Richard Pitino won’t fill up gas tanks and it’s costing Minnesota money

12:53 PM ET

Hello, college basketball fans of America’s struggling programs. Please dry your eyes. Life ain’t that bad.

Remember, you could be a Minnesota basketball fan.

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. …

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