Yesterday afternoon the conference released the 2008-2009 ACC basketball schedules, meaning we can finally see the entire schedule, including dates and most times. It's great to be more prominently featured in the national spotlight this season, including nine ABC/ESPN networks games and four FSN games.

I don't think there's any real complaining to do about the schedule. The home game against UNC falls the day after students return to campus for the spring semester (January 11). There's only one really difficult turnaround, when Wake plays at Boston College on Wednesday, January 14 and then at Clemson Saturday, January 17. We can all hope no one is at the Joel for the game on Saturday, December 6 against Bucknell. I'd much rather us all be in Tampa for the ACC Championship game that day.

Assuming ACC Select picks up the games that don't have TV coverage I think Wake fans will be able to see all the Demon Deacons they can handle. I'm sure we'll analyze this schedule more as the season approaches, but we'll leave it at that for now.

Elsewhere in the news, Dan Collins previews the Baylor game. Mine will be up later today.

Did this story really get published? I'm sorry, but the fact that someone in Corpus Christi thought that would pass for a legitimate story is rediculous. I realize it's Associate Press copy, but as you can see from SportingNews, there's a lot more to the story that was cut out.

Yesterday I received an email from Brian, a reader, pointing me towards some 2008 bowl projections by WhatIfSports. The projections have Wake playing Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and Clemson playing in the Orange bowl. The only way this scenario could possibly play out would be for Clemson to go undefeated and Wake to only lose to Clemson. Even so, I have trouble imaginining an undefeated Clemson not being good enough to play for the national championship. Lots of interesting factors here, I had fun spending a few minutes analyzing the thing.

Brian sets a good example...if you ever see something around the interent you think belongs here on Old Gold & Blog send me an email and let me know.

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Today ESPN.com's Heather Dinnich ranked the 12 ACC football schedules for 2008, and had this to say about Wake Forest:

10. Wake Forest -- If these guys can get through the first half of their schedule, look out. Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Georgia Tech are off the schedule. A road trip to Baylor, followed by a home game against Ole Miss and a trip to FSU make for a tough start to the season.

At first glance I thought this was way too low, but the more I think about it I realize it's probably only a little bit too low.

I've put a fair amount of stock into the fact that Wake is the only ACC team without any FCS schools on the schedule, which led me to believe Wake has one of the tougher scheuldes in the ACC. Further analysis proves that's not quite the case.

Georgia Tech has Georgia on the schedule, as well as trips to Clemson and Virginia Tech. Virginia has Southern Cal and UConn. Miami has Florida and Texas A&M. I don't envy any of those schedules.

Still, the fact remains that Wake doesn't have a single FCS opponent. Sure, Clemson has to come to Winston-Salem on a Thursday night, but Florida State on the road is no picnic, and neither are back-to-back road games with Maryland and Miami.

Based on HD's rundown, I'd say Wake definitely has a more difficult scheudule than Clemson and Duke (the two schools immedietly above Wake in the list). But, when compared to the rest of the ACC I realize Wake is probably in better shape schedule-wise than I first thought. Now it's up to the Deacs to take advantage.

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This morning basketball takes the spotlight, as yesterday Philadelphia point guard Tony Chenault verbally committed to play basketball for the Demon Deacons, joining the class of 2010. Chenault is currently a three star prospect according to Scout.com. I'll publish my own take on this commitment in the next day or two, but here are some other stories until then.

Speaking of basketball, the pairings for the Anaheim Classic have been announced, and Wake Forest will face Cal State Fullerton in the first round, Thursday, November 27, on ESPN2. UTEP and St. Mary's are the other teams in Wake's bracket, and Wake would face the winner/loser of their game Friday on ESPNU. The final games are set for Sunday the 30th, with the championship being played on ESPN2. This doesn't exactly set Wake up for the matchups they would have most wanted from a strength of schedule perspective, but it does set them up well to have a good shot at winning the tournament.

Of course we can't totally ignore football, so here is Dan Collins' usual football notebook, as well as this feature on Josh Adams.

I'm traveling today, so if I'm slow to answer emails or anything like that I apologize. I expect to still have a full practice report up tonight.

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