Women's NCAA final four set
SAN ANTONIO, March 26 (UPI) -- Perennial powers Connecticut and Tennessee will meet in the women's college nCAA basketball tournament Final Four for the fourth time when they collide Friday night in the semifinal headliner.
Duke and Oklahoma play in the other game, the winners meeting for the championship on Sunday.
In their three previous Final Four clashes, Connecticut (37-0) defeated Tennessee (29-4) for the title in 1995 and 2000. The Lady Vols, who have won six national championships, downed the Huskies in the 1996 semifinals en route to the title.
The only school in the Final Four that was not a top regional seed, Tennessee (29-4) knocked off No. 1 Vanderbilt, 68-63, in the Midwest Region final. Duke (31-3) set a school record for wins with its 77-68 victory over third seed South Carolina in the East Region finals.
Oklahoma (31-3)is the only team making its first trip to the Final Four.
Four survivors in NIT semifinals
NEW YORK, March 26 (UPI) -- Memphis takes on Temple and Syracuse meets South Carolina in Tuesday night's National Invitation Tournament semifinals at New York's Madison Square Garden. The winners play Thursday night for the NIT championship.
It's the second meeting of the season for Temple (18-14) and Memphis (25-9), which beat Temple in that December game 64-54.
Syracuse (23-11) makes its first appearance in the NIT semifinals in over 20 years Tuesday night, while South Carolina (21-14) is making its first appearance.
The Orangemen have rarely played in the NIT since Jim Boeheim took over in 1976. Under Boeheim Syracuse has made the NCAAs 21 times, including Final Four appearances in 1987 and 1996.
Grass, Sampras chosen for David Cup duel
WHITE PLAINS, N,Y., March 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Tennis Association has decided on a grass court
surface for its upcoming Davis Cup quarterfinal matches, with Pete Sampras leading the way against the clay specialists from Spain.
Andy Roddick, Todd Martin and James Blake also were selected for the American squad that will host the Spaniards April 5-7 at the Westside Tennis Club in Houston, the USTA announced Tuesday.
It is just the second time since 1959 the USTA has selected a grass court. More significantly, it will be Sampras' first professional match on grass in the United States.
Trying to to avenge a thrashing in the 2000 semifinals, the Americans will be led by one of the best grass players in history. Although his title drought is nearly two years, the
30-year-old Sampras has a record seven Wimbledon titles.
U.S. soccer team expects tough test
ROSTOCK, Germany, March 26 (UPI) -- Three-time World Cup champion Germany takes on the United States soccer team Wednesday in a World Cup tune-up that American Coach Bruce Arena expects to be tough but beneficial.
While the once-mighty Germans had a difficult time qualifying for the World Cup, the U.S. has been in good shape all year, logging a superb record of 6-1-2.
The test match will be a good opportunity to see where both sides are headed.
"We look forward to the game," Arena said. That'll be our most difficult opponent and certainly a good test for us. This type of opponent under this type of conditions will help us in preparation for the World Cup."
Arena is still trying to figure out what his most competitive lineup might look like. No major injuries bother the coach, it's the stressful traveling that worries him most.
For Germany, the situation is quite different. Up to 14 players are either injured or have given a rest.
