U's competition spiced up, but only a bit

Article by: MICHAEL RAND

Star Tribune

November 24, 2011 - 9:12 AM

ORLANDO - Signature non-conference victories have been a staple of the past three Gophers men's basketball seasons under Tubby Smith -- two of which resulted in NCAA tournament berths. Three years ago, it was Louisville; two years ago, it was Butler. And last season, a big victory over North Carolina gave the Gophers and their fans reason for early optimism. All three opponents were ranked in the top-15 at the time.

But you shouldn't expect a similar victory this season for a very good reason: No such opportunity exists on the Gophers' nonconference schedule.

Sure, Minnesota's schedule is hitting a new gear Thursday at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando. After starting 4-0 againstJason Gray-Stanford

Jason Gray-Stanford stars as Lieutenant Randall Disher in the USA Network Original Series Monk. Gray-Stanford was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at the University of British Columbia, one of Canada's most prestigious schools. He is best known for his work in the Academy Award-winning film A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe. He also previously co-starred with Crowe in Mystery, Alaska, written by David E. Kelly and directed by Jay Roach. His other notable film credits include the acclaimed Canadian feature Last Wedding and The Heist.

On television, Gray-Stanford has appeared in numerous U.S. and Canadian series, including the award-winning Canadian series Cold Squad, The X Files, and as Howard Bowen