The administration at the U can not afford to Replace Dick Pitino. They would have to buy he and his staffers out and then come up with the money to bring in a new big dollar coach and staff. Dick Pitino is saved by his long-term, relatively expensive contract. Life is good for the long-term contract holding coach, in spite of the dismal Big Ten winning percentage well into the five year mark. The Athletic Director would have to be replaced to bring in a new men's hoops coach. We Minnesota Gopher Fans deserve exactly what we allow the administration to hire, give long term contracts to, give pay raises to. Dick Pitino will be here for three to four more seasons...and we, the GOPHER faithful, deserve what ever the administration gives us. In the revenue sports...the administration can only change coaches IF there is a CHEAP option at this point in time. The State Legislators are watching their every move and are not especially big fans of the "general managing skills" of AD Coyle & the current head man at the U. 2-7 in Big Ten Football last season and 3-7 in Big Ten men's Hoops to date this season. We pretty much get what they give us...it would seem.
OMG, I think I'm going to throw up the next time some jackhole mentions the fb team's or bb team's or hk team's records as evidence that all three coaches should be fired. OMG. What world do you exist in? Give the fb coach a little time to figure things out, get some recruits in, etc.. Give the bb coach a break having 2-3 of his top 6 players out for most of the season, and give Lucia a break, seeing as he's played BY FAR the toughest schedule of any team in the country, and its not even close, I'm talking 50% more Top 20 opponents than the next toughest team ranked in the Top 20, not in the B1G. 21 for the Gophers, only 14 for the next toughest, outside of the B1G. And even B1G teams have only played 15 to 16. And its not like we lose all of those games, UMn's won the MOST games vs Top 4 teams and THE MOST games vs Top 20 ranked teams, as well, and UMn's LOST the least to bottom 40 teams. Meaning ZERO. Not a single loss to a team ranked below #20. Not even a tie. No other team in the entire country can claim the same. And no other current coach's resume compares to Lucia's, cept York, who is not perfect, either, this year will probably be the 2nd in a row his team won't even make the tourney.