Incoming Gophers basketball class is ready to contribute

A couple of hours after the first glimpse of the Gophers' four newcomers, relatively unknown before a late October intrasquad scrimmage, the excitement was palpable.

Those expecting seniors DeAndre Mathieu, Mo Walker, Elliott Eliason and Andre Hollins to dominate this year's men's basketball team might have been taken off guard: The new additions accounted for 41 percent of the Gophers' scoring and 30 percent of the rebounding that evening.

"This group looks great," raved one young woman, decked out in maroon and gold, as she leaned against the Williams Arena court railings. "To see them stepping up was awesome."

Heading into an exhibition game against Minnesota Duluth on Thursday night — and just over one week from their official debut against No. 8 Louisville in Puerto Rico — the Gophers' incoming class doesn't look exactly as planned. Coach Richard Pitino accepted six scholarships, but African power forward Gaston Diedhiou was denied admission to the university and transfer guard Zach Lofton — who would have redshirted per NCAA rules — was kicked off the team for "failing to meet the expectations and obligations of the team," according to a news release last week.

But the four that remain — a collection of under-the-radar athletes who seem to perfectly fit Pitino's up-tempo, pressing style — have the chance to make a big impact right away.

"Nate Mason could be one of the best defenders on the team," Pitino gushed at media day. "Carlos Morris, if he applies himself, could be one of the best defenders on the team. Bakary Konate is a great shot-blocker. Josh Martin has the ability to be a great defensive rebounder, shot blocker.

"I just think the energy that those guys bring as newcomers is great."

The foursome now has the chance to overcome those early evaluations. Pitino has said he expects the newbies to help improve a defense that was ranked last in the conference in efficiency a year ago, according to kenpom.com. He called Mason, a 6-1 freshman guard who had 17 points in last month's scrimmage, the most ready to play of the bunch, although Morris — a junior college transfer and a good fit as a 6-5 small forward — will likely start.

"[Mason's] maturity is something I didn't have as a freshman," Mathieu said. "He understands when to score, when to pass. He really fits in."

Martin, a 6-8 freshman forward, has already flashed his athletic potential, pulling down eight rebounds to complement a roar-inducing dunk.

Konate, meanwhile, has surprised his new coach with his quick development. "I did not think he'd be this far ahead," Pitino said of his 6-11 freshman. "I mean, he is ready to contribute right away."

On the night of the scrimmage, another fan called this group the most exciting class since Royce White, Trevor Mbakwe, Rodney Williams and Justin Cobbs arrived at Minnesota in 2009. Of course, White and Cobbs both transferred, the former amid criminal allegations. Mbakwe endured knee injuries and legal battles, and Williams never reached his lofty potential.

Perhaps the greatest challenge for this bunch will be learning the intangibles. The Gophers lost four seniors, including the ever-steady Austin Hollins, from last year, and Pitino has warned that the 2014-15 version is still learning the culture.

"That's something that you underestimate a little bit until you don't have it," Pitino said on media day, before Lofton's dismissal. "Austin Hollins was such a pro. When he walked in a gym, you knew what you were getting from him. … With the new guys, we've just got to get them to understand the culture part of it. Not that they're fighting us, they're not bad kids, but they're just not grasping that yet and it's going to take some time."

In the meantime, the newcomers will try to soak up every lesson and every moment.

"I'm just mostly excited to see how good we can be," Martin said. "The work we put in this summer and all the excellence we demanded of each other, it's just going to be exciting [to see] what we can do."