DU men’s basketball may not be a sleeping giant, but at least vice chancellor for athletics Josh Berlo sees a future when it’s no longer keeping him up all night.

“It definitely has growth potential,” Berlo told The Denver Post recently. “When I would come out here with Minnesota Duluth, and sometimes there was a hoops game going on, but we were skating over in Joy Burns (Arena) …

“I’m keenly aware that, while there have been some moments in our brief Division I history, it is not on par with the success you see in other programs. So we’re looking closely and committed (to improvement).”

The Pios haven’t posted a winning season in men’s hoops since 2015-16 — and that was four coaches ago, under Joe Scott. DU hasn’t put up a winning record in conference play since 2017-18, during Rodney Billups’ second season.

The program is one of 34 currently in Division I that has never made the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The closest DU has come this decade was in March 2024, when the Pios reached the Summit League conference tourney title game, where they fell to South Dakota State, 76-68.

The 18 months since have seen the coach behind that title game berth, Jeff Wulbrun, take a leave of absence and ultimately leave the program this past March as the Pios posted an 11-21 mark. It was DU’s fourth season of 20 or more losses since 2018-19.

“We’ve got to look at facilities. We have to look at scheduling. We’ve got to look at the other infrastructure. And we’re making the moves that we can there,” Berlo said. “And it ultimately becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy — as you have success, you generate more revenues, and you reinvest those into the program.

“Historically, we’ve had some lofty expectations and goals with basketball. And as the landscapes change, we’re trying to build it, I would say, a bit more judiciously and intentionally. Because it is hard to do. But when you look across our athletic department and our university, there’s nothing that tells me that it can’t be done.”

Berlo’s optimism is founded on the arrival of Wulbrun’s replacement as head coach, Tim Bergstraser. The Minnesota native posted a 75-22 record over three seasons at Division II Minnesota State University Moorhead, winning two Northern Sun conference tourney titles along the way.

“We’re excited about Tim,” Berlo continued. “He knows the Summit League. If you look at the guys that he’s brought in and the guys that he’s kept, I think he understands what it’s going to take to win in that conference. And that is an essential step to growing your success.

“Now, I would say building a program with the transfer portal and with NIL and revenue sharing, particularly with some of the movement you see in certain sports, it’s very challenging. And we recognize that. But looking at what we can do … from supporting the program, building it for the future, and really setting our goals in climbing in the Summit League — I believe both basketball programs can do that. But being very intentional that that’s the goal.”

DU recently announced a home-and-home series with Wyoming, and Berlo is looking for more provincial matchups that could stoke Front Range interest.

“I think that we can do some more of that,” he said.

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