Gophers newcomers learn way around the Barn

Kevin Dorsey paused his attack, uncertain.

Suddenly, his youth, his lack of time spent on Williams Arena's floor showed.

The Gophers' speedy freshman guard cocked his head.

"Which way is the locker room?" he asked, making his way back to the court from the autograph tables set up in the arena's concourse after Sunday's public intrasquad scrimmage. "Isn't it this way?"

It wasn't, but fellow newbie Jordan Murphy grabbed his teammate and guided him in the right direction, two freshmen finding their way in a new place, a new life.

Lucky for the Gophers, navigation on the court seems like it might come much more easily.

The Gold team, made up entirely of newcomers — minus Murphy, who had to fill in for two injured centers on the opposing side — was crushed by the Maroon team, or all available returners, 78-51. But although seniors Joey King and Carlos Morris looked as consistent and as poised as Gophers fans have seen, it was still the parade of fresh faces that left a lasting impression on a night in which coach Richard Pitino, addressing the crowd from a microphone he held as he paced the court between quarters, yelled, "We will not use youth as an excuse!"

"Young and inexperienced," noted 16-year-old Jevan Richert from Springfield, after watching two transfers and four freshmen play for the first time.

But for fans who watched last season's team struggle to a 6-12 record in the Big Ten, that wide-eyed greenness is somewhat refreshing.

"I think we have a bright future," Richert added.

He and fans like Golden Valley's Kent Brevik, who brought his 16-month-old son, Luke, to his first Gophers event, watched as Dorsey showed off hiccup-quick speed, flying past defenders as he attacked the basket. The 6-6 Murphy gave a hint of the versatility he'll bring, starting at center over injured sophomores Bakary Konate (foot) and Gaston Diedhiou (foot) but using his athleticism to hold his own against bulky 6-9 transfer Reggie Lynch — who, along with 6-8 transfer Davonte Fitzgerald, displayed the size Minnesota has lacked in recent years. And although Ahmad Gilbert stayed mostly quiet, Dupree McBrayer made a loud statement, with his smooth shot and a surprising end-to-end drive that resulted in a one-handed slam over Murphy — a move that earned one of the biggest cheers of the night from the sprinkling of fans around Williams' lower bowl.

The freshmen may still struggle with logistics, but on Sunday some fans saw hints that even if it isn't immediate, they'll get to their destination just fine.

"I think," Brevik said, "they're on the right track."