After watching Zach Puchtel give an intense effort in practice, Minnesota coach Dan Monson informed the seldom-used center that he would start against Indiana's dominant big man, Marco Killingsworth.
"I was shocked," Puchtel said. "I thought it was a dream at first."
Puchtel rewarded his coach for his decision, providing a spark in Minnesota's 61-42 victory over the 13th-ranked Hoosiers on Sunday. Vincent Grier had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Gophers (10-8, 1-6 Big Ten), who snapped a six-game losing streak and handed Indiana its worst defeat of the season.
Looking to energize his struggling team, Monson started Puchtel, who had played only 38 minutes this season, and freshman guard Jamal Abu-Shamala in place of usual starters Spencer Tollackson and Moe Hargrow.
Puchtel finished with six points and played solid defense against Killingsworth. Abu-Shamala had seven points.
"You can't just keep marching out the same way when you're 0-6," Monson said.
"When we were in practice on [Friday], no one played harder than Zach Puchtel. I wanted to show our guys that's what we needed."
It was Minnesota's 12th starting lineup of the year, and it resulted was an uncharacteristically strong first half for the Gophers, who've been plagued by turnovers and badly missed shots since the Big Ten season began. Minnesota played its most aggressive defense of the year, hounding Indiana's ball handlers, contesting every shot it could and diving for loose balls.
"I need to get him on my team," Indiana coach Mike Davis said of Puchtel. "This guy was so clean with his fundamentals, and defensively."
J'son Stamper added 12 points for the Gophers, who held Indiana to 32 percent shooting, including 5-for-23 from 3-point range.
Stanford 76, No. 10 Washington 67
Chris Hernandez told himself to stay calm, refusing to think about the consequences if even one of his free throws were to miss its intended target.
One, two, three -- just like in practice.
Hernandez sank three free throws with two-tenths of a second left in regulation to send the game into overtime and hit four more in the extra period, lifting Stanford to a thrilling 76-67 victory over No. 10 Washington.
"When you're trying to shoot, the best thing to do is not think about what you have to do," Hernandez said. "I've had that situation in high school a few times. I've been pretty successful."
The Cardinal (10-7, 6-3 Pac-10) won their third straight to extend their home winning streak to eight games. It was their 13th straight win over the Huskies at Maples Pavilion, where students charged the court after the final buzzer sounded.
"I don't think it crossed my mind we were going to lose that game," said Huskies leading scorer Brandon Roy, who finished with 25 points. "I'm still kicking myself. For the first time in basketball, I feel sorry for myself."
Hernandez finished with 15 points and four assists after sitting the final 12:16 of the first half in foul trouble, and Matt Haryasz posted his fifth straight 20-point game with 24 points and 10 rebounds. He also made a gutsy pass to Hernandez in one crazy final minute of regulation.
No. 15 NC State 94, Clemson 85
Ilian Evtimov didn't want to think about what a second-straight loss would've meant to North Carolina State.
Thanks to his play in two overtime periods, Evtimov won't have to trouble himself.
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