AMHERST – Massachusetts men’s basketball coach Frank Martin took the more traditional route when recruiting for the 2023-24 season. Martin brought in a handful of high school graduates rather than pluck players out of the transfer portal. UMass has seven freshmen on its roster and brought in two transfers to join the five returning players (three who saw consistent playing time) to round out the 14-man roster.

UMass opens its new season Tuesday night when Albany comes to the Mullins Center for a 7 p.m. contest.

Because Martin is known for his high-intensity play style, headlined by pressure man-to-man defense and an offense that is typically in the top 25 in pace of play, these new faces are going to be thrown into the fire most likely right away.

The rotation was very deep a season ago, with Martin sometimes leaning on 11 or more players. That has to be the case again if he wants to duplicate that same run-and-gun scheme – expect it to be similar when the Minutemen meet Albany.

“I play people that deserve to play,” Martin said during Atlantic-10 Media Day last month. “If I only have six, then I’ll play six. If I have 11, I’ll play 11. That’s the way we play the game. Offensively, we were top 15 in the country in pace of play – that means we play really fast. Defensively, we’re an aggressive, man-to-man pressure team which is really taxing on players. Because of that, you have to play more than six or seven guys.”

Newcomers Robert Davis Jr. and Jaylen Curry (freshman) are going to make immediate impacts, as is Josh Cohen, a transfer from Saint Francis who won the 2022-23 Player of the Year award in the Northeast Conference, averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Davis Jr. hit six three-pointers on 50-percent shooting en route to a game-high 20 points in the exhibition game against Western Connecticut State on Oct. 25. Curry didn’t shoot well, but had five steals and four assists – showing the versatility he brings to the table. Cohen chipped in six points, four boards, and a block in 13 minutes of action.

Throw in returning players Matt Cross (Preseason All-Conference Third Team), Rahsool Diggins, and Keon Thompson, and this team should have a strong core of players who can put the ball in the basket at a high clip. Each played very well and displayed flashes of improvement in the limited minutes during the tune-up game against West Conn., including 15 points from Diggins.

“Everything starts with your returning players,” Martin said. “If you got a program depending on first-year guys, you’re not gonna be very good. You need your returners to be rock-solid and be ready to go. All three of them are much better, Matt’s an all-league player. He’s playing basketball at a high, high clip right now. I’m really excited for him, and Keon and Rahsool are day and night compared to where they were at a year ago.”

This year’s team seems to have a much different vibe. It’s not that last season’s squad didn’t get along, but Martin senses a stronger bond in 2023-24. The guys have bought in to Martin and to each other, and they thoroughly enjoy being together. A close connection is hard to overlook – it could even translate to the court and might help them gel quicker than expected.

“Their spirit, their personality – last year was new to everybody,” Martin said. “Players were new to each other, I was new to them, they were new to me. We didn’t have cliques, but it wasn’t the unity that these guys have [this season].

“We got players in the program that are excited about playing for us, and they’re really good players,” he continued. “I’m excited. We’ve got a fun group. Does that mean winning or losing, I got no idea. I’ve never been one to worry about the future. I worry about the guys in place. The guys in place make it fun for me every day, and they’re committed to each other. I’m excited to coach them.”

UMass was picked to finish 13th out of 15 in the Atlantic 10, which is nothing new for the Minutemen. They’ve been counted out for the past several seasons. The road to proving the pre-season voters wrong starts on Tuesday against a beatable Albany team as UMass begins its non-conference slate – one that leans on the easier side in terms of strength of schedule.