A History of Minnesota Golden Gophers Basketball

The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team has a storied history, marked by periods of great success and significant challenges. As representatives of the University of Minnesota in NCAA Division I competition, the Gophers have experienced the highs of national recognition and the lows of NCAA sanctions. From their early dominance to navigating controversies and rebuilding eras, the program's journey reflects the evolving landscape of college basketball.

Early Years and Dominance

The precise founding of the Gophers men's basketball program at the University of Minnesota is somewhat nebulous. Unlike many other universities with later foundations, the team did not form as a conscious act of the campus administration. The university's student newspaper at the time, the Ariel, reported on basketball throughout 1895 as the sport was introduced to the campus from a rival school, Minnesota A&M in St. Paul, later incorporated into the larger University of Minnesota Twin Cities. In 1896, a team from the school began to participate in a league with the Agriculture school, YMCA teams, and other local associations. The establishment of the Armory on-campus gave the team a new place to play.

The Gophers experienced considerable success in the early years of basketball. Despite initially forming without an organized coach, the team managed a 5-4 victory against "Company A" in their first recorded match and finished their inaugural season with a 3-5 record. Under the guidance of L. J. Cooke, who took over in 1897, the team achieved remarkable heights. Cooke's .649 winning percentage over 28 seasons remains the second-highest in school history.

From the 1899-1900 to 1903-04 seasons, the Gophers had a 59-6 record. The Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively named Minnesota as national champions in 1902 and 1919, and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll listed them as the top team in 1903. In total, the Gophers have won nine Big Ten championships, but only four since 1919.

In February 1897, L. J. Cooke began to improve the team significantly and was responsible for shifts in the Gophers' scheduling that foreshadowed other changes to come. The team never played a YMCA team after the 1903-04 season, and beginning in 1900, began to schedule large neighboring universities that would join Minnesota in Big Ten competition. This shift to playing similar competition helped the Gophers to become one of the premier programs in the nation.

After 1907, Cooke's dominance of the national basketball scene was greatly reduced. He led the team to two more conference titles (1916-17, 1918-19) and one retroactive national championship for the 1918-19 season, but the team was never the consistent winner that it was in the first decade under Cooke. He retired after the 1923-1924 season.

Post-World War I Era and Coaching Changes

Following the firing of Harold Taylor as coach, the program underwent a national search for a successor. Dave MacMillan, who coached the team from 1927 to 1942 and 1945 to 1948, had the second longest tenure as coach at 18 seasons. MacMillan's teams in 1928 began to play in the University of Minnesota Field House, a new on-campus arena. Basketball had been off-campus for several seasons when the team moved downtown. MacMillan's teams had middling success. His 1930-31 and 1931-32 teams competed near the top of the Big Ten, but his teams dropped off again until 1936. John Kundla joined the team for the 1936-1937 season and helped the team to the Big Ten Championship, which was ended up being its last until 1972. MacMillan's squad also competed in a tournament in 1936 to represent the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin; the team advanced several rounds before being ousted by DePaul. Many Gophers players in this era were recruited from Minneapolis public high schools, and in some seasons this even constituted a majority of the roster. McMillan resigned in 1942, but returned in 1945 after three poor seasons for the Gophers in the interim.

MacMillan resigned for the second time in 1948, and was replaced by O. B. Cowles, who was known for playing slower tempo basketball like was most common in the 1920s and 1930s and was known as a defensive-minded coach, especially early in his career. His squads were led by two-time All-American Jim McIntyre and three-time NBA Champion Whitey Skoog for the early years of his career and Big Ten MVP Chuck Mencel for the middle ones. Another notable Gophers star from the era was Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant. Cowles had a .612 winning percentage at the school. The Gophers were unable to win a Big Ten title, however, despite a solid nucleus in Cowles's early seasons.

Since 1928, the Golden Gophers have played home games in Williams Arena.

The Kundla and Fitch Era

In 1959, John Kundla stayed behind in Minneapolis as the Lakers prepared to leave town and succeeded O. B. Cowles as head coach of the Golden Gophers. Kundla remained head coach until 1968. In 1963, he broke the color barrier in the Minnesota program and recruited three African-American players to come to the school. One of these first three players was Lou Hudson, who played in the NBA and was the first Gopher to have his number retired by the school. The other two players recruited by Kundla, Archie Clark and Don Yates, also were both drafted by NBA teams. That trio helped the Gophers to a third place Big Ten finish in 1963-64 and a second-place finish in 1964-65, but those were the high points for Kundla's collegiate career.

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Kundla was succeeded by Bowling Green head coach Bill Fitch. George Hanson was assistant coach under both Kundla and Fitch and was head coach for the 1970-71 season.

The Musselman Era and Subsequent Challenges

The Gophers under Athletics Director Marsh Ryman hired Cal Luther away from Murray State to coach the team in 1971, but he changed his mind and turned the team down after accepting the position. Instead, Bill Musselman took over the program. Musselman was a defensive minded coach and designed his team around Brewer, recruiting several junior college players. University of Minnesota baseball star Dave Winfield also joined the team in 1971. The starters on the 1971-72 squad after the Ohio State game became known as the "Iron Five." Musselman's strategy succeeded, and the team took the Big Ten title, the first since 1937.

In the 1970s, the Gophers were involved in a violent brawl with the Ohio State Buckeyes and were barred from post-season appearances for two seasons after an incident involving the illegal resale of tickets. The other Big Ten coaches did not approve of Musselman's recruiting posture as they all had gathered and agreed not to recruit Ron Behagen into the Big Ten because he was known as a troublemaker.

In 1973, former player Greg Olson accused Musselman of having attempted to strike him in a practice. It was also revealed that Olson had sold complimentary season tickets to a booster named Harvey Mackay, which prompted NCAA investigations. Musselman's coaching style also brought about significant transfers away from the Minnesota program to other schools. In 1975, Musselman resigned and was named the head coach of the San Diego Sails of the ABA.

The Dutcher Years and the 1980s

Dutcher took over the Gophers program in 1975 following the departure of Bill Musselman. The highlight of his time at Minnesota was 1982, a season in which he led the Gophers to the Big Ten Championship - to date, the last "official" conference title for the Gophers - and a Sweet 16 appearance.

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On January 25, 1986, three Gopher players were arrested on rape charges in Madison, Wisconsin. A Madison woman claimed the players raped her at their team hotel hours after the Gophers played the Wisconsin Badgers. After the arrests, U of M officials canceled the Gophers' next scheduled game, against Northwestern, citing the arrests and a series of less serious incidents prior to the arrests. Not agreeing with the university's decision to forfeit the game, Dutcher resigned as head coach, Jimmy Williams served as the interim coach the rest of the season.

The Clem Haskins Era: Success and Scandal

Clem Haskins was hired as the Gopher basketball coach in 1986, expected to clean up and rebuild the Gopher program which had been torn apart by the Madison sexual assault allegations (of which the players were later acquitted) during the final year of coach Jim Dutcher. Though wins did not come easily in the first couple years of Haskins regime, by the 1988-89 season he had the Gophers in the 1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as a #11 seed, and directed a Cinderella run into the Sweet 16. In the 1989-90 season Haskins led the Gophers on another cinderella run in the 1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This time as a No. 6 seed, the Gophers went all the way to the Elite Eight, and came within a basket of reaching their first ever Final Four.

Prominent players coached by Haskins at Minnesota included Minnesota native Sam Jacobson, who went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and hometown Minnesota Timberwolves, Sharp-shooter Voshon Lenard, who spent 5 seasons with the Miami Heat and won the 2004 Three-Point Contest, Quincy Lewis, who was a 3rd Team All American and played for the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves, and Bobby Jackson who under Haskins was a Consensus All American and Big Ten Player Of The Year, before going on to play 12 seasons in the NBA, most prominently for the Sacramento Kings, where he won the 2003 Sixth Man of the Year Award, and now serves as an assistant coach.

On March 10, 1999, the day before the #7 seed Gophers were to open the NCAA tournament against #10 Gonzaga, the St. Paul Pioneer Press ran a story detailing allegations of massive academic fraud in the men's basketball program. Former basketball office manager Jan Gangelhoff had gone to the newspaper claiming she had written over 400 papers for at least 20 Gopher men's basketball players over a period of several years, ending in 1998. By June 1999 and in the midst of their investigation, the university had negotiated a buyout of the remainder of Haskins' contract, worth $1.5 million over three years. During this time an NCAA investigation was also underway. Ultimately, it revealed that Minnesota was guilty of massive violations under Haskins' watch.

The NCAA stripped the Gophers of all postseason awards, titles, personal records, and statistics dating back to the 1993-94 season citing a "lack of institutional control." Haskins was also slapped with a seven-year "show-cause" order, which effectively banned him from coaching at any level in the NCAA until 2007. Besides lying about the $3,000 payment, he had also told several of his players to lie to the NCAA. Later, the Big Ten forced the Gophers to vacate their 1997 conference title, as well as all regular season games dating to 1993-94. As a result, Minnesota's official record from 1993-94 to 1998-99 is 0-0.

The Monson and Smith Eras: Rebuilding and Recovery

Following Haskins' departure, the university hired Gonzaga's Dan Monson to be their next head coach, who coincidentally had just beaten the Gophers in the NCAA Tournament the previous March. Monson was the coach for part of eight seasons. However, during his tenure the scholarship reductions took their full effect, making it difficult for him to recruit on the same level as the rest of the Big Ten. His Gopher teams only made the NCAA tournament once, in 2004-05. Monson almost left the Minnesota program for the University of Washington following the 2001-02 season, but was thought of highly by the athletics department under Tom Moe and was persuaded to stay despite limited success. These trends did not reverse after he remained at the program. During his final full season the Gophers were 5-11 in Big Ten play, and after a 2-5 start to open the 2006-07 season, Monson and Athletics Director Joel Maturi announced Monson's resignation on November 30, 2006. Despite Monson's inability to field a consistent winner, he was lauded by University officials for bringing integrity and cleanliness back to the program. Assistant coach Jim Molinari was named head coach on an interim basis and, after a 3-13 Big Ten record to finish the season, was not retained as head coach.

Tubby Smith became the 16th head coach in Gopher basketball history when hired in 2007; this total includes interim coaches Jim Molinari and Jimmy Williams. Five coaches led the team for more than 10 seasons: Cooke, McMillan, O. B. Cowles, Jim Dutcher, and Clem Haskins. Smith's coaching had an immediate impact on the previously unsuccessful Gophers squad. The team went from 8-22 in 2006-07 to 20-13 in 2007-08. Smith also led the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten tournament semi-finals after defeating 2nd seeded Indiana. Coach Smith also signed a top 25 recruiting class, the best in years for the program. Smith returned Minnesota to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005 in the 2008-09 season. On March 25, 2013, Tubby Smith was fired after failing to reach the Sweet Sixteen again.

The Pitino Era and Recent Years

On April 3, 2013, Richard Pitino, son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, verbally agreed to coach the Golden Gophers. On April 3, after missing out on the NCAA tournament, the Gophers responded by winning the 2014 NIT championship trophy by defeating SMU.

The program has had a fair degree of stability with their coaching staff.

Notable Players

The reputation of excellence of the Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball program can be attributed to the myriad skilled athletes donning their jerseys over the years. This program has seen numerous talented athletes take the court, bringing their skills and passion for the game. The best Minnesota basketball players have provided fans with memorable moments on the hardwood. Focusing on the best Minnesota players in college basketball, it's clear that these athletes exemplify skill, dedication, and mastery on the court. They've left a mark on Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball, setting high standards that inspire future generations. Each athlete brings a personal flair to the game while displaying the talent that has made the team a legend. Examples of these outstanding Minnesota Golden Gophers include Kevin McHale, Mychal Thompson, and Lou Hudson.

The Golden Gophers have had many successful players come through the program throughout its history. In the early years of basketball, when the Gophers had success, they recruited some of the best players in the country. With the decline of the stature of the Gophers program, fewer elite players have joined the team. The diminished reputation has not, however, prevented some superior athletes from coming to the Minneapolis campus. Lou Hudson played for 13 years in the NBA and had his number retired. Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield played for the Gophers in the early 1970s, and he played at the same time as star post player Jim Brewer. Mychal Thompson was a Gophers star and was the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. Among Thompson's teammates were former Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders, as well as Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame forward Kevin McHale. Trent Tucker led the 1982 squad to the Big Ten Championship. Voshon Lenard was a key player for the Gophers in the early 1990s and went on to play more than a decade in the NBA. Willie Burton once scored 53 points in an NBA game with the Philadelphia 76ers. Other former Gophers with long NBA careers include Randy Breuer, Mark Olberding, Archie Clark, Jim Petersen, and Ray Williams. Five players from the 1997 Final Four team played in the NBA: Bobby Jackson, Sam Jacobson, Quincy Lewis, John Thomas, and Trevor Winter. Currently Amir Coffey (Los Angeles Clippers) is a former Gopher who plays in the NBA.

McHale was a dominant force during his time at Minnesota before going on to have a great NBA career. Thompson's versatility as both a scorer and rebounder helped him earn All-American honors while playing for Minnesota. Hudson was renowned for his scoring prowess during his college days; he still holds several school records to this day.

Recognizing these top players within Minnesota Golden Gophers' ranks highlights how they have shaped not only their team's fortunes but also the broader landscape of college hoops. Their grit, determination, and skill have inspired countless aspiring athletes who dream of one day following in their footsteps. Over 900 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Minnesota Golden GophersThis list is dynamically rankedbased on user voting.

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