Minnesota Hoops Fires Coach Richard Pitino

Richard Pitino’s time at the University of Minnesota has come to an end after eight seasons.

The Gophers have decided to "part ways" with Pitino, according to Stadium's Jeff Goodman.

The Gophers started the year 11-4 and had a 4-4 mark in Big Ten play after upsetting No. 7 Michigan on Jan. 16.

Minnesota then lost 10 of its final 12 regular-season games, including back-to-back losses to Big Ten bottom-feeders Northwestern and Nebraska, Yahoo Sports reports.

Those losses pushed the Gophers off the NCAA Tournament bubble and the rumors — soon to be news — around Pitino's standing at the school increased.

The team went 14-15 overall and 6-14 in conference play and closed out the regular season with seven consecutive losses.

The Gophers edged Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, but the season concluded with a 4-point loss to Ohio State in the tournament’s second round.

Pitino, son of Iona's head coach Rick Pitino, is reported to be a leader for the New Mexico job, Goodman reports.


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Megan graduated from the University of Central Florida and writes and tweets about anything related to sports. She replies to comments she shouldn't reply to online and thinks the CFP Rankings are absolutely rigged. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.