Former Gustavus tennis star and Rochester native Eric Butorac, along with partner Andy Murray, an outstanding singles player, lost in the second round of doubles on Monday in the Pacific Life Open. Andy is the brother of James Murray who has been Butorac’s doubles partner in the past.
Coach Don Lucia’s Gopher hockey team, opening play tomorrow night in the WCHA Final Five series with St. Cloud at Xcel Energy Center, had three overtime WCHA playoff games with Minnesota State Mankato last weekend that will long be remembered. The teams combined to play 262 minutes and eight seconds over the three nights, the equivalent of nearly four and a half games. The Gophers and Mavericks played over 82 minutes of overtime and each put 42 shots on goal in the extra sessions. Total game time for the series was 10 hours, 13 minutes (average of three hours, 24 minutes per game).
The Wild, with only nine games remaining in the regular season to compete for positioning in the Stanley Cup playoffs, plays at San Jose tonight (Wednesday). Minnesota is 0-2-1 against the Sharks this season and winless in the last six games. Pavol Demitra leads the Wild in career scoring against San Jose with 26 points in 34 career games.
The Timberwolves, 16-50, play Memphis at home tonight, facing a Grizzlies team that has lost 19 of its last 21 games. Memphis, also 16-50, never recovered from trading star center Pau Gasol to the Lakers earlier this winter. The Grizzlies are 3-17 since the trade.
A Wolves spokesman said via e-mail that point guard Sebastian Telfair is making progress with his sprained right ankle but won’t return to game action this week.
The Vikings began off-season conditioning at Winter Park on Monday. About half of NFL teams also started conditioning earlier this week, according to Sporting News.
Newly signed Viking free agent wide receiver Bernard Berrian does bring expectations for catching long passes and big plays, but he’s also capable of making difficult catches. Playing for Chicago last season he had 11 catches between 20 and 40 yards and two receptions beyond 40. He caught 71 passes, for 951 yards and five touchdowns. He tied with two other players for the 26th highest reception total in the league.
The Metrodome will be used for 127 college baseball games in March, including 19 Gopher games, according to Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Lester said many of the games are part of double headers and baseball teams are using the facility from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. The dome is also used for college baseball scrimmages during the month.
St. Thomas and Gustavus lead the MIAC spring sports coaches’ polls. St. Thomas is the pick to win the conference in baseball and softball. Gustavus is the choice in men’s and women’s tennis.