WHO'S HOT

Atlantic Coast Conference: The race in college basketball's glamour league is actually interesting this season. It might not be Duke, and it might not be Maryland - and it definitely won't be North Carolina. At this point, any one of the top six could win the regular-season title.

Notre Dame: In beating Pitt and shaking up the Big East Conference, the Irish not only won their 13th straight home game, they also defeated a top-10 team for the fourth time this season.

Joe Shipp: California's senior forward leads the Pacific 10 with 21.2 points a game and has the Bears challenging for a conference title. He has gone from a good player who knew how to score to one of the favorites for the league's Player of the Year award.

WHO'S NOT

Tennessee State: No disrespect to athletic director/men's basketball coach-for-a-day Teresa Phillips, but maybe it's time to look at ending the program. Bags of chains, crowbars, guns, brawls and 3-on-4 basketball all have been associated with the team this season. No surprise, the Tigers are 2-21.

Fresno State: Perhaps the NCAA should just open a branch office in Fresno. On the court, this team is one of the best in the West, but the dark clouds of scandal remain even after Jerry Tarkanian's departure. The latest allegations of academic fraud make some former Minnesota players look like Ivy League scholars.

Louisiana State: Sure, LSU has lost six of eight, but the real reason the Tigers made this list is because they travel to Rupp Arena today. Then again, miracles do happen.