Auburn men stay at No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 6th straight week, Florida up to No. 2

Auburn’s win at Alabama assured the Tigers would keep the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a sixth consecutive week.

The Tigers (23-2) received 59 of 60 first-place votes in Monday’s poll, reclaiming nearly all the support lost when they fell at home to Florida on Feb. 8. Auburn had been the unanimous No. 1 for three straight weeks before that loss, but remained at the top last week despite seeing nearly half of those first-place votes go primarily to Alabama, with a few to Florida and Tennessee.

Notre Dame women move up to No. 1 in AP poll for first time since 2019

Notre Dame is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, ascending to the top spot Monday for the first time since 2019.

The Fighting Irish replaced UCLA, which lost its first game of the season last week, falling to rival USC, 71-60. Notre Dame was last No. 1 on Jan. 21, 2019.

The Irish, who received 16 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel, faced No. 11 Duke on Monday night.

Texas moved up to second for its best ranking since 2017. The Longhorns, who garnered eight first-place ballots, became the first team to beat three straight top 10 teams since 2004-05, according to ESPN, topping South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU.

Indiana Fever continue signing spree by adding forward Brianna Turner

INDIANAPOLIS>> The Indiana Fever continued their offseason overhaul Tuesday by signing free agent forward Brianna Turner, a two-time WNBA all-defensive selection.

Turner is the latest addition to a roster that consists of five All-Stars and the WNBA’s last two Rookies of the Year, guard Caitlin Clark and forward Aliyah Boston.

Adding Turner also follows a trend the Fever have followed throughout the offseason — brining in veterans with postseason experience.

Mavs suspend unidentified employee after arrest of assistant coach Armstrong

DALLAS >> The Dallas Mavericks said Sunday they have suspended an employee they didn’t identify after assistant coach Darrell Armstrong was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Dallas police said officers responded to a call in the predawn hours Saturday. Police said a preliminary investigation determined the 56-year-old Armstrong and the victim were arguing when Armstrong hit the victim with a gun and threatened to shoot the victim. Armstrong and the victim knew each other, according to police.

Geraint Thomas will retire at the end of season

LONDON >> Geraint Thomas, the former Tour de France champion who also won gold medals in track cycling for Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 2008 and ’12, announced Monday that this will be his final year as a professional.

Thomas, a loyal teammate with a tremendous appetite for victory who transformed into a leader in his own right over his almost two-decade career, said he will focus on the Tour this summer with Ineos Grenadiers.

Aged 38, Thomas told the BBC that he will ride in support of the team’s ambitions and “maybe try to win a stage but just enjoy the race” that he won in 2018.

— The Associated Press