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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-13-2016, 03:39 PM:

On Sunday, Minnesota’s projected starting center for the 2016-17 season, Reggie Lynch, was suspended indefinitely after an arrest on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct.

On Tuesday, we learned that head coach Richard Pitino, who has never led the Gophers to the NCAA tournament and finished with a combined Big Ten record of 16-38 after his third season, overspent on private jet travel during his first three years with the program. We’re not talking pennies here, people.

According to an internal audit acquired by the Star Tribune, Pitino has exceeded his allotted budget for private jet travel by $175,000. Say it again to yourself. One. Hundred. Seventy-Five. Thousand. Dollars.

The school gave him $50,000 per year or $150,000 total for private travel during his first three seasons. Pitino spent $325,000 during that stretch.

Folks don’t sweat budgets when teams win. But when you finish 51-51 with a weak nonconference schedule in your first three seasons and continue to rack up negative headlines, financial issues become bigger problems for a team with a knapsack full of them.

Link

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 05-13-2016, 04:36 PM:

I thought he was a bad hire for them when they let Tubby go and picked him up. He just did not have enough head coaching experience for a Big 10 job, he got that because of his name rather than his experience and ability.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-13-2016, 05:30 PM:

I watch a lot of big ten basketball. I thought when he was hired that it was a mistake and believe it more so now. I may be wrong but I don't think Minnesota has had many decent teams since Haskins was forced to leave or fired. Don't remember which.

I think little Rick's days may be numbered.

[ 05-13-2016, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 05-13-2016, 06:22 PM:

One would think the release of that travel report would be the first step toward his termination from Minnessota.

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 05-13-2016, 11:00 PM:

Why do any Cat fans care what goes on in Gopher country? I don't get it.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-14-2016, 08:22 AM:

Lots of things you don't know.

I have a slight interest because Clem Haskins was their coach years ago. He played his high school basketball in Kentucky and was a star player at Western Kentucky along with Dwight Smith who I knew slightly in high school. Clem went on and played professionally and Dwight was killed the summer before he was to play professionally for LA who I knew slightly in high school.

Does anybody remember the Princeton Dotson team from the early 60's? Dwight and his brother were stars of that team, can't remember the brothers name. He played professionally for Milwaukee for many years.

Boom, I guess all this pisses you off as you don't care, but then again, I don't care that you don't care. [Razz]

[ 05-14-2016, 08:44 AM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 05-14-2016, 08:32 AM:

I do get the Clem Haskins angle. It was a shame that his career ended the way it did.

[ 05-14-2016, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: boomdaddy ]