon forward bullied the Cavaliers for 27 points in a game last season?

Pepperdine will discover the answer Thursday, when it encounters the bashing, bruising Songaila, a member of the Lithuanian national team, in a first-round game of the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Though the 6-foot-9, 248-pound senior is overshadowed by other big men in the Atlantic Coast Conference, namely Duke’s Carlos Boozer and Maryland’s Lonny Baxter, Songaila is no secret to Wake Forest’s opponents. He ranks among ACC leaders in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, assists, steals and blocked shots.

But it is Songaila’s style of play that has earned him the most notice. He doesn’t shy away from contact and has provided seventh-seeded Wake Forest (20-12) with a steady, durable enforcer during his four seasons as a starter.

“He’s a gladiator,” said Skip Prosser, the Demon Deacons’ first-year coach.

“He gives our guys courage, and I think that’s maybe his biggest contribution.”

Pepperdine (22-8), seeded 10th in the regional, already seemed aware of Wake Forest’s front-line muscle when the pairings were announced Sunday.

“I know they have some strong inside play,” said Cedric Suitt, the Waves’ 6-11 center. “I’m going to have to pick up my defense that much more.”

Songaila (pronounced sun-GUY-la) leads Wake Forest with averages of 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds and is shooting 52.5% from the field. He is arguably the Demon Deacons’ best player since Tim Duncan and ranks second to the San Antonio Spur forward in career starts with 118.

Adept at using either hand around the basket, Songaila is a skilled post player who can make medium-range jump shots. He is nearly automatic from the foul line, making 85.4% of his free throws, and ranks third on the team with 86 assists.

“He’s selfless,” Prosser said. “He makes everyone else better because teams really distort [their defenses] toward him. He’s willing to pass the ball, and he cares about winning.”

Songaila has demonstrated that quality since he began playing basketball as a boy in his native Lithuania. He grew up in Marijampole, a city of 65,000 located about two hours from the capital of Vilnius, and quickly established himself among his country’s top talents with his play on the junior national team.

He realized a dream when he was selected to play on the national team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Playing with former Portland Trail Blazer center Arvydas Sabonis, Songaila helped Lithuania win the bronze medal and throw two scares into the U.S. “Dream Team” of NBA stars, including an 85-83 semifinal loss.

Songaila found his way to Tobacco Road after playing one season for New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire in 1997-98. He received an offer to play at the prestigious prep school after Lane Odom, son of former Wake Forest coach Dave Odom, saw Songaila play with the junior national team in Lithuania.

He battled foul trouble early in his career at Wake Forest, fouling out of eight games as a freshman and five games as a sophomore, but since has reduced the calls against him. This season has been his most enjoyable, and he’s looking forward to graduating and getting married this spring. He is engaged to former Wake Forest tennis player Jackie Houston.

“I’m glad this is the year that it all came together,” said Songaila, who was selected to the All-ACC second team.

Wake Forest’s Lithuanian connection will continue after this season with Vytas Danelius, a 6-8 freshman who has relied on Songaila for guidance and support.

Despite his countryman’s roughneck reputation, Danelius says he knows the real Songaila.

“First of all,” he said, “he is a nice guy.”

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Pepperdine and Wake Forest each have played eight teams in the NCAA tournament.

The Waves went 3-7, beating UCLA, USC and Gonzaga and losing to Utah, UC Santa Barbara, Oregon, Georgia, Arizona and Gonzaga twice.

The Demon Deacons were 4-8 against tournament teams, beating North Carolina Wilmington, Marquette and North Carolina State twice and losing to Kansas, St. John’s, Cincinnati, Maryland twice and Duke three times.

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Pepperdine’s scheduled practice at Arco Arena will be from noon to 12:50 p.m. Wednesday and is open to the public.