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He played two seasons with heavy minutes for Oklahoma's excellent program and its excellent coach, Kelvin Sampson. He left after the 2004-05 season -- a year before Sampson left for Indiana.

There's no reason for a player in that situation to transfer, unless he thinks he can come home and take advantage of Monson's desperation.

Was that it, Lawrence? Was it the chance to take 13 of your team's 50 shots -- as was the case against Clemson -- that led you from a strong program back to Minnesota?

Forget those nonsensical excuses about Monson's program being damaged by the recruiting limits imposed in the wake of the Clem Haskins scandal. He had enough space available for an endless supply of Minnesota kids who first snubbed him, then returned looking for more minutes and too often more shots.

This was a lazy way for a coach to put together a roster, and another good reason the result of Monson's tenure became predictable: a complete, wretched failure.

Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. • preusse@startribune.com