Zags top seed in 1st tournament rankings

The committee that will select the NCAA Tournament sees little gap between Gonzaga and Auburn as the top team.

For now, the Zags are the pick.

Gonzaga was the top overall seed in initial rankings released Saturday by the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, sitting ahead of Auburn, Arizona and Kansas as the other teams holding No. 1 regional seeds.

Gonzaga, which held the No. 1 seed in last year’s early reveal, and Auburn have held the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the past five weeks, with the Mark Few’s Bulldogs (22-2) currently in their third stint at the top.

“I would tell you Gonzaga and Auburn, in the committee room: very close, razor thin I would even offer in the discussion - an extended discussion between these two teams,” selection committee chairman Tom Burnett said.

Burnett said there was also a slim margin between the the Tigers, who lost to unranked Florida 63-62 on Saturday, and the Wildcats as the third No. 1 seed, while Burnett said there was “maybe a little bit more separation” between Arizona and Kansas as the last of the top seeds.

Bryson Williams scored 17 points and No. 11 Texas Tech held off a late charge by No. 20 Texas to get a 61-55 victory Saturday.

Golf: Joaquin Niemann couldn’t find a fairway over the final two hours at Riviera and it didn’t matter. He still pieced together a 3-under 68 to set the 54-hole record and build a three-shot lead in the Genesis Invitational. Cameron Young shot a 69 and was three behind.

NBA: Chris Paul said in his All-Star press conference he isn’t sure if his injured right hand will be healthy enough for him to play when the Suns return from the All-Star break.

NHL: Stars captain Jamie Benn has been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after squirting water from the bench into the face of an opponent.