First Signs Minnesota MBB Coach Ben Johnson May be on the Hot Seat

NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Basketball Media Days
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As we head into November, it’s time for college basketball to take the stage again. The Minnesota Gophers tip-off their season on Wednesday, November 6th, with a home opener against Oral Roberts, and fans are praying for a pleasant surprise, both during next week’s opener and for the 2024-25 season, overall.

Minnesota head coach Ben Johnson is heading into his fourth year as Gophers head coach, and the pressure’s on to make the NCAA Tournament. How likely is that? Well, Minnesota’s 2024 squad has BY FAR the worst odds to win the Big Ten, of any team in the conference. At +1200 (FanDuel) the Minnesota Golden Gophers can’t even see the teams directly ahead of them, Washington and Penn State, at +500.

Minnesota Gophers MBB head coach Ben Johnson on the hot seat?

That’s a problem for Ben Johnson, especially when rumors that he is on the hot seat are already starting to swirl. On Monday morning, Jeff Borzello, a well-known ESPN college basketball insider, dropped his 2025 coaching hot seat preview. Listed right behind Indiana’s Mike Woodson, in the newly expanded Big Ten? You guessed it.

Minnesota’s Ben Johnson also enters a critical campaign, with two years remaining on his deal after this season. While last season showed clear improvement over his first two years in Minneapolis, the Gophers need to continue the upward trajectory. They went a combined 22-39 (6-33 in the Big Ten) in 2022 and 2023, but finished 19-15 (9-11) last season.

Jeff Borzello – ESPN

Johnson’s got a 41-54 record overall and a rough 15-44 in conference play, plus, he’s yet to make an NCAA tournament appearance. Borzello pointed out that Johnson wrapped up last season on a high note, with close to 10 wins in the Big Ten.

Johnson turning to turned-over veteran roster to save his job

But here’s the catch: there is no room for error, anymore. If Johnson wants to remain the head coach of his alma-mater, he has to find a way to beat that win total, and at least be in the mix to dance, come March. Down on NIL funds, Ben Johnson has turned to a roster of 4th-5th year players, in hopes their veteran status can provide wins vs younger, less developed high-ceiling talent.

Ben Johnson : Big Ten Conference - Minnesota Gophers
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With more teams joining the Big Ten this year, the Gophers are facing off against new heavy hitters like Oregon, USC, Washington, and UCLA. Can Ben Johnson & Co turn those into more conference victories? He needs to. There’s no way the ‘one of us’ head coach keeps his job without double-digit Big Ten wins this season

Related: How to Watch Minnesota Gophers Basketball Games

Last March, the Minnesota Gophers made it to the NIT tournament, which was a solid step forward for the program. Now, as he enters his fourth season, the focus must shift to making the NCAA tournament. But does he have the horses for it?

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