
HOT | NOT
NOT: FIZZLING WIZARDS
Washington (0--8) is among the NBA's worst in three major offensive statistics—averaging 85.4 points (29th), 15.3 assists (29th) and 40.0 rebounds (25th)—and second-year guard John Wall, a former No. 1 draft pick, is floundering.
HOT: ROUND MOUND REBOUNDS
After a live mike caught him referring to his Weight Watchers endorsement as a "scam," a slimmed-down Barkley sparkled as host of Saturday Night Live. The highlight? His monosyllabic turn as Shaquille O'Neal.
NOT: IN THE PITTS
Ryan Foster and the Pitt Panthers (6--7) endured a 28--6 beatdown from SMU in the BBVA Compass Bowl last Saturday. Meanwhile, Pitt's men's basketball team (11--5, preseason rank: 10) is a mess, having lost four straight.
HOT: WHERE'S THE LOVE?
Timberwolves fourth-year power forward Kevin Love is averaging a career-high 25.4 points per game and shooting 40.5% from three-point range. But he has been noncommittal on Minnesota's reported plans to offer him a max contract.
NOT: BLUE PACIFIC
Ben Howland's UCLA (9--7, preseason rank: No. 17) has been the biggest disappointment, but the rest of the Pac-12 isn't exactly crushing it. No team has been ranked since Nov. 28, and the conference is 0--12 against top 25 schools.
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KELVIN KUO/US PRESSWIRE (HOWLAND)
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DAVID SHERMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (LOVE)
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PATRICK GREEN/ICON SMI (FOSTER)
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DANA EDELSON/NBC (BARKLEY)
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NICK WASS/AP (WALL)