Gophers head coach Richard Pitino decided it was time to change it up.

He announced on Friday that sophomore forward Joey King will start in place of junior Oto Osenieks on Saturday when Minnesota welcomes Indiana to town.

It's a move some have been inquiring about the possibility of since early in the season, but Pitino had held strong on his position not to make a change to the starting five just for the sake of making a change. So why make the move now?

"I don't think Joey was doing anything to justify making a change in the starting lineup [earlier in the season] — I think he is now," Pitino said. "And I don't think it's as much Oto as it is Joey. I just think Joey is playing with unbelievable enthusiasm and effort in practice and during the games."

King put forth his best performance of the conference slate in the Gophers triple-overtime loss to the Boilermakers. He chipped in 14 points while pulling down a season-high nine rebounds in a career-high 47 minutes.

"I think that he's showing great enthusiasm, playing confidently offensively," Pitino said. "He's battling. Like I said in that Purdue game, he was probably the only guy who matched their physicality. [He] took their hits and was strong with the ball." 

Pitino had previously stated a move like this could come if the Gophers dropped two or three in a row. Minnesota's loss to Purdue was its third straight.

"I just think it's something that's needed, a little change," Pitino said "We've lost three in a row, why not switch something up?"