Coach (Total Win%/B10 Win%)
Jim Dutcher (62.7%/52.4%)
Clem Haskins (59.0%/49.8%)
Dan Monson (52.7%/39.3%)
Tubby Smith (60.5%/42.6%)
Richard Pitino (53.4%/36.0%)
Ben Johnson (44.1%/27.8%)
So, only Dutcher technically had a winning percentage in conference play. By the numbers, the Tubby era represented a small resurgence. Unfortunately, the Pitino and Monson eras yielded similar results. Strangely, both went on to enjoy more prosperity elsewhere after being shown the door here. For Iowa, you could put Steve Alford in that bucket.
The BJ era did represent "capitulation of sorts." That is the most frustrating thing. A difference in an additional winning percentage of 15-20% (5 total wins per annum / 3 to 4 conference wins) might not mean a lot but over a number of years, it yields tournament eligible seasons and most importantly, fan interest. Very little of that seems to be here now.
I think the Monson/Pitino observation demonstrate that a "then-current" quality coaching candidate was challenged here. This was echoed by Tubby Smith as he talked about a new practice facility for some time. I recall reading a post from another Gopherholer referencing a conversation had with Tubby Smith in the past. As I recall, climate is a bigger recruiting challenge than I ever thought.
Having gone to 100s of Gopher hoops games and growing up a Gopher basketball fan in the eighties, I always saw us as a 600 team (20 wins over 32-33 games) and 45% in Big Ten with a strong home-court advantage. This was good enough to fill the barn for years and it was truly fun and hopeful.
