This idea that the Gophers have a ceiling of 6-7 conference wins next season is ludicrous to me. This season the Gophers trailed at home to Michigan State by 2 with 2 minutes to play, the next game they choked away a win at Penn State, home against Indiana was a 4 point game with a minute left and a 3 point game with 20 seconds left, home against Illinois was the patented Gopher epic choke job, home against Purdue was a 2 point game with a minute left, at Indiana the Gophers led by a point with 2 minutes left, at Iowa was a 3 point game with 2 minutes left.
That is 7 conference games this season that were very much in doubt in the waning minutes and the Gophers have lost all of them. Let's say the Gophers simply beat Penn State and Illinois and then go on to win both Rutgers games. In that hypothetical scenario they finish this year at 4-14 in the conference and have a terrible (instead of an unreal 0-7) 2-5 record in games decided down the stretch.
I am personally down on Pitino now (not out, but down) and don't share in many of the "good effort" posts especially when they get down by 19 on their home floor to an ok Michigan team then rally to make it competitive. I am skeptical of the transfers actually being impact guys as Pitino also hyped Zach Lofton at one time and the Gopher program has a long history of transfers ability not matching the hype they get in the season in which they sit out. That said, assuming the talent on this team is significantly better next year the ceiling has to be higher than 6-7 wins. I think there's a good case to be made (IF the Gophers beat Rutgers twice and lose the rest) that this years team had a ceiling of 5-6 wins-with the benefit of hindsight. Reality is they won't get there and will likely finish with 0-3 conference wins.
I wish Tubby the best at the Texas Tech. If at this time next year it is apparent that Minnesota made a mistake, that mistake will be hiring Richard Pitino and not firing Tubby Smith.