Who's Hot Who's Not

Who's Hot

BLUE DEVIL HOOPS

College basketball No. 1 Duke took two steps forward last Thursday: The team handily defeated defending D-II champion Cal Poly Pomona 81--60 behind 14 points from preseason All-America Kyle Singler (right) and signed the nation's top remaining prep PG, Oak Hill (Va.) Academy's Quinn Cook.

BACKSTOPPIN'

Through Sunday, NHL goalies had the highest total save percentage (.910) since the stat was first kept, in 1982. Among the best: Philly's Sergei Bobrovsky, who's minded every second of the Flyers' six-game winning streak, and the Blues' Jaroslav Halak (right), who has eight wins in his first 10 games.

THE BIG EASY

New Orleans is heating up: The 6--0 Hornets are off to their best start ever, led by Chris Paul's 10.2 assists per game (third in the NBA), and the Saints blitzed NFC South rival Carolina 34--3 on Sunday. Also, in case you missed it, NOLA native Lil Wayne was released from Rikers Island jail last week.

Who's Not

BEDEVILED STOOPS

Coaching brothers Bob (Oklahoma), Mike (Arizona) and Mark (Florida State defensive coordinator) all lost last Saturday, underlined by the BCS No. 8 Sooners' falling 33--19 at unranked Texas A&M. Now the boys have two weeks to right their respective ships and avoid a depressing Thanksgiving dinner.

SMACK-TALKIN'

Miami LB Channing Crowder flipped out in the locker room after a 26--10 loss to Baltimore on Sunday, accusing Ravens RB Le'Ron McClain of spitting in his face. No doubt McClain can handle it, but Crowder managed to confuse Anne Frank and Helen Keller in the midst of his profanity-laced rant.

THE BIG QUEASY

At 1--5, Houston has a problem. The Rockets ranked 29th in points allowed per game (112.7) through Sunday, and 7'6" Yao Ming (left)—on a strict 24-minutes-per-game regimen due to past injuries—has been showing poor footwork and committing silly fouls while shooting a career-low 48.6% from the field.

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GERRY BROOME/AP (SINGLER)

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SCOTT ROVAK/US PRESSWIRE (HALAK)

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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (YAO)