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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament begins today with fifth-seeded Houston taking on No. 2 seed Villanova in the South Region championship game in San Antonio. Both the Cougars and Wildcats are trying to get to the Final Four for the seventh time. Houston is looking to reach consecutive Final Fours for the first time since 1982-84. The Cougars never trailed in their win over top-seeded Arizona in the Sweet 16. The Big East champion Wildcats, who advanced by beating Michigan, now have to beat the local favorite to get to the Final Four. The game is being played about 200 miles from the Houston campus.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fourth-seeded Arkansas faces No. 2 seed Duke tonight in the West Region final in San Francisco. It will be the first meeting of the teams since the Razorbacks beat the Blue Devils 76-72 in the 1994 national championship game. With a win, retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEF'-seek) would pass John Wooden for most Final Four appearances. UCLA's Wizard of Westwood went to the national semifinals 12 times between 1962-1975.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The Grapefruit League debut of St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina has been pushed back another day to give him more time to hone his swing. The 10-time All-Star had been scheduled to play in tomorrow's game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Floirda. Molina is now scheduled to make his debut on Monday against Houston. The 39-year-old missed the first week of what could be his final spring training for personal reasons. He played in his first live simulated game against minor leaguers yesterday.
JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Formula One drivers have taken to the track in Saudi Arabia after receiving assurances of their safety a day after an attack on the kingdom by Yemen's Houthi rebels. F1 confirmed racing would go ahead with the third practice and qualifying session today followed by tomorrow's Grand Prix despite the attack on an oil depot about seven miles from the racetrack. F1 says the Saudi government authorities and security agencies gave "detailed assurances that the event is secure."
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Iditarod (eye-DIHT'-uh-rahd) has punished three mushers for taking their dogs inside shelter cabins during fierce storms at the tail end of this year's race. Mushers Mille Porsild of Denmark and Michelle Phillips of Canada were demoted in standings and Riley Dyche of Fairbanks was fined for riding out the storm with their dogs. The decision to punish the mushers was made by race marshal Mark Nordman, who said the indoor rest for the dogs amounted to a competitive advantage over teams that trailed them into Nome. The mushers defended their decision to shelter the dogs in the harsh conditions.
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