Smoke & Mirrors

Chef's Log: 12/26/08

A good chef knows how to disguise a mediocre dish with fancy tricks and flashy presentation. That is how a slew of teams look on paper as of right now. It is too early to determine who'll survive conference play and who'll fizzle out like a lackluster demi-glaze. But it is definitely fun to try. Schools like Ohio St., Illinois, Illinois St, Clemson & Minnesota are hot teams, with hot records (all undefeated), but with not-so-hot schedules. Even their infamously easy academic course loads have been more challenging than their non-conference play. With all due respect to some respectable coaches, look for schools like these to reveal their true colors once conference play kicks into action.

On the other side of the coin, you have teams like Michigan St., Texas, Notre Dame & even Davidson looking perhaps just B+ on paper as of right now. With a few losses each, these squads have dropped in the polls. But you have to a) look at who've they played and b) watch these teams play either live or on television if and when possible. All four of these teams have one thing in common, a star (Morgan, Abrams, Harangody, Curry). And most of these teams have a decent supporting cast. Look for these teams to survive conference play more effectively than the 'smoke & mirror' teams from the aforementioned paragraph. Especially Davidson, who we all know will roll through their weak conference potentially undefeated. Keep Louisville in mind as well. Like last year, look for Pitino to foster his boys, including new sensation Samardo Samuels, through conference play and beyond.

We'll also have to keep a close eye on which teams are the real deal, the diamonds in the rough, the pearls in the oyster. Is Wake the real deal, the pearl in the ACC's oyster? Can the Golden Gophers be the diamond in the Big Ten's rough? Is 'Cuse the 'looker' it seems to be hiding behind that fuzzy turtleneck know as the Big East? Could be, we'll have to wait and see. After all, sometimes the prom queen isn't all smoke and mirrors.


Happy Boxing Day
Naked Chef