The DEETS. Tonight's game vs. Seattle tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and 1500-AM.
The READING. Yesterday afternoon, international freshman big Gaston Diedhiou joined the team after Minnesota's office of admissions approved his new English proficiency test score. The Gophers also added a new walk-on -- 6-3 guard Mike Lukashewich. After an early season marked by drama and attrition, it was a day to help build up a diminished roster.
The BUZZ. Perhaps you saw the Vine of Bakary Konate catching a pass -- a football, that is -- from Richard Pitino that the coach posted on Twitter recently. No, he's not trying to transition his freshman big man to Jerry Kill's squad. He's working to get Konate stronger with his paws. "We've just got time now, just because finals are over so just trying to get creative with him," Pitino said. "Obviously his hands need to get better. We did that at Florida [when he was an assistant under Billy Donovan] with a couple of kids ... So just trying to keep it fresh, keep it light. He enjoyed it.
The NUMBERS. Through ten games, the statistics show a big change in Minnesota basketball. The Gophers are No. 1 in the nation in assists. They're getting plenty of love from KenPom too. The Gophers are third in defensive turnover percentage and fourth in steals. What's more, after landed at 257th in adjusted tempo a year ago, Minnesota sits at No. 20 now. Pitino isn't putting much stock in the "improvements" yet. The Gophers have traditionally played their fastest ball -- like many Big Ten teams -- in the non-conference schedule. KenPom also, by the way, has the Gophers winning just two games on the road in conference play. The real differencemaker, Pitino believes, is the teams' stealing prowess. That affects the assists and the tempo. "Why do we have so many possessions? We have so many possessions because of steals," he said. "I don't know. It's still early. The stats are nice but it's still really, really early and obviously the competition is about to get a lot tougher."
The PLAYER. Center Mo Walker didn't play for the first six games of last season, having been suspended for reasons Minnesota never revealed. But through the first ten games he did play, Walker compiled 17 field goals in 31 attempts, good for a .548 shooting percentage -- not bad. This year, he's in a different role -- starting rather than coming off the bench, and he's compiled 202 minutes vs. 133 minutes through ten last year. Still, it's impressive how much more he's been targeted, and how even more efficient he's been. Leading up to tonight's game vs. Seattle, Walker has had 47 field goals in 74 attempts -- leading the team with his .635 shooting percentage. "I've played with [his teammates] for a number of years now, so they're starting to learn more ways to get me the ball," Walker said.
