The Washington Huskies found their rhythm Saturday night in Seattle, and it came in the form of a 6-foot-11 freshman from Germany who couldn’t miss. Hannes Steinbach poured in 26 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-17 shooting performance, leading the Huskies to a 69-57 win over a depleted Minnesota Gophers squad.
For Washington, this was more than just a win-it was a much-needed sigh of relief. The Huskies snapped a three-game skid, and they did it by dominating the paint and playing with purpose on both ends.
The numbers tell the story: Washington outscored Minnesota 44-26 in the paint and shot a blistering 63 percent from the field overall. In the first half alone, they hit 67 percent of their shots, setting the tone early and never really looking back.
Steinbach was the centerpiece of it all. The freshman big man showed poise beyond his years, establishing position deep in the post and finishing with touch and confidence. Whether it was a hook shot over a smaller defender or a quick drop-step to the rim, he made life miserable for a Gophers frontcourt that was already shorthanded.
Minnesota was without starting forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, sidelined with a foot injury, and that absence loomed large. Without their anchor inside, the Gophers struggled to match up physically. Once foul trouble hit, they were forced to go small-and that’s when the Huskies pounced.
To their credit, the Gophers hung in early. They actually led 26-25 with under five minutes left in the first half.
But then came the turning point: a 14-0 Washington run that flipped the game on its head. By halftime, the Huskies had built a 39-26 lead, and Minnesota never fully recovered.
“We did a pretty good job of hanging in there,” Gophers head coach Niko Medved said after the game. “That run at the end of the first half... once we got in foul trouble, we had to go small and it got tough. [Steinbach] is one of the best young freshmen in the country.”
Minnesota had its own bright spots. Senior Cade Tyson led the way with 22 points, doing everything he could to keep the Gophers within striking distance.
Junior forward Bobby Durkin added 13, and sophomore guard Isaac Asuma chipped in 11. But the offensive rhythm was inconsistent, and without a true post presence, they simply couldn’t keep pace with Washington’s interior assault.
This game was a reminder of how much matchups matter in college basketball. Washington leaned into its size advantage and executed with precision.
Steinbach’s emergence as a go-to option in the paint gives the Huskies a real building block-not just for the rest of this season, but for the future. For Minnesota, the loss stings, but the effort was there.
With a healthier roster and fewer foul issues, this could’ve been a different story.
As the Big Ten standings continue to shuffle, both teams are fighting to find consistency. But on this night in Seattle, it was all about the Huskies-and a freshman who looked like anything but.