AP Monday Sports Roundup

NCAA field is set...Kansas No. 1 overall seed...North Carolina, Virginia Oregon also get No. 1's

UNDATED (AP) — Ladies and gentlemen, start your brackets!

There's always controversy when the field is announced for the NCAA Tournament as people dispute seedings and some notable snubs. This year is no different. Michigan State, the nation's second-ranked team and Big Ten champion, was skipped over for a top seed while ACC runner-up Virginia was given a No. 1.

The breakdown of top-seeds looks like this. The East top-seed is ACC champion North Carolina. It's the 15th time in school history that the Tar Heels have earned a No. 1 seed. The Tar Heels open against the winner of Tuesday's First Four game in Dayton between 20-13 Florida Gulf Coast and 18-14 Fairleigh Dickinson.

In the South it's Big 12 champion and top-ranked Kansas, which goes into the tournament on a 14-game winning streak. Bill Self's Jayhawks are also the No. 1 overall seed. It's the 12th time the Jayhawks have been a No. 1 seed in a region. The Jayhawks open Thursday against 16 seed Austin Peay as they try for their first national title since 2008.

ACC runner-up Virginia is first in the Midwest. Virginia has been tabbed as a No. 1 five times in school history. ACC player of the year Malcolm Brogdon leads the Cavs in a clash of styles in their opener against in-state opponent Hampton, a 16 seed. Virginia tries to play at a deliberate pace, while the Pirates were the highest scoring team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Oregon, the Pac-12 regular season and tournament champion is No. 1 in the West. The Ducks open Thursday against the Holy-Cross Southern winner in a play-in game.

Among the notable snubs are Monmouth, Valparaiso St. Mary's and San Diego State, both out of the West Coast Conference.

In Sunday's conference tournaments finals:

—The Big Ten tournament champion is Michigan State as the Spartans held off 13th-ranked Purdue 66-62. Once again Denzel Valentine keyed the way for the Spartans with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. MSU heads to the NCAA Tournament with a record of 29-15 and wins in 13 of its last 4 games.

—In the Southeastern Conference tournament final 16th-ranked Kentucky beat No. 17 Texas A&M to clinch the automatic berth in the tournament. Derek Willis's 3-pointer with 1:01 left in overtime gave the Wildcats the win 82-77. Kentucky advances with a record of 26-8 while A&M drops to 26-8 and earns the fourth seed in the East.

—The winner of the Sun Belt tournament is Arkansas-Little Rock as the Trojans beat Louisiana-Monroe 70-50. Roger Woods scored 19 points in the victory which sends Arkansas-Little Rock into the tournament with a record of 29-4.

—Saint Joseph's is on its way to the NCAA tournament after beating VCU in the Atlantic 10 tournament title game 87-74. DeAndre' Bembry scored 30 points and Isaiah Miles had 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Hawks improved to 27-7.

—Connecticut is headed to the NCAA Tournament as the American Athletic Conference champs after the Huskies beat Memphis in the title game 72-58. In their win the Huskies got 13 points apiece from Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs. UConn goes to the NCAA Tournament with a record of 24-10.

NCAA BASKETBALL-LEAKED BRACKETS

Twitter scoops CBS with leaked brackets

NEW YORK (AP) — The first blockbuster upset of March Madness was Twitter over CBS on Selection Sunday.

The NCAA says it is looking into how a copy of this year's tournament bracket got leaked online during the network's extended selection show on Sunday.

The bracket was being shared on Twitter about 20 minutes after the start of the two-hour broadcast. The NCAA says it takes "this matter seriously and we are looking into it."

CBS declined comment.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NIT

Also-rans get spot in 32-team NIT

UNDATED (AP)— The top seeds in the National Invitation Tournament are Monmouth, St. Bonaventure, South Carolina and Valparaiso.

The first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament automatically receive No. 1 seeds in the NIT, a practice that began last year. San Diego State and Saint Mary's were among other schools relegated to the NIT after their NCAA hopes were dashed Sunday.

Regular-season conference champions that don't make the NCAA Tournament are guaranteed spots in the NIT.

One notable absence will be LSU and freshman sensation Ben Simmons, considered the nation's top NBA prospect. Tigers coach Johnny Jones announced his team would not participate in a postseason tournament after being left out of the NCAA field.

NBA-SCHEDULE

Cavs shoot down Clippers from long distance

UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James scored 27 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers destroyed the Clippers in Los Angeles 114-90. The Cavaliers burned the Clippers with 18 3-pointers.

J.R. Smith and Kyrie Irving added 17 points each, and Channing Frye had 15 on a season-high-tying five 3-pointers for the Eastern Conference leaders. On the year Cleveland is 20-6 against Western Conference teams including 10-4 on the road. They are 3-0 on their current four game road trip.

In other NBA:

— Al Horford and Paul Millsap each scored 18 points, Kyle Korver added 14 and the Atlanta Hawks routed the Indiana Pacers 104-75.

— Utah downed Sacramento 108-99. Derrick Favors led the Jazz with 28 points and 14 boards.

— The New York Knicks held the L.A. Lakers to 11 points in the first quarter and won at Staples Center, 90-87 on Jose Calderon's 3-pointer at the buzzer. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 26.

— Milwaukee went to Brooklyn and beat the Nets 109-100. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.

NHL-SCHEDULE

Pens win at the Garden

UNDATED (AP) — The Penguins got a much needed win as they stopped the Rangers 5-3 at Madison Square Garden. Pittsburgh started the day holding down the eighth and final playoff spot in the NHL Eastern Conference. Conor Sheary scored twice in the win and Matt Cullen had the go-ahead goal in the third period.

In other hockey:

— Ben Bishop made 37 saves, Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist and Tampa Bay beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 to stop a three-game losing streak. It was Bishop's fourth shutout of the season and 16th of his career. By winning Tampa Bay moved into a tie with idle Florida for second in the Atlantic Division with 85 points.

— In an Original Six matchup, Toronto blanked Detroit 1-0 in Leafs coach Mike Babcock's successful return to Joe Louis Arena. The Maple Leafs rebounded from a 4-0 loss to Ottawa Saturday night. Jonathan Bernier got his third shutout of the season with 38 saves. Michael Grabner ended a 30-game scoring drought.

MLB-NATIONALS

Scherzer to start opening game

VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Max Scherzer, who threw two no-hitters last season, has been named opening day starter for the Washington Nationals. He finished the 2015 campaign with a record of 14-12 with a 2.79 earned run average. Scherzer no-hit the Pirates on June 20 and the Mets on Oct 4.

NASCAR-PHOENIX

Harvick takes first by one-hundredth of a second.

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — In another extremely close finish Kevin Harvick has won the Sprint Cup race in Avondale, Arizona. Carl Edwards was second and the two spent the final part of the last lap bumping each other as they fought for the lead.

Harvick edged Carl Edwards by one-hundredth of a second -- the same margin of victory as Denny Hamlin's thrilling win last month in the Daytona 500.

It's Harvick's record eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup victory at Phoenix International Raceway

INDYCAR

Montoya wins season opener

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Colombian sensation Juan Pablo Montoya won the IndyCar season-opening race for the second consecutive year as he took the checkered flag in the race on the streets of St. Petersburg. The win Sunday by Montoya was the eighth in 12 tries for Penske drivers. Simon Pagenaud finished second to make it a 1-2 Penske finish, but Ryan Hunter-Reay spoiled the sweep by passing Helio Castroneves with three laps remaining.

The day got off to a rocky start for the Penske organization as pole-sitter Will Power was diagnosed with a concussion that sidelined him from the opener. The four Penske drivers had swept qualifying and Power broke his own track record three times in Saturday qualifying.

NFL-BILLS

Ryan sacks defensive line coach

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have fired defensive line coach Karl Dunbar in an abrupt move announced by Rex Ryan.

In a statement released by the team, Ryan called it a difficult decision but added he felt he needed to make a change "and go in a different direction." No other details were provided.

The Bills offensive line struggled last season in adapting to the defensive system introduced by Ryan. Defensive end Mario Williams went public with his complaints about the system and was cut by the Bills earlier this month.

GOLF-VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Tight finish in men's golf

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Charl Schwartzel won the PGA's Valspar Championship in one playoff hole. While he shot par on the first playoff hole Bill Hass had a bogey. For Schwartzel the win is his second on the PGA Tour.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth finished at even par after barely making the cut.