WHO'S HOT

It's full speed ahead for Darrel Mitchell and LSU, which has won 10 of its past 13 games. (Bill Haber -- AP)

WHO'S HOT

LSU. In only a few weeks, Tigers Coach John Brady has gone from the hot seat to coaching one of college basketball's hottest teams. LSU dropped five of its first 11 games, including an inexcusable loss to Southern Mississippi, 88-84 in overtime, in Baton Rouge, La., on Dec. 18. But the Tigers have rebounded to win 10 of their past 13, beating Southeastern Conference favorites Mississippi State, Florida and Alabama in the past three games. Their 61-59 win over No. 16 Alabama on Tuesday night moved them within one game of the Crimson Tide for first place in the SEC West. Alabama plays Kentucky today and at Mississippi State on March 5. LSU finishes the regular season against three of the league's worst teams -- at Auburn, at Mississippi and at home against Vanderbilt. The Tigers are led by two of the country's best sophomores, forward Brandon Bass (17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds) and point guard Tack Minor (11.1 points, 5.2 assists). Freshman forward Glen Davis -- nicknamed "Baby Shaq" because he weighs 310 pounds -- is averaging 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds.

WHO'S NOT

Georgia Tech. Since the NCAA tournament was expanded to 64 teams (a play-in game was added in 2001 to add a 65th team) in 1985, only five schools have failed to make the tournament a year after playing in the national championship game. Louisville accomplished the dubious feat in 1987, Kansas in 1989, Seton Hall in 1990, Duke in 1995 and Syracuse in 1997. The Yellow Jackets (15-9, No. 53 RPI) are dangerously close to becoming the sixth. Despite returning nearly every player from the team that lost to Connecticut, 82-73, in the championship game in San Antonio last April 5, Georgia Tech has lost seven of its last 11 games, and the Yellow Jackets' 102-101 overtime win over Wake Forest on Jan. 27 is really their only notable victory. Georgia Tech is 2-6 against teams ranked in the RPI top 50, and 10 of its victories came against teams ranked outside the RPI top 100. After barely surviving at Florida State last week, the Yellow Jackets play their next three games at Miami, at Wake Forest and home against Clemson. They probably need to win two of three to earn at-large consideration.

UNDER THE RADAR

Believe it or not, some of the guys who crunch RPI numbers believe Buffalo -- yes, that Buffalo! -- could be close to receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Bulls have an RPI rating of No. 42 and have won their last five games, including victories over Western Michigan and Kent State, two of the better teams in the Mid-American Conference, and Fresno State on the road last weekend. Coach Reggie Witherspoon has guided the Bulls from a record of 5-23 during the 2002-03 season to 17-12 last year and 18-7 this season. Buffalo has two players who are 6 feet 10 or taller, and junior guard Calvin Cage, from Bladensburg High, is the team's top three-point shooter and is averaging 10.4 points. With games left at Ohio and against Akron, the Bulls could be a surprise choice on Selection Sunday.

DOUBLE-TAKE OF THE WEEK

St. Francis, N.Y. 110, Fairleigh Dickinson 103

In what was the highest-scoring game in the Northeast Conference in four seasons, the Terriers overcame a 17-point deficit in the first half to upset the Knights. Junior forward Gordon Klaiber, from National Christian Academy, scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for FDU, and senior guard Tamien Trent had 36 points. Their 70 points were more than twice as many as the points scored by FDU's six other players, who combined for 33. The Terriers were far more balanced with six players scoring 10 points or more, including guard Tory Cavalieri, who had 30 points and 10 assists. FDU moved back into a first-place tie with Monmouth in the NEC by beating Central Connecticut State, 63-58, on Wednesday night.