Has the Bball Program Hit Rock Bottom, Yet?

[Travelin]

I hope it has. Last year was absolutely dreadful. I keep telling myself that we have turned the corner and we will start improving during the course of the season and end the year better than when we started. Right now, I would say that is up in the air. We might see a more consistently good team in the next few weeks, or it may be another year...or two.

They say things will get worse before they get better. Is that the case with our basketball team? Or, have we already turned the corner?

[FanofCarolina1]

Yes it has. When Darrin Horne was fired, that's when the program was sitting at rock bottom. the first step of getting up was the hiring of Frank Martin.

He picked up some quality recruits in a short span and also brought his whole staff from K-State. The basketball program is no longer at the bottom.

Another step was surpassing last seasons win total. It's going slowly, but the program is on the rise. It's going to take Frank some time but he will make this a Tournament team.

If he leaves in the middle of the night then you can say that the program would be back at rock bottom. As of here on out, win or lose the South Carolina basketball program is on the rise. Patience a virtue.

[I Bleed Garnet]

No.

We already have more wins than last year and had a coach on the hot seat.
Last year was rock bottom

[qcgamecock]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

YES.

We already have more wins than last year and had a coach on the hot seat.
Last year was rock bottom

Fixed it...

[Travelin]

^^^Thanks!

If you think last year was rock bottom, then your answer would be YES.

[sc455]

Yes, but it seems like we are there, still.

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by Travelin

^^^Thanks!

If you think last year was rock bottom, then your answer would be YES.

my bad.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

my bad.

No probs. I knew what you meant. I hope we are both right and the worst has come and gone. I suppose the relief of knowing Horn is gone, is worth another losing season.

[thumpin big]

We are bad now. Less talented than last year. But we now have better coaching. I would not be surprised if some of our current players are "encouraged" to transfer. I don't think Martin likes a lot of what he has, and I don't think he will be patient enough to allow all of Horn's recruits to cycle through the program. Some of them will stay until their senior years are completed, but I doubt all of them will.

[gotrice?]

We just need to give Martin time. He is recruiting well at the guard positions and if we land Henry that would be a 4* PF. His scheme is far better than Horn's was now all we need is the talent to run it effectively and we will be in some NCAA Tournaments. Just remember how bad Indiana was the first few years under Creen, rebuilding doesn't happen overnight.

[gamecock88]

This team broke completely through rock bottom a while back. They'd have to improve to get back there and I don't see it with these guys. Not enough everything.

[Carolina4Life]

Y'all keep on and you're going to run Frank out of town

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by Carolina4Life

Y'all keep on and you're going to run Frank out of town

?

[Carolina4Life]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

?

People complain all the time and the man wasn't had enough time to do anything yet. I'm tired of hearing about it.

[Flameout12]

Originally Posted by Carolina4Life

I'm tired of hearing about it.

...then don't listen.

[Order 66]

You have to hit bedrock to build a truely solid foundation. Hopefully Frank can get in the talent to turn this program into a powerhouse. Horn drained the fuel out the plane, and sent it into a nose dive before he left town.

[GTjacketcock]

No. As far as I'm concerned it was when we scored 9 points in the first half against UGAg two seasons ago. We have a lot less talent on this team than the past two seasons and we've already surpassed last year's win total. I honestly think the fact that we have already won two SEC games is a miracle and I don't think any other coach could have accomplished that this season.

Let's face it though, we lost two of our best players from last season (Gill and Harris) who would have definitely helped us win at least a few more games this year. Here's a list of our tallest players:

Laimonas Chatkevicius (6'-11") - Freshman
Carlton Geathers (6'-10") - Injured
RJ Slawson (6'-8") - Inconsistent
Mindaugas Kacinas (6'-7") - Freshman

And everyone else is 6'-5" or shorter. Bottom line, if we get some athletic big men we will be much better off. I love the effort on the boards by Carrera and Lakeem, but we get outmatched so badly, especially against teams like Mizzou that have such talented big men. I trust Frank Martin and have faith in his ability to get these guys, because with guards like Thornwell, Stroman, and possibly guys like Woods and Dozier, we should have a talented backcourt.

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by Carolina4Life

People complain all the time and the man wasn't had enough time to do anything yet. I'm tired of hearing about it.

I don't see it as really complaining about Frank.

[HTCOCK]

Originally Posted by thumpin big

We are bad now. Less talented than last year. But we now have better coaching. I would not be surprised if some of our current players are "encouraged" to transfer. I don't think Martin likes a lot of what he has, and I don't think he will be patient enough to allow all of Horn's recruits to cycle through the program. Some of them will stay until their senior years are completed, but I doubt all of them will.

At least we actually run an offense and have abandoned that unsound, gambling defense that had to set a record for dunks given up!

We need a skilled big man and a couple of guys who can shoot. Then, I think we'll see Frank Martin's system will work quite well.

Respectfully Submitted,

HTCock

[ucan'tlickourcocks]

Rock bottom happened in the DH era...... we are already a better program with just the edition of FM!

I normally try not to bash ANY coaches, past or present, but DH was just a flat out bad hire! FM though, I believe is the best coach we have had since Eddie Fogler...... FM is like a VERY INTENSE version of Eddie Fogler. He has tremendous basketball knowledge (x's and o's), is a great recruiter, and is VERY INTENSE! It will take some time, but I am absolutely convinced that Frank Martin will build a competitive program at South Carolina!

We will never have a Basketball program that will rise to the level of North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, etc........ but we can build a program which is competitive, capable of competing for Conference Championships, and capable of making the BIG Dance!

I am convinced that if FM did not feel that he could get that done...... then he wouldn't be here! We want to consistently be in the top third of the SEC...... and FM in my opinion is a top Third coach.......

With his coaching and recruiting ability, it's just a matter of time until we have a winner! As fans, we just have to be patient!

It will be fun though, just like it has been in Baseball and Football! With Dawn and Frank, we have winners!!!