The most awkward facet of Ben Johnson’s time at Minnesota has always been his side hustle. For the last four years, Johnson has not only coached the Golden Gophers’ basketball team, but also the Detroit Lions’ offense. This has worked badly for both parties. At Minnesota, Johnson’s total win–loss record sits eleven games below .500. In Detroit, Johnson’s offense routinely failed to capitalize on the elite talent of Jared Goff, the last man to go toe-to-toe with the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady tag team in a Super Bowl.
This winter, Detroit finally had enough of Johnson’s split attention. Or at least, that’s what we presume. How else would one go from coaching Goff—a former first overall pick—to coaching Caleb Williams, the quarterback behind one of the two worst seasons of Lincoln Riley’s career? Rumblings abounded that Minnesota would follow suit, with ESPN and Sports Illustrated both including Johnson on their preseason lists of college basketball coaches on the hot seat.
Through 24 games, little had changed. The Gophs were 12–12 overall and 4–9 in Big Ten play. They’d recently lost to Washington at home, a Ben Johnson staple. The situation was so bleak that on Valentine’s Day, rumors held that the candy hearts every athletic director sends his basketball coach did not, in Minneapolis, read “BE MINE.” Instead? They (allegedly) said “BE SOMEONE ELSE’S.” If Minnesota was willing to shell out the kind of cash that level of customization requires, surely Johnson’s buyout couldn’t be a concern.
Then, this weekend, the Gophers went to Los Angeles and reminded everyone why California’s known as the Golden State. 69 points for Goldy. 66 points for USC. Last night? A shocking Gopher comeback left UCLA’s Mick Cronin pissing battery acid, with Dawson Garcia’s 32 points pacing a 64–61 upset by the visitors.
What does this mean for Minnesota? For Johnson? For the Bears?
For Minnesota, it’s good news. Goldy is well on his way to another NIT appearance. The USC win was enough to push Minnesota into Monday’s NIT Bracketology. The UCLA win should entrench them in Friday’s update.
For the Bears, it’s bad news. How will Johnson have enough time to scout quarterback prospects for the upcoming draft if he’s focused on the customary six-week post-NIT press tour?
For Johnson, it’s hard to say. Personally, I think he should give up football and focus on hoops. For one thing, concussions. For another, can you imagine risking a chance to go to work at The Barn just so you can spend time at Halas Hall? They don’t call it Hell Yes Hall, and that’s for good reason.
Maybe this winning streak convinces Johnson to give up the gridiron. Maybe it makes Johnson double down. It’s impossible to say. That’s why they call it the present.
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