Minnesota came into their road matchup against Washington already facing an uphill battle, missing key contributor Jaylen Crocker-Johnson due to injury. And while the Gophers hung tough early, things unraveled fast - and decisively - in the final five minutes of the first half.
The end result? A 69-57 loss that raises some tough questions for a team trying to find its footing without one of its top players.
Let’s break down how it all fell apart - and what we learned in the process - with five takeaways from the game.
1. The Timeout That Flipped the Script
At the 4:46 mark of the first half, Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle called a timeout with his team trailing 26-25. On the surface, it looked like a breather that might actually help a shorthanded Minnesota squad. Instead, it became the turning point of the game - and a masterstroke by Sprinkle.
Coming out of that timeout, Washington went on a 14-0 run to close the half, completely flipping the momentum. Sprinkle made a few key adjustments, the biggest of which was pulling freshman guard Zoom Diallo, who had been struggling on the defensive end. That move not only stabilized the defense but also lit a fire under Diallo, who came back strong in the second half.
But the real game-changer? A defensive switch that left Minnesota scrambling.
2. The 1-3-1 Zone That Broke the Gophers
Washington came out of the timeout in a 1-3-1 extended zone - and Minnesota never figured it out. The Huskies executed it to perfection: a guard pressured the ball just past halfcourt, a big man shadowed the action underneath, the wings pushed high to deny entry passes, and a player anchored the back end. The Gophers were thrown off balance and never recovered during that stretch.
Here’s how Minnesota’s next eight possessions went after that timeout:
- Isaac Asuma missed a three
- Asuma turned it over on a drive
- Cade Tyson threw an errant pass for another turnover
- Asuma’s jumper was blocked at the shot clock buzzer
- Langston Reynolds lost the ball for another turnover
- Tyson missed a jumper
- Asuma threw another bad pass for a turnover
- Reynolds missed a step-back three at the halftime buzzer
That’s eight possessions, zero points, and a whole lot of frustration. Sprinkle’s defensive wrinkle completely disrupted the Gophers’ rhythm, and Minnesota’s lack of poise and execution against the zone was glaring.
3. No Crocker-Johnson, No Answers Inside
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson’s absence loomed large. Without their interior anchor, the Gophers lacked a reliable presence in the paint on both ends of the floor. Offensively, they struggled to generate high-percentage looks inside, and defensively, they couldn’t consistently protect the rim or control the glass.
Washington took full advantage, attacking the paint with purpose and forcing Minnesota into uncomfortable rotations. The Gophers needed someone to step up in Crocker-Johnson’s absence - and no one quite filled that void.
4. Youth Showed in Crucial Moments
Minnesota’s young backcourt has shown flashes this season, but this was a game where inexperience was exposed. The pressure from Washington’s zone forced rushed decisions, poor spacing, and turnovers that turned into easy points the other way.
Isaac Asuma, in particular, had a rough stretch during that 14-0 run. That’s not to single him out - the entire group struggled - but it highlighted the growing pains that come with relying on underclassmen in high-leverage situations. These are the moments that can shape a young team, for better or worse.
5. Sprinkle’s Adjustments Were the Difference
Credit where it’s due: Danny Sprinkle pushed all the right buttons. His timeout at the perfect moment, the defensive switch to the 1-3-1, and the rotation adjustments - especially sitting Diallo in the first half and re-inserting him with purpose in the second - all paid off.
Washington didn’t just outplay Minnesota; they outmaneuvered them. The Huskies dictated the terms of the game from the final five minutes of the first half onward, and the Gophers never found a way to wrestle back control.
Final Word
Minnesota’s loss to Washington wasn’t just about being shorthanded - it was about how they responded when the game turned. The Gophers showed promise early, but when Sprinkle made his move, they didn’t have an answer.
The good news? There’s still time to grow.
But games like this are a reminder that in college basketball, one timeout - and one defensive wrinkle - can change everything.