Lots of personality on this year's Gophers squad

Plenty has been said about how different this Minnesota team could look from a year ago.

But based off very early impressions at media day, it could feel a lot different too.

The influx of five newcomers -- which could grow to six in January, if international Gaston Diedhiou is granted admission -- has brought a lot of new skill sets, and a lot of new personalities to these Gophers.

I remember media day pasts in which the players essentially stayed seated for the full hour at their individual chairs, stationed around the raised court at Williams Arena. Tuesday required running a player down, at times, especially near the end, when there were a lot of dunks and three-pointers and laughing happening.

Mali native Bakary Konate might be one of the happiest individuals I've ever met. Fellow freshman Josh Martin was a treat on everything from his summer and the team to his thoughts on Minnesota and how funny he thinks he is.

"They'll be more fun for you guys, I guess," coach Richard Pitino said to the media at Tuesday's press conference. "We always get complaints that they're not fun enough. Josh will be entertaining, certainly. Bakary, every time you speak to him, he tries to prove he can speak English, so he speaks for like five paragraphs."

But between all the laughs, Pitino is looking for another intangible that is still a work in progress, as is the case with a lot of freshmen. While the coach joked that recent grads Austin Hollins and Oto Osenieks -- who is staying on this year as a grad assistant -- were "boring," he also called them true professionals, noting that he knew exactly what to expect of them each day they arrived for a practice or work out.

Transfer Zach Lofton, whom Pitino has claimed has "a lot of personality" as well will redshirt this year, per NCAA rules. Martin will have opportunities, but is still a bit raw, and sits behind Joey King in the rotation. Konate is in a similar position, although there is no doubt Pitino will use the Mali freshman.

The two of the five newcomers that will likely get the most immediate playing time are Carlos Morris -- who could replace Austin Hollins at small forward in the starting lineup -- and Nate Mason, who has the chance to play a sixth man role. Those are also the two that Pitino claims are the least outgoing. He jokingly said Morris "doesn't have any personality" and called Mason "pretty quiet."

As for his own personality? Well, Nebraska coach Tim Miles had something to say about that on Big Ten media day, when he jokingly called out Pitino for being a "stiff."

"Richard Pitino -- come on," he said. Let's have some of that personality you've got in there somewhere, buddy."

On Gophers media day, the Minnesota coach responded.

OK, so Pitino has maybe a little more personality than Miles is giving him credit for, although whether the Minnesota head coach is as funny as he seems to think he is in press conferences is still up for debate. But in general, this team has become a lot more interesting to cover in the Pitino era. The coach throws in a few anecdotes -- which are the golden nuggets of journalism -- every once in a while and is certainly quicker to pick at himself and his players than his predecessor, Tubby Smith was. In fact, Pitino can be quite blunt about his guys, but manages to do it in a way that I imagine no feelings would be hurt were the player in question listening in.

Pitino has brought in some characters in short tenure as well. Beyond the newbies this year, DeAndre Mathieu -- of course -- wins the Personality Cup, quickly becoming a media darling last year with his ability to analyze, take the blame, tell stories and make jokes. Malik Smith could be a little like that at times as well.

In the past, Pitino has said he likes recruiting guys that have some fire and some spark to them. He sees that, oftentimes, translate on the court. It won't be every player. And it certainly won't come in lieu of the maturity and intangibles that the current youngsters are still working on. The ideal for Pitino is probably a good blend of all of that -- which probably explains why he is closest with Mathieu of anyone on the team.

In any case, as this season goes on, we might be treated with a little more color. And that's good for everyone.

"They're fun guys to be around," Pitino said of this year's squad. "And I think it will be a little different than last year."

**Minnesota will hold an open scrimmage for fans and media this Sunday at 4 p.m. More information here.