Martin, South Carolina struggling in 1st year

[TwoNotch Dreams]

Mostly everyone predicted this team would be better than last year. So far, so good. I use the word "good" lightly though.

It never was said much, but for four years Darrin Horn recruited talent, rather than basketball players. A lot of these guys dominated high school on talent alone and weren't very smart players.

R.J. Slawson, bless his heart, isn't a good basketball player, but he has a lot of talent. He like Eric Smith and Damien Leonard, doesn't get it.

For all intents and purposes, this team is still a Darrin Horn team. Michael Carrera and Mindaugas Kacinas, while not flashy, immediately separated themselves because they make effort plays. They make basketball plays.

Brian Richardson gets more burn now because he's advanced as a basketball player. Collectively though this team would be better as a pickup squad. Frank Martin would not have recruited or gone after most of the players on this team and it shows.

[Lalli25]

Originally Posted by TwoNotch Dreams

Mostly everyone predicted this team would be better than last year. So far, so good. I use the word "good" lightly though.

It never was said much, but for four years Darrin Horn recruited talent, rather than basketball players. A lot of these guys dominated high school on talent alone and weren't very smart players.

R.J. Slawson, bless his heart, isn't a good basketball player, but he has a lot of talent. He like Eric Smith and Damien Leonard, doesn't get it.

For all intents and purposes, this team is still a Darrin Horn team. Michael Carrera and Mindaugas Kacinas, while not flashy, immediately separated themselves because they make effort plays. They make basketball plays.

Brian Richardson gets more burn now because he's advanced as a basketball player. Collectively though this team would be better as a pickup squad. Frank Martin would not have recruited or gone after most of the players on this team and it shows.

I agree with most of this. I liked Horn, but agreed he had to go. I just don't get why he recruited the way he did. He just looked for long and lanky athletic guys, but didn't care if they couldn't shoot worth a damn. Athletes can't get space to make plays at the hoop, unless there are shooters to spread out the D.

[OldPat]

Originally Posted by CardiacKemba

My apologies for giving my opinion, oh holy one. I said that I "fear", implying that I don't KNOW but I THINK, that he may be going down that road. Without going into detail, I just don't think that Martin is all that he's hyped up to be. That's my OPINION. That being said, I welcome any legitimate argument (and no, saying "you're wrong" or patronizing me is NOT a legitimate argument) as to why he is a good coach and I will respond with my thoughts (or at least as much as I am allowed to share).

I made fun of what you said because, whether you realize it or not, you were patronizing the members of this board by writing such a dissembling post.

One one hand, you fear or think that Martin may be taking our B-ball program down the wrong road.

But on the other hand, you say you can see it so clearly. Well, which is it?
You can't have it both ways.

In your response you imply that you are privy to information we are not, but don't care to go into detail. LOL.

As for why I think Martin is a good coach, I give you at his record at K-State while you give us your opinion backed up by innuendo to say he may be otherwise.

[CardiacKemba]

Originally Posted by OldPat

I made fun of what you said because, whether you realize it or not, you were patronizing the members of this board by writing such a dissembling post.

One one hand, you fear or think that Martin may be taking our B-ball program down the wrong road.

But on the other hand, you say you can see it so clearly. Well, which is it?
You can't have it both ways.

In your response you imply that you are privy to information we are not, but don't care to go into detail. LOL.

As for why I think Martin is a good coach, I give you at his record at K-State while you give us your opinion backed up by innuendo to say he may be otherwise.

Ummm...I never said that. I simply can't go into detail because this message board discourages anything that could possibly be considered slightly negative.

[Gamecockboyo]

We all knew this was going to be a rough year.

[Beebop]

I would assume that basketball scholarships are just like football scholarships in that they are one year guarantees correct? If so, does Martin pull some to get rid of the negative dead weight? It seems to me that there is a lack of passion and "Courage", as Coach Martin likes to say, which can be viral if allowed to remain!! I say drop the dead weight. They are given an opportunity with the scholarship. If they don't want to earn the right to carry that opportunity over to the next year, then part ways and find someone who does. Just like a job.....if you have an employee who's not doing their part you find someone who will. This is an opportunity for Martin to make a statement, if it's needed.

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by Beebop

I would assume that basketball scholarships are just like football scholarships in that they are one year guarantees correct? If so, does Martin pull some to get rid of the negative dead weight? It seems to me that there is a lack of passion and "Courage", as Coach Martin likes to say, which can be viral if allowed to remain!! I say drop the dead weight. They are given an opportunity with the scholarship. If they don't want to earn the right to carry that opportunity over to the next year, then part ways and find someone who does. Just like a job.....if you have an employee who's not doing their part you find someone who will. This is an opportunity for Martin to make a statement, if it's needed.

I think it would be quite reasonable to expect that some, maybe several, of the current players will not be on the team next year. The only guy I would think is sure to be back is Carrera. Every other player is a candidate for changing teams. We are recruiting 3 guys for the spring. Signing any of them would mean they would take the place of someone currently on the roster.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by Beebop

I would assume that basketball scholarships are just like football scholarships in that they are one year guarantees correct? If so, does Martin pull some to get rid of the negative dead weight? It seems to me that there is a lack of passion and "Courage", as Coach Martin likes to say, which can be viral if allowed to remain!! I say drop the dead weight. They are given an opportunity with the scholarship. If they don't want to earn the right to carry that opportunity over to the next year, then part ways and find someone who does. Just like a job.....if you have an employee who's not doing their part you find someone who will. This is an opportunity for Martin to make a statement, if it's needed.

It has become and is viral. A basketball team only has 10-14 players. It only takes one or two bad apples to bring down the bunch. In our case, half the team doesn't give a damn and those players need to move on. I wish all of Horn's recruits would have transferred when Darrin got fired, we'd be better today if they had.

[davidmc467]

I just watched the LSU press conference, wow Frank is almost at a loss for words. He said he has never been so embarrassed before as a coach.

I know he probably won't, but I really don't want to see him bail on us. He needs next season with new players, bad.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by davidmc467

I just watched the LSU press conference, wow Frank is almost at a loss for words. He said he has never been so embarrassed before as a coach.

I know he probably won't, but I really don't want to see him bail on us. He needs next season with new players, bad.

He's very upset, but if he quit, it would go against everything he preaches. He'll stick around, but it's gonna get ugly before it gets better.

[davidmc467]

Originally Posted by Travelin

He's very upset, but if he quit, it would go against everything he preaches. He'll stick around, but it's gonna get ugly before it gets better.

True. I guess we are all kind of jumpy about that because we know how good of a coach we have, and we just don't want to lose him.

[Lalli25]

Martin is where Spurrier was in his first couple years. Too many current players who don't fit the system, not good basketball players or don't care enough to give maximum effort. The nice thing about basketball is all it takes is one recruiting class to fix it. 3 major recruits can start day one and make your team competitive. I think Martin knew things were bad, but figured with a year of his coaching and getting in new players and out the old, he'd turn it around. I think he can turn it around and don't think he is the type to run from a challenge.

[Roosterboy]

Originally Posted by davidmc467

I just watched the LSU press conference, wow Frank is almost at a loss for words. He said he has never been so embarrassed before as a coach.

I know he probably won't, but I really don't want to see him bail on us. He needs next season with new players, bad.

Do you guys think this is Martin's last ditch effort to try and salvage this team?
I get a feeling this doesn't work, he will "ask" players to leave...and by ask, I mean not renew their scholarships.

[zambam]

Originally Posted by CardiacKemba

Ummm...I never said that. I simply can't go into detail because this message board discourages anything that could possibly be considered slightly negative.

I've never seen negative comments discouraged unless they were personal attacks. If you have some insight you want to share about why you think we are going down the wrong road, by all means, please share.

[davidmc467]

Originally Posted by Roosterboy

Do you guys think this is Martin's last ditch effort to try and salvage this team?
I get a feeling this doesn't work, he will "ask" players to leave...and by ask, I mean not renew their scholarships.

Well if they are really recruiting more players right now like people are saying then I think we can positively say that he will not be renewing some scholarships.

I'm guessing we have some locker room cancers right now, and frank doesn't put up with that crap.

[Take-a-Knee]

When all else fails .. Follow the directions