P.J. Fleck might soon feel like Richard Pitino did in March 2019.

Six years ago, Pitino had taken the Gophers men’s basketball team back to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons, but the head coach was not thrilled with the selection committee’s pick for Minnesota’s first-round opponent: Louisville.

That, of course, was the school his father, Rick Pitino, had led to a national championship in 2013. But in 2019, Rick was embroiled in scandal with the Cardinals and was actively suing them.

Facing a familial tie to that controversy, Richard had to answer questions about his dad and the matchup on Selection Sunday, and a few days later, before their opening round game in Des Moines. The Gophers’ eventual win over Louisville made it a bit sweeter for son.

For Fleck, this year’s bowl selection Sunday on Dec. 7 might develop into similarly uncomfortable situation. The Athletic projected Monday that Minnesota will play against Fleck’s old team, Western Michigan, in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit in Dec. 26.

Fleck would, of course, avoid the thornier elements foisted on Richard Pitino last decade. Fleck came out of Western Michigan in good standing, having turned around the Broncos from a 1-11 record in his first season in 2013 to a 13-1 campaign and a Cotton Bowl appearance in 2016.

But for him and his current program, that bowl matchup would be unflattering for a few reasons.

First, it would be a far cry from the aspirations Fleck openly shared in preseason about a huge goal of being in the conversation for the College Football Playoff this winter. Second, it would be the Gophers’ fourth overall trip to the Detroit bowl (formerly known as the Quick Lane Bowl) since 2015, and a third visit across Fleck’s nine seasons in Minnesota.

Plus, it also would create a must-win situation for Fleck. It would be darn near impossible to spin positives, if he were to lose to the Mid-American Conference program he left for the Big Ten. Western Michigan is 7-4 overall, with losses to Illinois, Michigan State and North Texas in nonconference play. They are in first place in the MAC with one loss to Miami (Ohio).

With the Gophers’ brutal defensive showing in a 38-35 loss to Northwestern, Minnesota current sits at 6-5 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play. They are also projected to go to the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on Dec. 26 and the Pinstripe Bowl in New York on Dec. 28.

Those, too, are familiar destinations for the Gophers, but they would avoid the entanglements Western Michigan present.

For the Gophers to end up in Detroit, they will likely need to lose as 2.5-point favorites to rival Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Paul Bunyan’s Axe will be on the line at Huntington Bank Stadium, but so will be saving Fleck from awkwardness.