Minnesota winning despite being under the microscope.

Byline: Tom Powers

ST. PAUL _ Officially, everyone is supposed to forget about it. Like the time the crazy uncle embarrassed the family by sticking up a gas station, it isn't to be brought up in public conversation.

As far as the University of Minnesota is concerned, the Golden Gophers men's basketball team did not exist between the summer of 1993 and the autumn of 1999. All team banners, records and references have been expunged as a result of the massive NCAA infractions.

The team guide lists the Gophers' record as 0-0 in each of those seasons.

This is similar to when it was official Soviet policy that Mikhail Gorbachev did not have a birthmark on his forehead. Soviet citizens who caught glimpses of Gorbachev, either in person or on television, were sure they saw large red markings that extended from midscalp down past the brow.

No matter, the birthmark did not exist because the state refused to recognize it. It was airbrushed out of all official photos.

However, ask any true Minnesota fan about …