The Baylor Bears are the projected No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and undefeated San Diego State could have a tough path to the Final Four, according to Saturday's first in-season bracket reveal by the selection committee.

The Bears have amassed the nation's most impressive résumé, which is punctuated by wins over Villanova, Arizona, Butler, Texas Tech and Kansas.

Baylor (South) and San Diego State (East) joined Gonzaga (West) and Kansas (Midwest) as the projected No. 1 seeds.

The official seedings will be announced by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee on Selection Sunday, which is March 15.

Louisville (2), Seton Hall (3) and Auburn (4) completed the South Region, which will be played in Houston. Dayton (2), Florida State (3) and Michigan State (4) completed the Midwest, which will be held in Indianapolis.

If the NCAA tournament started today, West Virginia (2), Villanova (3) and Oregon (4) would join Gonzaga in the West Region in Los Angeles. Duke (2), Maryland (3) and Butler (4) would join San Diego State in the East, staged this year at Madison Square Garden in New York.

San Diego State, 23-0 entering Saturday's game against Air Force, has four Quad 1 wins (Creighton, BYU, Iowa, Utah State). But SDSU landed in the East Region as the fourth top seed behind Gonzaga, which also has four Quad 1 wins but currently owns the top spot in the West.

What does that mean? If the current alignment remains, then San Diego State would have to travel 2,800 miles to New York to possibly face Duke for a trip to the Final Four, which takes place March 27-29 in Atlanta.

Since the in-season bracket reveal debuted in the 2016-17 season, nine of the No. 1 seeds listed over the first three years were No. 1 seeds on Selection Sunday in their respective seasons, and the other three were No. 2 seeds.

Kevin White, chair of the men's basketball selection committee, said Iowa, Kentucky and LSU "generated the most conversation" among teams that failed to crack the top 16 on Saturday.

The NET ranking, which made its debut last season, is clearly a key evaluation tool for the committee. The top four teams in the NET rankings as of Saturday morning were also the top four projected seeds. Arizona is the only team ranked in the NET's top 15 that wasn't listed among the top four projected seeds on Saturday.

In a wild year for the sport, the top 16 projected seeds represented nine conferences.

"The NCAA's evaluation tool is performing quite well," said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's vice president of men's basketball.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Bob Knight cherished the short stroll from the practice gym to Assembly Hall.

It ended his 20-year journey back to Hoosiers basketball.

Surrounded by dozens of former players and thousands of Indiana fans chanting "Bob-by, Bob-by," the 79-year-old Knight finally returned to his home court Saturday to a rousing welcome.

"We love you, Bobby!" one fan shouted.

Many Hoosiers fans spent years waiting and hoping they could give the combustible coach the proper reward for everything he did in 29 seasons in Bloomington -- three NCAA championships, a school-record 662 victories, 11 Big Ten titles and five Final Four appearances.

But his firing on Sept. 10, 2000, created a bitter split between Knight and the university. He declined opportunity after opportunity to reunite when his championship teams were honored. He even declined to come back for his induction into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, saying he didn't want to detract from the other class members.

And then, suddenly, it was all over.

With the Hoosiers playing their biggest rival, Purdue, with longtime friend and rival Gene Keady in the arena and his 1980 Big Ten championship team being honored, Knight put aside his grudge and walked to midcourt with his son Pat and former players Quinn Buckner and Scott May.

"Thank you, Coach! Thank you, Coach!" the fans chanted as Knight waved to the crowd and pretended to run practice drills.

He led the crowd in a chant of "de-fense," and when his former players gathered around, he hugged some of them. Among them was Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who led the Hoosiers to the 1981 national title. Knight even playfully messed around with ESPN's Dick Vitale.

No, he wasn't dressed in his trademark red sweater. Instead, he wore a red Indiana basketball warm-up jacket.

And he wasn't as loud or fiery as he was all those years ago. He needed help as he shuffled back to the court, and he had to stop a couple of times on his way. He seemed to enjoy the moment every bit as much as those inside Assembly Hall.

It took years to mend the relationship.

Athletic director Fred Glass stayed in touch with Knight, hoping one day the icy relationship would thaw. Then last spring, Knight surprised everyone by showing up for an Indiana baseball game.

He also moved back to Bloomington last year, and there was speculation for weeks that he might soon return to Assembly Hall.

Knight made public appearances around the city and state, giving speeches, signing autographs and attending games and practices.

Some thought he would come back to watch his alma mater, Ohio State, when the Buckeyes visited Assembly Hall on Jan. 11. Instead, he went to Marian, an NAIA school in Indianapolis, where one of his former players, Steve Downing, is the athletic director.

Knight hadn't been back to Assembly Hall since he was fired after a student accused Knight of grabbing him in the hallway. The university had initiated a zero-tolerance policy for Knight earlier that year following an investigation into claims that he choked a former player, the late Neil Reed.

Knight finished his career at Texas Tech, retiring in 2008 with a then-record 902 victories.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The New Orleans Pelicans could be without two key players Saturday night when they take on the Indiana Pacers.

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said rookie Zion Williamson and All-Star forward Brandon Ingram would be game-time decisions.

Officially, the Pelicans listed Ingram as doubtful and Williamson as questionable.

Both players sprained their ankles during Thursday's 125-119 win over the Bulls. Both injuries happened in the second quarter.

Williamson didn't finish the second quarter but returned in the second half and finished with a team-high 21 points. Ingram injured his ankle late in the second quarter and started the third quarter. However, he checked out midway through the quarter and did not return.

Ingram was downgraded to doubtful on Saturday and Williamson was added to the injury report on Saturday afternoon.

Gentry said both players would come in pregame to get treatment and their status would be decided after that.

Williamson missed the first 44 games of the season as he recovered from surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. Even though he finished the game against Chicago, Gentry said the team will be cautious with him.

"Obviously, we won't take any chances," Gentry said on Saturday morning. "If he's good, he'll go. If not, we'll keep him out."

Ingram, a first-time All-Star, is averaging 24.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season.

In eight games, Williamson is averaging 19.8 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 57.4 percent. He's the only rookie this season with four consecutive 20-point games.

The Milwaukee Bucks are clearing the way to sign forward Marvin Williams, as soon as Monday, by waiving Dragan Bender, league sources told ESPN.

Williams' buyout is complete with the Charlotte Hornets and he was waived Saturday. He will clear waivers with the remainder of his $15 million expiring salary and become an unrestricted free agent.

Williams will sign with the Bucks on the veterans' prorated minimum worth $956,000, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Buyout players are eligible for the postseason on their next team, as long as they've completed contract buyouts by March 1.

The Bucks, who at 44-7 have the best record in the NBA, did not make a trade before Thursday's deadline.

Williams' ability to defend multiple positions, shoot 3-pointers (36.2% in his career) and deliver character to a locker room makes him a coveted player on the buyout market.

Williams, 33, has played with Charlotte since 2014, and his career includes stops with Utah (2012-14) and Atlanta (2005-12). The 15-year veteran has averaged 25 minutes per game in 49 career playoff appearances, last reaching the postseason with Charlotte in 2016.

He was a starter for the Hornets until this season, when he has made just one start in 41 games played. He has career averages of 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 1,055 games.

Bender, 22, has appeared in seven games for the Bucks this season and is averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Williams is not the only player Charlotte is trying to buy out. Sources told ESPN the Hornets are finalizing a buyout of former No. 2 overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, with the small forward possibly headed to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Charlotte Hornets are finalizing a buyout with forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon.

The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as a possible destination once Kidd-Gilchrist clears waivers, sources said. The Hornets waived Kidd-Gilchrist on Saturday.

Kidd-Gilchrist, 26, was the No. 2 overall pick by the then-Bobcats in the 2012 draft. He has played his entire eight-season NBA career in Charlotte.

He is averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12 games this season. He has career averages of 8.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 433 games.

The Hornets have already completed a buyout of Marvin Williams and waived him Saturday. Williams is expected to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks once he clears waivers.

The 2020 NBA trade deadline saw 10 deals take place before the 3 p.m. ET cutoff Thursday, as title contenders acquired reinforcements and rebuilding squads made deals in hopes of a brighter future.

Do the Golden State Warriors see a future with Andrew Wiggins as they look to reload? Are the Los Angeles Lakers or the LA Clippers now the front-runners to come out of the Western Conference? Did the Miami Heat add enough to make a run at a championship?

Our NBA Insiders make sense of the trade deadline aftermath ahead of Saturday's matchup between the Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN App).

MORE: The Lakers-Clippers rivalry spilled into the trade deadline

1. Will Andrew Wiggins be a long-term starter for the Warriors?

Nick Friedell: The Warriors are confident that their culture will get the most out of Wiggins. I've watched Wiggins long enough to believe he is what he is at this point in his career. My guess is that they will give him a chance to prove himself over the next year or so -- but he will ultimately finish out that contract somewhere else.

Tim Bontemps: No. D'Angelo Russell was acquired to be the trade chip that delivered Golden State another star. The addition of another high lottery pick from Minnesota in either 2021 or 2022 to pair with Golden State's high lottery pick should allow the Warriors to still do that while using Wiggins as salary ballast. This trade helps Golden State get closer to such a trade, not further from it.

Bobby Marks: I am not ready to give up on Wiggins. Yes, he has been one of the most inconsistent players since entering the NBA. Much of that is due to the expectations of living up to being a No. 1 pick and playing on a max contract as well as the rotating door of four head coaches in his first six seasons at Minnesota. Unlike with the Timberwolves, Wiggins doesn't have to be the first or second option in Golden State. With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Wiggins will have more of a defined role, albeit an expensive one.

Andre Snellings: Wiggins has a 1½-year runway as a starter with the Warriors because his contract is still an albatross. When drafted, many saw Wiggins' length and athleticism and thought he had a Scottie Pippen-like upside on defense. That might never have been possible, but if he can become adequate on D with better shot selection, he could fill a Harrison Barnes-like role.

Kevin Pelton: Probably. Either Wiggins improves in Golden State, in which case he makes sense in that role, or he struggles and becomes difficult to trade again. In the latter scenario, even with a massive payroll, I doubt the Warriors would prioritize bringing in someone to start ahead of a max player.

2. Are the Lakers the favorites to win the Western Conference title?

Friedell: The Lakers have been much better through the first half of the season than I thought they would be. It's a credit to their staff and players for making it work so quickly, but I still think the Clippers are the best team in the West when healthy. Kawhi Leonard has proved how great he is, and that team has shown it can hit a different level defensively.

Marks: No, the Clippers have an edge. Adding Marcus Morris Sr. gives Doc Rivers three 20-point scorers. Of course, the Lakers' roster could change in the buyout market, but their lack of a primary ball handler outside of LeBron James is a concern.

Pelton: No, I think the Clippers solidified their position as favorites with the addition of Morris. While the Lakers have had the smoother regular season and probably will have an easier path to the conference finals, the Clippers match up better head-to-head, as we've seen so far in their meetings.

Snellings: The Lakers are the favorite in the West because their size, physicality and ability to patrol the paint present a known strategy for postseason success, as they have the best high-end talent with James and Anthony Davis. They project better than the Clippers, Nuggets or Jazz. The wild card out West is the Rockets, but the Lakers are the safer choice as favorites.

Bontemps: The Clippers have beaten the Lakers in both meetings thus far and at the trade deadline added Morris, giving them another big body to throw at James and preventing the Lakers from adding a body to throw at Leonard. I thought the Clippers were the team to beat all season, and adding Morris has only reinforced that feeling.

3. Who came out best at the trade deadline?

Marks: Miami. Now and for the future. The Heat could have traded Dion Waiters for nothing and still come out big winners at the deadline. Instead, Waiters and James Johnson's combined $28 million is off the books for 2020-21 and the Heat get back a Finals MVP in Andre Iguodala plus a starter in Jae Crowder. That said, getting Danilo Gallinari would have moved the Heat closer to Milwaukee. To that end, the Heat could sign Gallinari this summer to a one-year contract at a large number if the market dries up.

Pelton: Minnesota. I think it's a mistake to describe the Russell trade as a risk because you have to have something to lose for it to be risky. The Timberwolves were going nowhere slowly and they've lost 17 consecutive games in which Karl-Anthony Towns has played. They were the desperate team, and they got the better of the trade from a value standpoint.

Snellings: The Bucks came out best because they were a clear step ahead of every other contender going in and no team made the moves to bridge that gap. The Lakers, Raptors and 76ers are the only teams with the size to have a chance against a healthy Bucks team, but none addressed their issues on the perimeter at the deadline.

Bontemps: I'll say three -- the Clippers, Heat and Bucks. The Clippers because they added an impact player and kept him from their chief rival. The Heat because they cleared off the dead-weight contracts of Johnson and Waiters while adding contributors in Iguodala and Crowder, all while giving up no draft-pick compensation. The Bucks because none of the teams atop the East really made a game-changing move, while Milwaukee is running away from the field.

Friedell: I like what the Heat did. They got out of the Johnson and Waiters deals, added Iguodala and Crowder and -- maybe most importantly -- cleared out enough space to potentially chase another big star down the line.

4. Who came out worst at the trade deadline?

Pelton: Detroit, from the standpoint that the Pistons waited out an Andre Drummond trade so long that his value was reduced to as close to nil as possible. Dealing him now was reasonable to move in a new direction and assure $30 million-plus in cap space this summer, but from the broader perspective, what a bummer for Detroit.

Snellings: The 76ers are the easy answer because they are the one team considered to have the talent to contend that is having the most difficulty putting it together. If they could have figured out an impact trade to shift the team dynamic, they still had championship upside. By making only a small move, they remain a team whose upside appears questionable as opposed to a legitimate contender.

Bontemps: The Nuggets. Getting a first-round pick for Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez was good business and opens up a bigger opportunity for Michael Porter Jr., but Denver needed some heft on the wing to go up against guys like James, Leonard, James Harden and Luka Doncic in the playoffs. Denver is a deep, talented team, but this feels like a missed opportunity to get better and make a big run in the West.

Friedell: I'm surprised the Lakers didn't make any moves, but I really don't get what Memphis did. Justise Winslow is a nice player when he's healthy, but he has dealt with various injuries throughout his career. Moreover, why are the Grizzlies taking on the deals for Johnson and Waiters now?

Marks: Memphis. The spin for the Grizzlies is that they traded Iguodala for Winslow and in the Iguodala maneuver also got a future first-round pick from the Warriors. The reality is that they took themselves out of the summer of 2020 when they committed $28 million to Waiters and Gorgui Dieng. Yes, Memphis is not a free-agent destination (yet), and Winslow could be considered their big free-agent signing. But Winslow has missed 136 games in five seasons because of injury. Memphis would have been better off taking a back seat during the deadline and using cap room this summer to improve the roster -- and not with a player who has injury concerns.

5. After the trade deadline, what are you most intrigued by going forward?

Snellings: Clearly the Rockets. People see small ball, but it's much deeper. Daryl Morey is the analytics GM in the NBA, and Robert Covington has one of the best impact footprints in recent seasons, according to real plus-minus. Morey is betting the Rockets can maximize efficiency, spacing and situational defense, which in turn maximizes Russell Westbrook. If they pull this off, it revolutionizes the NBA.

Bontemps: What does Golden State do this summer? Will they use Wiggins and the draft capital they have to go get a big-name star? After getting out of the luxury tax this season, will they be willing to go deep into it next season (by using the Iguodala trade exception created last summer and their taxpayer midlevel exception) to bolster their roster for another title run? The answers to those questions will determine Golden State's ceiling next season and beyond -- and whether the Warriors can again be a championship contender after a lost season.

Friedell: The Clippers are very clearly all-in this season. To add Morris to what they already have only strengthens my belief that this is their time to win a title.

Marks: The buyout and free-agent market. Will Darren Collison pick the Lakers or the Clippers? Do any of the recently traded players such as Maurice Harkless and Evan Turner find a new home? Even lottery teams like the Cavaliers can improve for next season, just as we saw the Heat sign G League players Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson in the last week of the season in 2019. Both are now starters on a playoff team in Miami.

Pelton: How long Houston can sustain its strong play with the smallest rotations we've seen for an NBA contender in modern history. Will playing P.J. Tucker exclusively at center and wing players like Covington up a position ultimately take a toll on them physically? I look forward to finding out.

European champion clears sensational 6.17m at the Copernicus Cup meeting

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis soared into the history books yet again on Saturday evening as he cleared an incredible 6.17m to break the world pole vault record in Poland.

Just a few days after coming agonisingly close to achieving the feat in Düsseldorf, the 20-year-old world silver medallist gained the record he had been craving by adding one centimetre to the mark set by France’s Renaud Lavillenie in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2014.

Duplantis adds this record to his long list of best for age marks as well as the world under-20 record of 6.05m which he set when winning the European title in 2018.

As a result, he becomes one of just three athletes to currently hold both the under-20 and senior world records in their events, joining Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt (200m) and Ethiopia’s distance running great Tirunesh Dibaba (5000m).

“It’s something that I wanted since I was three years old,” said Duplantis, who set his first age group world best at just seven, when he cleared 2.33m.

“It’s a big year, but it’s a good way to start it.”

SIX POINT SEVENTEEN METERS NEW WR @mondohoss600 pic.twitter.com/dkZHhIacNc

— Andreas Duplantis (@dreasduplantis) February 8, 2020

Duplantis had opened his competition at the Orlen Copernicus Cup meeting in Toruń by clearing 5.52m on his first attempt and had the contest won when he passed 5.62m but cleared 5.72m on his first try.

He then passed at 5.82m before first-time clearances at both 5.92m and 6.01m, which added a centimetre to his previous indoor best.

Asking for the bar to be raised to 6.17m, Duplantis was unsuccessful on his first attempt but then made his second try look easy. After soaring clear, he was first embraced by his fellow pole vaulters before finding his mum in the crowd to continue the celebrations.

His fellow Swedish vaulter Melker Jacobsson and USA’s Matt Ludwig were joint runners up after clearing 5.52m.

Also in Toruń, Britain’s 2018 world indoor champion Andrew Pozzi won the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.53 after a 7.58 heat, while the women’s race was won by Alina Talay in 7.87.

Ethiopia’s world medallist Gudaf Tsegay clocked 4:00.09 to win the 1500m, with that time moving her to seventh on the world indoor all-time list. Runner-up Lemlem Hailu ran 4:01.79 to break the world under-20 indoor record, which had been set by Tsegay (4:01.81) in 2016.

Slovakia’s European indoor champion Ján Volko claimed 60m victory in 6.58 as Britain’s Richard Kilty was third in 6.60. After turning to crowdfunding in 2018 in an attempt to raise money for surgery on an Achilles injury, 2014 European 100m champion James Dasaolu raced for the first time since 2017 and clocked 6.82 in the heats.

USA’s Shania Collins won the women’s race in 7.24 as Britain’s Kristal Awuah was sixth in 7.34.

Kenya’s Collins Kipruto ran a PB of 1:45.86 to win the 800m, while Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersetic won the 400m in 51.37 for a national indoor record and world lead.

Ukrainian world silver medallist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk improved to a world-leading PB of 6.96m to win the long jump, as Nigeria’s world bronze medallist Ese Brume was second with 6.62m and Britain’s world and European indoor medallist Lorraine Ugen was third with 6.52m.

Czech Republic’s world and European indoor medallist Tomas Stanek secured shot put success with a throw of 21.86m.

PEORIA, Ariz. – Canyon Speedway Park will play host to the POWRi Lucas Oil Border Tour Non-Wing Sprint Series for the first time this year.

The POWRi Lucas Oil Border Tour Non-Wing Sprint Series will visit Canyon Speedway Park three times this year starting with the Easter Eggstravaganza on April 11. The series will return May 30 and again on Sept. 26 for the Night of Champions race.

“It’s exciting to inject a new direction into our business and we are confident that the success of the POWRi in the Midwest is not a coincidence,” said Promoter Doug Gabbard.

“I am eager to get back to my home town of Phoenix and work with all my longtime friends, drivers and Promoter Doug Gabbard,” said Rue Stone, Border Tour Series Director. “With Canyon coming on board this will certainly increase the level of competition for the championship.”

2020 POWRi Lucas Oil Border Tour Non-Wing Sprint Series Schedule

March 21 – Cocapah Speedway – Somerton, Ariz.
April 4 – Vado Speedway Park – Vado, N.M.
April 11 Canyon Speedway – Peoria, Ariz.
May 9 – Vado Speedway Park – Vado, N.M.
May 30 – Canyon Speedway – Peoria, Ariz.
June 13 – Vado Speedway Park – Vado, N.M.
July 18 – Vado Speedway Park – Vado, N.M.
Aug. 8 – Vado Speedway Park – Vado, N.M.
Sept. 11-12 – Aztec Speedway – Aztec, N.M.
Sept. 26 – Canyon Speedway – Peoria, Ariz.
Oct. 30-31 – Cocapah Speedway – Somerton, Ariz.
Nov. 27-28 Vado Speedway Park – Vado, N.M.

BARWON HEADS, Australia – Ayean Cho shot a 2-under 70 on a difficult day for scoring to take a one-stroke lead over Madelene Sagstrom after three rounds of the LPGA's Vic Open.

The tournament at the 13th Beach Golf Links also feature a European Tour men's tournament running alongside the women's event.

Choi had a three-round total of 12-under 205. Canada's Alena Sharp was in third, two strokes behind Cho after a 70.

In the men's event, Min Woo Lee eagled the 18th hole for 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke lead over three-time European Tour winner Marcus Fraser and fellow Australian Travis Smyth.

“I knew it was going to be difficult coming in, it was going to be a grind today," Sagstrom told a television commentator before completing her round. “I am going to be tired after this."

After Saturday's third round, the men's and women's fields were reduced to 35 players each plus ties. The final round will be played on the Beach course. That course and the Creek course were used for the first two rounds of the tournament.

In the men's event, Min Woo Lee eagled the 18th hole for 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke lead over three-time European Tour winner Marcus Fraser and fellow Australian Travis Smyth.

"There is so much wind, it's so hard to figure out when to pull the trigger, I think it might be one of the best rounds I have ever played, regardless of the score," Lee said."

Lee had a three-round total of 15-under 201. Fraser shot 69 and Smyth 72.

Fraser said the windy conditions bordered on unplayable.

"My old man plays off 14, he's a good golfer and I think he would have struggled to break 110 out there," said Fraser. “I think that's as strong a wind as I've played in anywhere.”

The tournament is also sanctioned by the Australasian PGA men's tour and European Tour and the European and Australian women's tours.

Manchester United midfielder Fred has criticised the lack of unity within the dressing room and called for more togetherness.

United sit eighth in the Premier League table -- six points behind fourth-place Chelsea and 38 behind leaders Liverpool -- but Fred said the key to catching their rivals is to become more of a team.

- Premier League winter break: All you need to know

Asked what United needed to catch up to Liverpool and second-place Manchester City, Fred told Ale Oliveira: "Many things. We are missing a little creativity.

"We need to improve in everything. The togetherness within the team. [There is] vanity within the group. We need to focus on the same objectives.

"When everyone has the same objectives in their minds, we start moving forwards. But one player just wants to play well or another to score a goal himself, it is more difficult to make forward passes."

The club's disappointing league position has led to question marks over the future of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, Fred said he believes the Norwegian needs time as he is still growing as a manager.

"He's a good person and a good trainer," Fred said. "He is a young manager, and will grow and improve. He will help us."