Duke was the runaway choice to top the Associated Press preseason men’s basketball Top 25 on Monday, the eighth time the Blue Devils have held the preseason No. 1 ranking — tied with UCLA for second most, one behind North Carolina. The Blue Devils, who return three starters from last season’s team and have what is considered one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, received 58 of the 65 first-place votes from the national media panel. Kentucky, which had two No. 1 votes, is second, and Kansas is third. Defending national champion Villanova had four first-place votes and was fourth, while Oregon, which had the other No. 1 vote, is fifth.
North Carolina, Xavier, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Arizona round out the top 10. Connecticut is 18th and Rhode Island 23rd. The first regular-season poll will come out Nov. 14.
The NCAA ruled that North Carolina State freshman 7-footer Omer Yurtseven, a five-star recruit from Turkey, must sit the first nine games after examining his amateur status following the 18-year-old’s overseas career.
NBA
Thunder pay out big money
Two people with knowledge of the situation told the AP that the Thunder agreed to terms with Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo on four-year contract extensions. Adams is finalizing a deal worth $100 million, and Oladipo is getting $84 million. The people requested anonymity because the deals have not been announced. Teams had until Monday’s midnight deadline to agree to long-term extensions with draftees from 2013 and avoid those players becoming restricted free agents next summer . . . Rudy Gobert signed a multiyear extension to remain with the Jazz. The Vertical reported the contract is worth $102 million over four years . . . The Timberwolves said Gorgui Dieng signed a four-year contract extension. The deal is worth $64 million, a person with knowledge of the contract told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not publicly announce the terms. Minnesota also said Ricky Rubio is out indefinitely with a sprained right elbow . . . A person familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because the move hasn’t been announced, told the AP that Cody Zeller agreed to a four-year, $56 million contract extension with the Hornets.
Hawks backup forward Mike Scott will be out about four weeks because of a sore left knee. To deal with his absence, Atlanta signed forward Ryan Kelly, who was with the Celtics for one day last month before being released . . . Hornets backup guard Jeremy Lamb has a strained left hamstring and will be out for about 1-2 weeks. The former UConn standout was injured in Saturday night’s home loss to the Celtics.
NHL
Hemsky is out 5-6 months
Stars forward Ales Hemsky will miss 5-6 months after surgery for a hip injury that GM Jim Nill said was sustained during the World Cup of Hockey. Nill said the surgery was performed Monday. Hemsky, who was on injured reserve, played one game this season for Dallas, Oct. 22 against Columbus. He played for the Czech Republic in the World Cup . . . A judge will dismiss the charges against Sabres forward Evander Kane stemming from scuffles with women in a bar if he stays out of future trouble, according to a prosecutor who described Kane’s behavior as ‘‘arrogant, boorish, and surly, but not criminal.’’
The arrangement is contingent on Kane, 25, avoiding legal issues for the next six months. Kane did not speak during or after his brief appearance in Buffalo City Court on Monday. Kane’s lawyer said the action does not include an admission of guilt, and Kane still denies the allegations.
Meghan Duggan of Danvers was named captain of the US women’s hockey team that will compete at the 2016 Four Nations Cup Nov. 1-5 in Finland.
HORSE RACING
‘Chrome’ favored Saturday
California Chrome is the early even-money favorite in a field of 10 for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, in which the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will try to close the year with an undefeated record. California Chrome is 6-0 in 2016. He will break from the No. 4 post at Santa Anita under Victor Espinoza . . . Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was retired and will begin his stud career next year.
Britain’s champion jockey Jim Crowley and fellow rider Frederik Tylicki were taken to a London hospital with suspected spinal injuries following a pile-up involving four horses at Kempton Park Racecourse. The horses were not reported to be seriously injured.
MISCELLANY
RB Hurd leaving Tennessee
Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd told coach Butch Jones that he plans to transfer, leaving the Volunteers without one of the most prolific runners in school history as they attempt to snap a three-game skid that has dropped them out of the Top 25. Hurd, a junior, ends his Vols career with 2,638 yards rushing, only 440 away from Travis Henry’s 16-year-old school rushing record . . . Virginia State Police said they've charged a man with reckless driving after a crash injured more than 22 people in a Martinsville Speedway parking lot after Sunday’s NASCAR race. Police said that Gary T. Edem, 65, of Fairfax, Va., was the driver of a car that hit pedestrians in the congested handicapped parking lot, and was taken into custody and charged with reckless driving, with more charges pending . . . Wales forward Gareth Bale signed a three-year contract extension that ties him to Real Madrid until 2022 . . . Germany extended national soccer team coach Joachim Loew through the 2020 European Championship.
