Our last 3 coaches all have had likely NCAA seasons derailed
Of special interest to me would be how many of the first five years of Dan Monson's first few years was the possibility of an NCAA tourney appearance even a possibility due to the sanctions, penalties AND "NEAR DEATH..." status of the program due to the wrath of the NCAA re: Minnesota Men's Hoops?
Actually, 3 of Monson's first 5 teams were headed toward and/or had plenty enough talent to reach the NCAA Tournament: 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03.
2000-01 (2nd season): Gophers were off to a 13-2 start including a win over previous season Final 4 program Wisconsin in the Gophers' Big 10 home opener. Plucky squad that was looking more than capable of making the NCAA tourney. Then J.B. Bickerstaff & Michael Bauer went down with season-ending injuries, and that was the end of that.
2001-02: In terms of not making the NCAA Tournament, this was perhaps the program's single biggest 1-game choke of all time. Beat Illinois in the final regular-season game and the Gophers would have been in the NCAA. I have zero doubt about that. This was a game that felt like if the Gophers won, the program would have turned the corner under Monson. We all know what happened. All I need to say are 2 things to bring back a nasty flashback: (1) Kevin Burleson threw ball out of bounds, (2) Frankie Williams.
2002-03: Another promising team (with Rick Rickert), plenty of talent, but this was perhaps the program's biggest season-ending choke of all time. Gophers (after good non-conference wins over Georgia & Georgia Tech) were 8-4 in the Big 10 and cruising toward a NCAA bid. Then proceeded to lose their final 5 games.
To be fair, our last 3 coaches all have had likely NCAA Tournament seasons derailed by significant injuries, suspensions, and/or transfers. I'm thinking specifically of Monson's 2000-01 squad, Tubby's 2010-11 squad (IMO would have been Tubby's best team were it not for Al Nolen & Mo Walker injuries and the 6-game suspension and later transfer of Devoe Joseph), and obviously Pitino's team this season.