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

[Battle Ax]

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

Hilarious!!!!

[MikeUMA]

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.

Pat, thanks for responding. I could easily understand not wanting to respond to the negativity, but credit to you for doing so.

I totally get Upstate10's sentiment, and maybe that's a message that the team needs to hear: boosters are thinking about turning off their contributions. It's a delicate message to send, of course, because we want to motivate and not alienate. It's tough in this ultra competitive atmosphere the system has created for itself.

[Mike0473]

I think there is about 5% chance that Martin is the basketball coach next season with a stronger possibility that FM quits versue being fired. Bamford should definitely be shown the door despite what i think will turn out to be a good move with JH and the increase in budget.

You MAC naysayers really need to stop and honestly turn in your UMass sports fan card forever and get the hell out of the way. The G5 FBS conferences are going to pull away in all sports from conferences like the A10 because of the money factor. The Big East may survive but I wouldnt count on that for much more than 5-7 years. The MAC may always be battling the SB and CUSA in the bottom 3 in football, but that situation is going to be way better than being FB Indy or FCS and staying in the A10. Keep in mind that the highest paid state employee one day is going to be a QB. Schools will start to pay players directly based on performance, ability, and marketing factors so there will be no concern about athletes in less important sports not being paid much at all or even anything. One driving factor in the pay the players directly format is that schools will now force the athletes sign contracts coming out of high school so good freshman or sophmores will not be transferring. by 2030 The MAC will be a way better basketball conference than the A10 (even though i suspect UMass will be in a different conference by then)

Umass has struggled as a program for the last 25 years. Multiple coaches have passed through here, one backing out at the last minute. Fan support has bottomed. I have been on this board for over 20 years, and have argued for or against different coaches, styles and so on. At this point, I am at a loss. I think we might as well see if Frank can make us competative in the MAC. I think he is the best option going forward.

[Berkman]

I think he brought in the wrong recruits plus with one of the regulars with a hand injury and out for an unknown length of time it is going to be a struggle to win games.

[Floyd]

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

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

[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.

Pat, thanks for responding. I could easily understand not wanting to respond to the negativity, but credit to you for doing so.

I totally get Upstate10's sentiment, and maybe that's a message that the team needs to hear: boosters are thinking about turning off their contributions. It's a delicate message to send, of course, because we want to motivate and not alienate. It's tough in this ultra competitive atmosphere the system has created for itself.

Totally hear the frustration here, and I want to address it head-on because it's something we're all feeling to some degree, and its my responsibility to be communicative about where were at at all times, good or bad. At the end of the day, what we're focusing on is return on investment in terms of production on the court individually and, ultimately, team wins.

Last year, we saw incredible ROI, both individually and as a team. This year? It’s been a different story. Of the seven players we’ve got under contract, I’d say two are really performing at or above the level we expected. The team’s overall ROI is well below what we’d hoped, and the outlook doesn’t sugarcoat that either. I think we all recognize that—supporters, coaches, players alike. It’s frustrating, no doubt.

That said, it's a delicate balance. During the season isn’t the right time to hammer those frustrations publicly, but trust me, we’re tracking this closely internally. The truth is, the NIL game is a lot like the stock market. Some years, you hit it out of the park; others, you fall short. But you don’t stop investing—you analyze, adjust, and come back stronger.

Right now, we’re in the grind of a tough start to the year, but pulling back contributions would completely take us out of the game in the future. That’s not an option. Spring is going to be critical—whether it’s retention or recruitment, that’s when we get to make the moves that will set us up for success. The foundation we’re building now—yes, even in a down year—is what allows us to come out swinging when the season ends and we revaluate our portfolio and how its constructed and how resources are allocated.

The key here is constant evaluation. If standards and ROI aren’t met, there will absolutely be conversations and adjustments at the end of the year. That’s a promise. We need to see a better ROI, period. The current ROI is unacceptable. But we need to keep working, supporting, and planning for the future. It’s a process, and the work we do now sets the stage for what’s next. Let’s keep the faith and be ready to reset when the time is right. Lotta basketball left to be played. Lets control what we can.

[eldonabe]

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

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

That is old school stuff. Coaches demanded respect through fear.

Coaches these days have almost no power. Players can leave on a whim with no penalty, they are getting paid regardless of the coach. Players don't care and with few exceptions nothing will change that new sense of entitlement. Frank's style has passed yet he continues to attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole.

[Juice Stand]

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

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

Floyd, I'm not sure what he said after the FSU game, but this is what he said last night:

“And we’re getting nothing out of our center spot. Nothing. It’s a zero. We gotta figure that out. We don’t get to pick and choose what guys we’re not happy with and sign somebody else right now. It’s who we signed, it’s who we believe in and we gotta figure it out.”

[eldonabe]

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.

Pat, thanks for responding. I could easily understand not wanting to respond to the negativity, but credit to you for doing so.

I totally get Upstate10's sentiment, and maybe that's a message that the team needs to hear: boosters are thinking about turning off their contributions. It's a delicate message to send, of course, because we want to motivate and not alienate. It's tough in this ultra competitive atmosphere the system has created for itself.

Totally hear the frustration here, and I want to address it head-on because it's something we're all feeling to some degree, and its my responsibility to be communicative about where were at at all times, good or bad. At the end of the day, what we're focusing on is return on investment in terms of production on the court individually and, ultimately, team wins.

Last year, we saw incredible ROI, both individually and as a team. This year? It’s been a different story. Of the seven players we’ve got under contract, I’d say two are really performing at or above the level we expected. The team’s overall ROI is well below what we’d hoped, and the outlook doesn’t sugarcoat that either. I think we all recognize that—supporters, coaches, players alike. It’s frustrating, no doubt.

That said, it's a delicate balance. During the season isn’t the right time to hammer those frustrations publicly, but trust me, we’re tracking this closely internally. The truth is, the NIL game is a lot like the stock market. Some years, you hit it out of the park; others, you fall short. But you don’t stop investing—you analyze, adjust, and come back stronger.

Right now, we’re in the grind of a tough start to the year, but pulling back contributions would completely take us out of the game in the future. That’s not an option. Spring is going to be critical—whether it’s retention or recruitment, that’s when we get to make the moves that will set us up for success. The foundation we’re building now—yes, even in a down year—is what allows us to come out swinging when the season ends and we revaluate our portfolio and how its constructed and how resources are allocated.

The key here is constant evaluation. If standards and ROI aren’t met, there will absolutely be conversations and adjustments at the end of the year. That’s a promise. We need to see a better ROI, period. The current ROI is completely unacceptable. But we need to keep working, supporting, and planning for the future. It’s a process, and the work we do now sets the stage for what’s next. Let’s keep the faith and be ready to reset when the time is right. Lotta basketball left to be played.

If only our AD shared your sense of accountability and responsibility.... dare to dream.

[Juice Stand]

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

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

That is old school stuff. Coaches demanded respect through fear.

Coaches these days have almost no power. Players can leave on a whim with no penalty, they are getting paid regardless of the coach. Players don't care and with few exceptions nothing will change that new sense of entitlement. Frank's style has passed yet he continues to attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Eldon, I agree to some extent, but what I struggle to see is what he's actually doing to coach these guys up. Screaming, yelling, turning red in the face, I'm fine with all of it. But have a message and not just yell shit that beats people down. There was a play in the previous game against NJIT, our guys beat the press easily, the ball moved beautifully, Rivera got the ball in the corner and drove for a dunk. He got fouled and missed the dunk. Frank starts screaming and yelling "what the hell are you doing???". Come on Frank, they broke the press, that's good. Rivera got a quality attempt, that's also good. He got to the line for free throws, which is what you've told me is a big part of your game plan, so that's also good. Why the hell are you yelling and how is it helpful in that moment?

[BR72]

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.

Pat, thanks for responding. I could easily understand not wanting to respond to the negativity, but credit to you for doing so.

I totally get Upstate10's sentiment, and maybe that's a message that the team needs to hear: boosters are thinking about turning off their contributions. It's a delicate message to send, of course, because we want to motivate and not alienate. It's tough in this ultra competitive atmosphere the system has created for itself.

Totally hear the frustration here, and I want to address it head-on because it's something we're all feeling to some degree, and its my responsibility to be communicative about where were at at all times, good or bad. At the end of the day, what we're focusing on is return on investment in terms of production on the court individually and, ultimately, team wins.

Last year, we saw incredible ROI, both individually and as a team. This year? It’s been a different story. Of the seven players we’ve got under contract, I’d say two are really performing at or above the level we expected. The team’s overall ROI is well below what we’d hoped, and the outlook doesn’t sugarcoat that either. I think we all recognize that—supporters, coaches, players alike. It’s frustrating, no doubt.

That said, it's a delicate balance. During the season isn’t the right time to hammer those frustrations publicly, but trust me, we’re tracking this closely internally. The truth is, the NIL game is a lot like the stock market. Some years, you hit it out of the park; others, you fall short. But you don’t stop investing—you analyze, adjust, and come back stronger.

Right now, we’re in the grind of a tough start to the year, but pulling back contributions would completely take us out of the game in the future. That’s not an option. Spring is going to be critical—whether it’s retention or recruitment, that’s when we get to make the moves that will set us up for success. The foundation we’re building now—yes, even in a down year—is what allows us to come out swinging when the season ends and we revaluate our portfolio and how its constructed and how resources are allocated.


The key here is constant evaluation. If standards and ROI aren’t met, there will absolutely be conversations and adjustments at the end of the year. That’s a promise. We need to see a better ROI, period. The current ROI is unacceptable. But we need to keep working, supporting, and planning for the future. It’s a process, and the work we do now sets the stage for what’s next. Let’s keep the faith and be ready to reset when the time is right. Lotta basketball left to be played. Lets control what we can.

I, and a lot of others, have been investing financially and otherwise in this program (in my case for over 30 years), and my ROI has been horrendous. I'm done pouring good money after bad and expecting things to suddenly change. I'm out completely after this year.

[Floyd]

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

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

That is old school stuff. Coaches demanded respect through fear.

Coaches these days have almost no power. Players can leave on a whim with no penalty, they are getting paid regardless of the coach. Players don't care and with few exceptions nothing will change that new sense of entitlement. Frank's style has passed yet he continues to attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I think if players have more success with tough coaching they welcome it, and that success translates to more NIL opportunities. And that translates to more respect for the coach that pushes them to be better. Not sure where the insults come in

[Camby4Life]

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

That is old school stuff. Coaches demanded respect through fear.

Coaches these days have almost no power. Players can leave on a whim with no penalty, they are getting paid regardless of the coach. Players don't care and with few exceptions nothing will change that new sense of entitlement. Frank's style has passed yet he continues to attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I think if players have more success with tough coaching they welcome it, and that success translates to more NIL opportunities. And that translates to more respect for the coach that pushes them to be better. Not sure where the insults come in

I really wanted Frank and his style to work, but like you guys are saying, I just don’t think it will work in this NIL era. Frank has the resume to prove it works with the right players but he won’t be able to get new players at key positions every year.

Frank got the tv gig right away and seems to be loved by most in the basketball community. I’m sure if you asked his former KSU and SC players, they would say more good than bad. Problem is most of those players were likely 4 year players and were able to gain and improve from the tough love. It never included negotiating yearly contracts.

[NilesGold]

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

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

That is old school stuff. Coaches demanded respect through fear.

Coaches these days have almost no power. Players can leave on a whim with no penalty, they are getting paid regardless of the coach. Players don't care and with few exceptions nothing will change that new sense of entitlement. Frank's style has passed yet he continues to attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I don't know what Frank is like with the players outside of the games, but I'm not sure having a split personality of being nice to players at practice and then a complete and total asshole during games is any better than being a complete asshole at all times. And there's really no other way for me to describe what Frank looks like. My favorite professor in college 25 years ago was also by far the toughest and most demanding I had in college... but he wasn't a complete asshole who'd yell and berate you. A lot of what Frank does is not helping or holding kids accountable, it's just him taking out his frustration on his players.

I think we need to stop acting like Frank is a great coach who's just not a great fit for the NIL era. He had 10 seasons at South Carolina. all pre-NIL, and he had one fantastic season, 1 NIT season, and 8 seasons with no post-season play. It's time to accept the possibility that he's just not a very good coach.

[Camby4Life]

I really hope that's not what he said. If so, I don't blame kids for leaving, and I have to admit I'm not a fan of berating your players. Tough coaching is one thing, telling them they suck is another.

That is old school stuff. Coaches demanded respect through fear.

Coaches these days have almost no power. Players can leave on a whim with no penalty, they are getting paid regardless of the coach. Players don't care and with few exceptions nothing will change that new sense of entitlement. Frank's style has passed yet he continues to attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I don't know what Frank is like with the players outside of the games, but I'm not sure having a split personality of being nice to players at practice and then a complete and total asshole during games is any better than being a complete asshole at all times. And there's really no other way for me to describe what Frank looks like. My favorite professor in college 25 years ago was also by far the toughest and most demanding I had in college... but he wasn't a complete asshole who'd yell and berate you. A lot of what Frank does is not helping or holding kids accountable, it's just him taking out his frustration on his players.

I think we need to stop acting like Frank is a great coach who's just not a great fit for the NIL era. He had 10 seasons at South Carolina. all pre-NIL, and he had one fantastic season, 1 NIT season, and 8 seasons with no post-season play. It's time to accept the possibility that he's just not a very good coach.

The resume also includes 5 years at KSU, all 20 win seasons, 1 elite 8. It did fall apart at SC but he did build it up first few years and got them to a final 4.