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 regional 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 and give the Red Raiders a sweep of the regular-season series.

NBA: Chris Paul 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. Paul was injured Wednesday in a victory over the Rockets in the final game before the break and his hand was in a cast Saturday when he held his All-Star press conference. He said he was frustrated but also sounded optimistic.

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.