1. The mass defection of five players -- post players Jamie Broback, Liz Podominick, Natasha Williams and Lauren Lacey and point guard Brittney Davis -- after the 2005-06 season. All five had eligibility remaining, and Williams, Lacey and Davis were only sophomores. The Gophers were 93-27 under Borton through Feb. 5, 2006. Since then they are 84-79.

2. Lindsay Whalen and Janel McCarville were Kodak All-Americas -- awarded to the top 10 college players -- in 2003-04. The Gophers might not see the likes of those two players again, let alone on a single team. Remember, this is a program whose recent history was an 8-88 Big Ten record in six seasons before Brenda Frese's one-year stint in 2001-02.

3. Gophers coach Pam Borton offered scholarships to but failed to land top Minnesota preps Tayler Hill (Ohio State), Angel Robinson (Marquette) and Theairra Taylor (Iowa) at home.

4. Several other Minnesota high school players not pursued hard by the Gophers emerged as college stars, including point guard Alyssa Karel of Wisconsin, guard Brittany Chambers of Kansas State and guards Kachine Alexander and Kamille Wahlin of Iowa.

5. The 2008 recruiting class of Kiara Buford, Jackie Voigt and twin sisters Brianna and Nicole Mastey was hyped as one of the 20 best in the country. But only Buford has emerged as a standout.