In the wee hours Thursday morning, Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson was let go by Athletics Director Mark Coyle. But why did the U drop the news at 1:22 a.m.? Coyle, who hired Johnson in March 2021, wanted share his decision in-person and communicate it promptly after the season ended Wednesday, sources told the Pioneer Press. The Gophers were knocked out in the Big Ten Tournament’s first round by Northwestern, 72-64, in Indianapolis late Wednesday afternoon. After the team’s flight landed in Minneapolis around midnight, Coyle immediately met with Johnson and told him he was being let go after four seasons at his alma mater. In a statement, Coyle thanked Johnson for his dedication and leadership. Coyle, a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, will be needed back in Indianapolis for that process from Thursday through Selection Sunday. The plan is for Coyle to speak with reporters midday Friday, the U said in its news release. One source emphasized how Coyle wanted to do it swiftly and as respectfully as possible under the tough circumstances. Coyle’s emailed statement said the U will “immediately begin a nationwide search for our next men’s basketball coach.” The speed of the news comes less than a day after ESPN reported Johnson was “likely” to receive a fifth season at Minnesota. And it dropped a week after college basketball reporter Seth Davis wrote how difficult he viewed the coaching job at the U. Johnson, a Minneapolis native, was 56-71 overall at Minnesota, including 22-57 in Big Ten play since 2021-22. The U went 9-11 in Big Ten games last season before slipping to 7-13 in conference play this season. The U was picked in preseason to finish 18th in the newly expanded Big Ten. After an 0-6 start to conference play, the U went 7-7 down the stretch to finish 12th in the standings.