The University of Minnesota men's basketball season wasn't pleasant.
No NCAA Tournament invitation. Not even an invite from the second-class NIT tourney, which the Gophers won last year.
But that's what you get when you have the disaster of a season that Minnesota did, going just 6-12 in the Big Ten, 18-15 overall, and letting a horde of late leads slip away.
Departing are senior guards Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu, and centers Maurice Walker and Elliott Eliason. Hollins leaves as the school's fourth all-time leading scorer, though he struggled for much of his final two years as a Gopher.
For all the hand wringing over a lost season, this program may not be down long. The optimism comes from second-year coach Richard Pitino's incoming recruiting class. It's ranked 38th in the nation, and might crack the top 20 with one more possible signing.
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But there is no doubt which light from this group shines brightest. That is Kevin Dorsey, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound darting and tough point guard out of Maryland.
Dorsey — as a four-star recruit — is the most highly regarded recruit in Pitino's short Minnesota tenure. Pitino especially appreciates Dorsey's defensive acumen, saying that the speedy guard could be one of the top on-ball defenders in the country.
Dorsey's high school coach this past season at Clinton Christian (Upper Marlboro, Md.) — Chris Cole — said he believes that Pitino has it right.
Cole, who along with Dorsey was reached by phone Wednesday, says his senior point guard is special and that it's his competitiveness that leaps out most.
"He doesn't like to lose whether it's in practice or in a game," said Cole, whose Dorsey-led team finished 20-9 this season. "He doesn't even like to lose when running to the vending machine. Kevin is just a really competitive kid, and that shows on the court. He's one of the most tenacious defenders — all 94 feet — that you'll ever see. That's what coach Pitino likes so much about him."
Likes his future
Dorsey, who averaged 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game, likes where he's headed. It's Pitino's desire to play full-court defense and be fast-paced on offense that attracted him to Minnesota. He had plenty of other options, including an offer from home-state team Maryland.
But Dorsey thinks the Gophers will be an ideal fit.
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"I watched the style of play that they have, and I really liked it," Dorsey said. "(Pitino) didn't guarantee me anything. But he told me that if I come in and work hard, that I might be a starter right away."
Dorsey dreams about sharing the backcourt with Minnesota's promising freshman from this season, Nate Mason. The 6-feet-1 Mason averaged 10 points and shot a sparkling 39 percent from 3-point distance.
Dorsey stayed with Mason, from Decatur, Ga., on his official visit to Minnesota. The two, who'd also met at a basketball camp a few years before, immediately hit it off.
Dorsey thinks they'll also hit it off as a 1-2 punch for Minnesota.
"I'm very excited about being with (Mason)," Dorsey said. "We can both be a 1 (point guard) or a 2 (shooting guard). Whatever they prefer."
Dorsey said that the tough season Minnesota just completed doesn't concern him. He sees much brighter things ahead.
"It's a learning process, and every team goes through adversity," Dorsey said. "You just have to come back strong."
