Minnesota Basketball: What is wrong with Gopher hoops?

There was no doubt that Ben Johnson was going to struggle in year 1 as head coach of the Gopher basketball program. Not simply because he was going to be a first-time head coach, tasked with leading Big Ten program. But due to transfers and injuries, he was completely reconstructing a roster that was expected to compete in arguably the toughest basketball conference in the country.

Struggles were expected in year 1.

But expectations were surpassed in that first year. Especially early in the season when the Gophers sprinted to a 10-1 record with wins over a ranked Mississippi St team and Michigan, both games on the road.

Eventually, the wheels fell off the bus and Johnson’t first season ended…