Former Wake Forest head coach Dave Odom, speaking before the Raleigh Sports Club today, said that there are six teams that need to be strong most every year in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

He said in much the same way that it helps the NBA for the Celtics and Lakers to be strong, college basketball and the ACC needs North Carolina, Duke, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia and Maryland to be good.

“The Atlantic Coast Conference in men’s basketball cannot be what it has always been unless those six teams – at least five of ’em – are good,” Odom said. “The rest of ’em, they can come and they can go.”

He said not all those six teams have been strong. when you look at the acc the past couple of years, that has not been true. have to get back to that. He said that those teams have to have solid coaching. He said that he believes Wake’s Jeff Bzdelik can get it done.

“He’s a fine person and an excellent coach,” Odam said. “He’s got to get some players and he has to get people back in the stands.”

He said the new coach at State will have to get more fans at the games. “You’ve got to buy those tickets at NC State,” he said. “You gotta be there come heck or high water. I can’t tell you how important that is to the coach, the institution, the Atlantic Coast Conference and even basketball at the national level.”

Odom compiled a career head coaching record of 406-278 record including a 240-132 mark at Wake Forest from 1989-2001. He won two ACC titles and led the Demon Deacons to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.