The Gophers men's basketball schedule -- minus start times and TV information -- was released Thursday, revealing a challenging start to the Big Ten schedule. The toughest will probably be the opening stretch, when the Gophers start with a home game against Michigan State on New Year's Eve, followed closely by road games at Illinois and Indiana.

The Gophers won't visit Penn State or Michigan this season; they won't play host to Purdue or Ohio State. Their best nonconference game is in the Battle 4 Atlantis opener Nov. 22 in the Bahamas against Duke. For the complete schedule, see C13.

Aus to coach at Roseville Pete Aus, former men's head coach at Bethel University and most recently girls' head coach at Mounds View, will coach the Roseville boys' hockey team this season.

"Pete brings a wealth of experience and hockey knowledge to an already strong tradition of the Roseville boys' hockey program," Roseville's activities director Jeff Whisler said in an e-mail. "We are excited to have someone of Pete's caliber."

Aus, 70, coached for 13 seasons at Bethel and retired in 2007 as the program's career leader in victories. He fills the void created when Jeff Pauletti resigned earlier this year amid a district investigation of parent allegations about his coaching tenure.

Aus took over the Mounds View program seven games into its season and directed the team to its first state appearance since 1999. Before taking over at Mounds View, he was in his fourth season as an assistant coach for Blaine's boys' hockey team, coached by his son, Dave.

Mario Lucia injured Mario Lucia, a 2011 second-round pick by the Wild and son of Gophers hockey coach Don Lucia, might miss the first three months of his freshman season at Notre Dame after suffering a leg injury Wednesday. Lucia said he broke his left fibula and suffered ligament damage in his left ankle when a teammate fell on him during a battle drill during informal practice.

"Hopefully I'll get back quicker than three months, but I'm in a cast for seven weeks, so there's not much I can do about that," Lucia said.

Lucia, who scored 42 goals and 94 points and won an RBC Cup with Penticton of the BCHL last year, is still hoping to make the U.S. team for this winter's world junior championships.

Paralympic highlights In sports involving Minnesotans at the London Paralympics on Thursday:

• Rose Hollermann scored six points and had five rebounds as the U.S. women's wheelchair basketball team beat France 63-24 in a Group B preliminary. Sarah Binsfield played 17 minutes but did not score.

• The U.S. men lost to Turkey 59-50 in a Group A prelim. Ian Lynch had three points for the United States.

NEWS SERVICES