Minnesota finished the year with a 15-17 record and losses in five of the last six games. As a result, Minnesota decided to part ways with head coach Ben Johnson after four seasons leading the program. While Minnesota searches for a new head coach, the timing of the move raised some eyebrows.

Johnson, 44, coached the Gophers for four years with one trip to the NIT and one winning season. This year, Minnesota finished 15-17 overall and 7-13 in Big Ten play but won five games on the road. Johnson was 56-71 in four seasons and 22-57 in league competition. He was 1-4 in the Big Ten tournament.

Minnesota fired coach Ben Johnson early Thursday morning, in an announcement posted to social media at 2:19 a.m. ET, following the team's season-ending loss Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to Northwestern.