Gopher Basketball
Yes, I think there is.
Puchtel reminds me not of Richard Coffey ““ the paratrooper turned Gopher power forward of the late 1980s. Sure, Coffey meant just as much to his Gopher teams as Puchtel does to this one, but Puchtel came to us from Harvard, not the Army. Besides, how many great ball-playing paratroopers are there really? Try as he might, Dan Monson just won’t be able to recruit many Coffeys.
No, Puchtel reminds me of the success Ohio State has had for years in bringing a Buckeye football-playing tight end out for basketball. I’ve thought for years that the Gophers could learn from Ohio State in this regard, and Puchtel ““ who played football for Harvard ““ proves my point.
I have to wonder if Gopher Coach Dan Monson should be looking for more Zach Puchtel-types as he recruits in the future.
A quick look at other athletes of this ilk:
Current NFL football tight end who played both tight end and power forward in college: Antonio Gates, now a tight end with the San Diego Chargers, played forward for the Kent State BB team. In fact, in round ball he was named Associated Press honorable mention All-America following his senior season when he averaged 20.6 points and 7.7 rebounds. He finished his career ranked sixth in school history with 1,216 points. As a high schooler, he led Detroit Central High School to the Class A state championship as a senior, and was named first-team all-state selection in football and basketball. 6-4 / 260
Another current NFL football tight end who played both tight end and power forward in college: Teyo Johnson, currently a tight end with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, was a two-sport star for the Stanford Cardinal, playing forward for the BB team and TE for the football team. 6-6 / 260
Former Iowa Hawkeye BB player with a strong football background as a TE: Jared Reiner led the Big Ten in rebounding in 2003, and led his Iowa team in blocked shots. He has spent some time on NBA rosters for the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Also played tight end and defensive end for his prep football team. 6-11 / 255.
Current MN Gopher FB tight end with a strong basketball background: Matt Spaeth also earned three letters as a center on his Albertville, MN prep basketball team. He averaged 30 points and 13 rebounds per game; was named all-conference three times for his play on the hardwood. 6-6 / 270.
Spaeth, a junior, would look awfully good in Williams Arena next season. He could surely do more than take up room in the paint, and might even pick up where Puchtel leaves off (Zach’s eligibility will be used up after this year). But it would be a stretch to assume that Spaeth could become a two-sport star like Antonio Gates or Teyo Johnson ““ even if Spaeth wanted to be.
Coach Monson doesn’t necessarily need a two-sport star (and who knows if Gopher Football Coach Glen Mason would want to share?). What Monson may need, though, is more Zach Puchtels or Jared Reiners, basketball players in tight-end bodies with tight-end mentalities.
Here’s hoping that when Coach Monson and his staff are out recruiting in the high schools, they will pay a little more attention to those power forwards who spend their Friday nights in the autumn playing tight end.