Ladies’ top 4 seeds revealed

UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Notre Dame would be the No. 1 seeds in the women’s NCAA Tournament if it began now.

The NCAA basketball selection committee on Sunday did its first reveal of the teams in line for the top 16 seeds. The top 16 seeds in the 68-team field will host first- and second-round games, with the regional rounds being played at two neutral sites for the third straight year.

Spokane, Washington, will host half of the Sweet 16 and Birmingham, Alabama, will host the other eight teams. UCLA and Notre Dame were projected as the top seeds in the Spokane Regional, with South Carolina and Texas in Birmingham.

Illini without top freshman

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois forward Morez Johnson Jr. is out indefinitely after breaking his wrist while making a spectacular block over the weekend.

Coach Brad Underwood announced the severity of Johnson’s injury on Monday. Underwood said the injury occurred when Johnson fell to the floor after blocking a shot during Illinois’ 79-65 loss to No. 14 Michigan State on Saturday.

The injury means Johnson won’t be available tonight when Illinois (17-9, 9-7 Big Ten) visits No. 11 Wisconsin (20-5, 10-4).

Underwood said Johnson’s potential return date is uncertain.

“He fell, he hit the floor pretty hard and was tough enough to bounce up and just say, ‘Tape it,'” Underwood said. “That impacted a couple of his close misses at the rim as well late in the game. He’s in a cast. No timeline to that at this point. So we’ll strap it up and have to move forward without his presence.”

Although Johnson averages just 17.8 minutes per game, he has averaged 6.6 rebounds to rank second on the team. The 6-foot-9 freshman has averaged 7.2 points and 1.1 blocks per game in 26 appearances, including eight starts.

The Associated Press