HOT | NOT

NOT: GEEZ, WIZ

Avert your gaze, they're hideous. Even with Nene (above) in the lineup (he missed nine games with a foot injury), Washington fell to 0--11 last Saturday after a 108--106 double-OT loss to Charlotte. Said the despondent—but clear-eyed—coach Randy Wittman, "It's hard to win a game."

HOT: BIG MAC ROARS

Five straight birdies and a six-under 66 at the Dubai World Championship gave 23-year-old Rory McIlroy his fifth win of '12. Said the Northern Irishman, who ended the season ranked No. 1 on the European and PGA tour money lists, "I wanted to come here and finish in style."

NOT: WESTERN DISUNION

The Chiefs (eight L's in a row), Raiders (four) and Chargers (three) are a combined 8--25. San Diego coach Norv Turner has said he's on a "week-to-week basis," and his D didn't help his prospects when it let Baltimore convert a fourth-and-29 on a game-tying drive. The Ravens won in OT.

HOT: ILLINOIS JOY

The Fighting Illini (7--0) stayed perfect, thanks to a Tyler Griffey 25-foot trey with four seconds left that beat Gardner-Webb 63--62 on Sunday, four days after Illinois whipped Butler 78--61 to win the Maui Invitational. Guard Brandon Paul (above) is second in the Big Ten at 18.7 ppg.

NOT: BUFFS THE COACH SLAYER

Colorado (1--11), fresh off the worst season in its history, fired Jon Embree on Sunday, making him the third coach bought out since 2005 (for nearly $8 million). CU's D ranked 124th in FBS (46.0 ppg), and the Buffaloes went winless at home for the first time since 1920.

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RON CHENOY/US PRESSWIRE (EMBREE)

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BRIAN SPURLOCK/US PRESSWIRE (PAUL)

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DONALD MIRALLE/GETTY IMAGES (TURNER)

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YOSHUA ARIAS/LANDOV (MCILROY)

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NICK WASS/AP PHOTO (NENE)