UNDATED (AP) — Kansas maintained its grip on the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. The Jayhawks received all 65 first-place votes to remain at the top for a third straight week. The past two weeks they have been the unanimous choice ahead of Gonzaga and Dayton. Florida State climbed three spots to No. 4 after winning its first Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title. This is FSU's highest ranking since sitting at No. 2 in December 1972. West Virginia and Butler were the week's new additions. Michigan and Penn State fell out of the poll.
UNDATED (AP) — The unpredictability of the college basketball season has made for a murky race for national player of the year honors. There's no one like Duke's Zion Williamson, who was a runaway choice as The Associated Press national player of the year. Now there's a top tier of worthy candidates. The list includes Kansas point guard Devon Dotson as the floor leader for the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks. Dayton's Obi Toppin has been dominant in the Atlantic 10. The list also includes Iowa's Luka Garza, Marquette's Markus Howard, Seton Hall's Myles Powell and Oregon's Payton Pritchard.
National Headlines
MIAMI (AP) — All major professional sports leagues are taking corona virus outbreak precautions. The NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer are closing access to locker rooms and clubhouses to all non-essential personnel. The changes will be temporary. Media will still have access to players.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston ace Justin Verlander has a mild strain of a back muscle and said it would “probably take a miracle” for him to pitch on opening day at home against the Angels on March 26. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was hurt on his second-to-last pitch in Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Mets. There is not a timetable for his return. Verlander had a similar injury during spring training in 2015 and did not make his season debut until June 13.
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The surgeons who operated on Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun decided not to wire his broken jaw shut. Calhoun was hit in the face by a fastball on Sunday. He is expected to be released from this hospital in coming days. Doctors haven't determined if Calhoun had a concussion. He tweeted that he's “doing well” and “can't wait to be back hitting homers soon.”
DENVER (AP) — The short-handed Milwaukee Bucks have now lost four out their last five games. The latest lost was a 109-95 thumping by the Denver Nuggets. Denver’s Jamal Murray scored 21 points, but his teammates and lots of people on Twitter say he was robbed on a hard slam dunk ruled an offensive foul. The bucks are without their top six scorers — including reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Monday Scores
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (2)Gonzaga 81 San Francisco 77
Final Saint Mary's (Cal) 51 (14)BYU 50
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final 2OT Atlanta 143 Charlotte 138
Final Denver 109 Milwaukee 95
Final Toronto 101 Utah 92