HOT | NOT

HOT: DA BULLS

Derrick Rose is still out (knee), but Chicago's hanging tough. The Bulls (13--9) have won five of six, most recently staving off the Nets 83--82 last Saturday. Joakim Noah (above) had a double double, and 19-year-old Marquis Teague added eight points.

NOT: BLAH BEARS

Chicago's offense has become a joke. In losing 21--13 to Green Bay on Sunday, QB Jay Cutler (above) was just 12 for 21 (135 yards), thanks in part to three offensive pass interference calls on WR Alshon Jeffery, including one that negated a touchdown.

HOT: BUTLER DID IT

Last Saturday's 88--86 OT upset of No. 1 Indiana gave Butler its fifth straight W and second victory over a top 10 team this year. (No. 9 UNC fell 82--71 on Nov. 20.) Walk-on Alex Barlow, who scored a career-high six points, hit the game-winner with 2.4 seconds left.

NOT: THAT'S SO NOT RAVEN

Baltimore, once 9--2 and poised for its fifth straight playoff appearance, finds itself mired in a three-game slide, the latest a 34--17 loss to Denver at home. The problem? That once-dominating D. The Ravens are giving up 242.1 passing yards per game, 26th in the league.

HOT: LOCHTE SHINES

A day after setting a world record (50.71) in his semifinal of the 100-meter IM at the worlds in Istanbul, Ryan Lochte won the final on Sunday, giving him six golds and a silver at the meet—all of which he gave away to fans, saying they'd otherwise end up "in a sock drawer."

PHOTO

VALDRIN XHEMAJ/EPA (LOCHTE)

PHOTO

KEVIN DIETSCH/UPI/LANDOV (RAVENS)

PHOTO

MICHAEL CONROY/AP (BARLOW)

PHOTO

E. JASON WAMBSGANS/MCT/ZUMAPRESS.COM (CUTLER)

PHOTO

MATT SLOCUM/AP (NOAH)