The Gophers can't seem to escape connections to athletics director Norwood Teague.

Minnesota's men's tennis team will face Virginia Commonwealth, Teague's former school, in the first round of the NCAA tournament May 10. The Gophers lost 5-2 to the Rams earlier this season, but they played much better in the second half of the season. 

Minnesota (14-10) finished second in the Big Ten regular season and earned an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament after finishing the season above .500. It lost to Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament.

VCU (20-6) won the Atlantic 10 outright to earn an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. 

No. 2 Virginia (24-0) will host the NCAA regional in Charlottesville, Va. If the Gophers beat VCU in the first round, they will likely battle the undefeated Cavaliers in the second round with a trip at the Sweet 16 on the line.  

This is the fifth straight NCAA appearance for Minnesota. It was ousted in the first round last season at the hands of then-No. 20 Tulsa.