Game 9, 2024-25: Central CT (12/4)

[inthescoop]

Frank bitching and moaning again about how hard college basketball is now that he doesn't own the players for 4 years. Other coaches have figured this out and adapted, Frank. You sound like a whining baby with this stuff. https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-basket ... e-58304739

“Really happy for [CCSU head coach] Patrick Sellers and his team,” Minutemen head coach Frank Martin said. “I’m jealous, because that’s what we all used to have, is you brought guys in and learn how to win together. And then once you learn how to win together, you can create competitive spirit where you don’t care about individuality, you don’t care about the moment you just stay disciplined and make the play – that’s what college basketball used to be about.”

Yes, that's what college basketball used to be about, and apparently still is for some coaches? Why can Sellers do it and you can't?

Change starts from the top, if he wants new spirit, he better work on fixing his spirit first. He wants to just stand there and have the kids do all the work and change spirit on their own at the snap of his fingers. He may be jealous of the CCSU kids but I’ll tell you one thing, Pat Sellers is the reason for their spirit, they didn’t do that on their own.

[wmmmfan]

Frank bitching and moaning again about how hard college basketball is now that he doesn't own the players for 4 years. Other coaches have figured this out and adapted, Frank. You sound like a whining baby with this stuff. https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-basket ... e-58304739

“Really happy for [CCSU head coach] Patrick Sellers and his team,” Minutemen head coach Frank Martin said. “I’m jealous, because that’s what we all used to have, is you brought guys in and learn how to win together. And then once you learn how to win together, you can create competitive spirit where you don’t care about individuality, you don’t care about the moment you just stay disciplined and make the play – that’s what college basketball used to be about.”

Yes, that's what college basketball used to be about, and apparently still is for some coaches? Why can Sellers do it and you can't?

Change starts from the top, if he wants new spirit, he better work on fixing his spirit first. He wants to just stand there and have the kids do all the work and change spirit on their own at the snap of his fingers. He may be jealous of the CCSU kids but I’ll tell you one thing, Pat Sellers is the reason for their spirit, they didn’t do that on their own.

Serious question because I’d like people’s opinion.
The players all bill themselves as “professional athletes” in today’s game, is it still the coaches responsibility to provide them with motivation and spirit? They are getting paid now on top of their education paid for. They should have their own motivation to make more money as professionals. My guess is Cohen and Cross were motivated by the possibility of bigger NIL elsewhere and it paid off for them.

My guess is Sellers doesn’t have much if any NIL monies so he is truly a college coach and has to motivate as well as coach. I would go so far as to say players from schools with little to no NIL use these games as auditions for programs with NIL.

The thing I’ll give Frank and staff heat for is roster construction, I think he needs a GM.

[Juice Stand]

Frank may be a great coach and teacher during practice, but this season is a repeat of year one where he doesn't teach, doesn't coach, and either screams "what are you doing????" at the top of his lungs, or sits with his arms crossed and pouting. That's not leading, that's not coaching, that's not motivating, and it's not inspiring.

His message is always about meeting the toughest moments head on, not being afraid of the moment. I want to see him practice what he preaches. Throwing your players under the bus and whining about how hard college basketball is "these days" is the opposite. Scoop is right, change starts at the top, and he doesn't model that for his players. Again, maybe he does during practice, but definitely not during games.

The team is bad. Fine, I got it. We stink, that happens. But it doesn't mean you sit in your chair and pout all game. Get your ass up and lead, coach, motivate, inspire.

[Floyd]

My guess is it's harder to keep guys together for 4 years because they get tired of the constant beat down & criticism. This team does not look like they are enjoying playing the game right now. I don't see a lack of effort, more like a group pressing to not fuck up. To hear your coach praise another team's players and bemoan your own to the public that he's getting nothing from them at all is not a good look. He built the roster, so should he shoulder any responsibility for that? I'd keep that shit in house, that's not gonna keep kids here for 4 yrs.

I kept looking at both staffs on the sidelines last night and they couldn't have looked more different in their energy

[InnervisionsUMASS]

That stunk. We need to sort out a better motion offense if the shooting is going to remain dismal. Might be too late to implement something, but they need better movement.

[Juice Stand]

CCSU moved up to 173 in the NET rankings and we slid down to 249. If we're not careful, we might end up sub-300 at some point soon.

[Camby4Life]

I've generally supported Frank but it was coaching malpractice not to put Shahid in the game when CCSU had the ball out of bounds up 2 with less than a minute to go. Everyone in the building knew that would they would get the ball into Momoh who had scored every time down the court (except when he was fouled but the refs called travelling) in the last few minutes of the game because he was guarded by an undersized Rivera. It's not Rivera's fault that he couldn't handle him defensively. Why wouldn't you at least make it challenging for Momoh by putting Shadid on him? Why else is he here if not to be a rim protector?

I was also pissed off by Frank's post-game comments on the radio suggesting that we lost because our spirit was not as good as CCSU's. And he's always talking about the other teams having all of these experienced players. Last I checked, we only have one freshman who plays any minutes. For a guy who claims not to offer excuses, he's always got some explanation for the team's poor play that never have anything to do with the talent level of the players that he brought in.

I don't have to say much because you are spot on. I would have to check my previous posts but I don't recall ever blaming a loss on Frank. This one is on him. He apparently was mad at Shahid and Malek so he refused to put one of them in at the end of the game. He hung Rivera out to dry. No way he could cover a guy 3 or 4 inches taller and CCSU got it to him every chance they could. Reminds me of Bill B. when he sat Malcom Butler and it cost him the Super Bowl. I hate to say this but there is a chance that Frank will lose the team. I fear it's going to be a very long, sad season.

Agree with all of this. This loss is on Frank and his refusal to make adjustments because he has some grudge against Shahid and Abdelgowad. I felt bad for Rivera. He was doing his best but wasn't big enough to stop their center from bullying him on the block.

Frank is going to lose this team, and it's going to be his fault. He takes no personal accountability. None. Check out these comments https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-basket ... e-58304739

“Ask the players [why they didn’t get back in transition],” Martin said. “I’m not the one running back on defense. I mean, that was embarrassing. We shot air balls and we couldn’t get back defensively. Couldn’t get matched up. So whenever we have a press conference, ask the players why they don’t run back.”

Disagree with blaming Frank for not playing the centers. These guys have been in his doghouse since Mohegan. A direct quote from Frank in the 1st half vs FSU was these guys just aren’t good, they suck and that’s when he put DHS in at center. Frank does get blame for bringing these 2 guys in and expecting them to play a combined 40 minutes at center. The effort and basketball IQ is clearly not there for those 2 guys.

The one positive from last night is the 4 guys that played 30+ minutes played hard in the 2nd half and made it a close game after going down double digits.

[Juice Stand]

^Camby, I agree that Frank brought them in so he deserves blame for roster construction, which I think has been a big topic on this board for a while now. And I agree with you on Malek, I just don't see anything from him. He has a smooth little jumper, but he doesn't seem willing to do any dirty work. I disagree on Shahid though. I have to remind myself that he only started playing basketball his junior year of high school and he's still learning the game. Frank needs to have a coaching/teaching approach with Shahid instead of a screaming/berating approach. The kid is freakishly gifted athletically. Work with him, help him. He can help this team in a big way if he gets the right coaching.

[Battle Ax]

^Camby, I agree that Frank brought them in so he deserves blame for roster construction, which I think has been a big topic on this board for a while now. And I agree with you on Malek, I just don't see anything from him. He has a smooth little jumper, but he doesn't seem willing to do any dirty work. I disagree on Shahid though. I have to remind myself that he only started playing basketball his junior year of high school and he's still learning the game. Frank needs to have a coaching/teaching approach with Shahid instead of a screaming/berating approach. The kid is freakishly gifted athletically. Work with him, help him. He can help this team in a big way if he gets the right coaching.

I agree. I don’t mind the tough coaching(yelling and screaming) but it has to be balanced and given out equally and fairly. Some guys get yelled at for mistakes while others don’t. A little positivity from Frank would be nice to see when a player comes out of the game. You see coaches from other teams dapping up their players when they are subbed out. The only time Frank seems to acknowledge his guys is when he screams at them. Not sure if that approach will be sustainable in this age with guys able to leave without sitting out.

[69MG]

2 quick things and then I'm done talking about this game.

1. I'm OK with Shahid. He's a good defender and rim protector. He needs to play 25 minutes a game with DHS out.
2. I'm inclined to think that Frank resigns at the end of the year. I don't think he is enjoying this team or this season one iota. He talks about what a great group of guys he has and then blasts them every time they are pulled from the game. Starting to sound like coach speak.

[inthescoop]

Frank seems like the type of guy that starts every sentence with "Back in my day..."

[umasscollective]

Might cancel my collective membership. Nobody on the team plays like they give a fuck and the coach sits there with his arms folded more often than not.

I hear you. It’s extremely frustrating when we’re putting in the support and it feels like the team and staff aren’t matching that effort, not even close. But we’ve got to stay the course—we can still continue to make a difference in our lane, especially if we keep backing the team financially for the spring transfer period, with our support and revenue sharing coming online. Keep the faith and stick with us, we can control what we can and will certainly be vocal (yet constructive) when approached for help that our standards and expectations are NOT being met. Accountability is needed, and we will make that clear. I’ve got some ideas and plans to share at Tuesday’s meeting—hope to see you there.

[Juice Stand]

^ thumbs up emoji.

[eldonabe]

Frank seems like the type of guy that starts every sentence with "Back in my day..."

That made me laugh out loud!


I bet he also yells GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!

[MikeUMA]

Gonna lose to a NEC school lol did McCall ever do that?

Yes, to Bryant when they were in the NEC. 93-88 in an empty Mullins on 12/21/2020.
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... 221_bryant

Came close on 12/21/18 when we recovered from a double-digit deficit to beat FDU 85-84.
https://umassathletics.com/news/2018/12 ... n-over-fdu