Coach Frank Martin

[Jackson96]

There is some definite truth to the transfer portal discussion in this thread, but there are a couple of points I haven’t seen made to this:

1. I think the portal is an easier thing for high majors to use than mid-majors. Kids transferring up are usually in different situations than kids transferring down. It can work out in either situation but I think it’s better for the high majors (like most things.)

2. While the portal can make things easier to “fix” with all of these transfers, I think it is harder to build a program or culture when there is so much turnover. My thought is that hopefully kids coming to play here know what they are getting into with Martin and want that and are thus less likely to transfer but that could just be wishful thinking.

I think the transfer portal is a good thing for the kids and they should have it. I also hate it. Both of these things can be true.

[Quann]

If you’re already crapping on Martin this early in his tenure, you’re an idiot. Fans on here are delusional.

[Marty Peretz]

^As always we end up in a black and white situation here when the question is a bit more complex. Frank, in my estimation, recruited a really solid roster of players that will take some time to gel and he deserves some patience. But that patience doesn't mean there can't be some questioning along the way. He generally has his team prepared to compete and things are overall already much better than the McCall era. And yet..Frank is also playing his 24 year old kid an insanely irresponsible number of minutes and some of that playing time comes at the expense of allowing Dominguez and Gapare get more game reps and develop. He's also a bit all over the place with his substitution patterns but even his ardent fans at other stops had told me to expect that so I've mostly learned to live with it despite it being frustrating. While I'm thrilled with the improvements to the roster, it's totally fair to question Frank. He had highs and lows in his tenure at South Carolina, punctuated by a spectacularly historic high six years ago but also marked by some real disappointment, including a 2015-2016 team that opened the year 19-2 and failed to make the tournament. Frank is making a lot of money and it's fair for fans to raise questions about how he's managing playing time, particularly when the kid with by far the worst plus minus numbers on the team is his own son and isn't part of the future here since he'll be out of eligibility in two months.

[eldonabe]

^As always we end up in a black and white situation here when the question is a bit more complex. Frank, in my estimation, recruited a really solid roster of players that will take some time to gel and he deserves some patience. But that patience doesn't mean there can't be some questioning along the way. He generally has his team prepared to compete and things are overall already much better than the McCall era. And yet..Frank is also playing his 24 year old kid an insanely irresponsible number of minutes and some of that playing time comes at the expense of allowing Dominguez and Gapare get more game reps and develop. He's also a bit all over the place with his substitution patterns but even his ardent fans at other stops had told me to expect that so I've mostly learned to live with it despite it being frustrating. While I'm thrilled with the improvements to the roster, it's totally fair to question Frank. He had highs and lows in his tenure at South Carolina, punctuated by a spectacularly historic high six years ago but also marked by some real disappointment, including a 2015-2016 team that opened the year 19-2 and failed to make the tournament. Frank is making a lot of money and it's fair for fans to raise questions about how he's managing playing time, particularly when the kid with by far the worst plus minus numbers on the team is his own son and isn't part of the future here since he'll be out of eligibility in two months.

How dare you post a responsible and non-emotional assessment of the situation. What kind of "fan" are you


And well said.....

[Marty Peretz]

My post wasn’t a response to Marty’s. It is a response to the cumulative buildup of 50 pages and counting here as well as every other thread. Every game post is taken over by bitching about playing time of a certain player.

I haven’t seen this amount of hate towards a first year Umass coach. Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions, but it feels like a personality issue, which was expected.

This is a fair point because we're only humans after all and our responses to a person are often based on perceived "personality issues," so I'll cop to some of my frustrations probably being at least somewhat related to frustration with his personality but I want to be clear: I don't especially care about his barking on the sideline or chewing kids out. It's a bit much sometimes but kids kind of know what they're getting into and I actually have reason to believe that off the court Frank really does help these kids and is a pretty good dude. His on-court antics are part of his in-game coaching style and while I think he goes overboard with them I really don't give a shit on that front. My frustrations are with his refusal to make certain basic tweaks, particularly with lineups. And the way in which he does the same thing game after game after game. Why do the same 5 dudes start the game and the second half? That's a choice. Why does he play Gapare and Dominguez in key stretches when he knows he has to win the game and barely ever play his kid in those same crunch time settings? These and other things suggest he does indeed know the best way to win but that he would sometimes rather teach lessons and do it his way than win the games. That's stubborn. So my occasional frustration is about his personality in the sense that he can be stubborn and I think that stubbornness can be ineffective with respect to winning games, which is all I want. I take no joy in observing this. It's not like I get my kicks on expressing my frustration. Winning cures all.

One other thing: this is a big boy job and part of building a program is embracing all of those who are inclined to be with you from the beginning. Frank has repeatedly searched his name on twitter and blocked anyone who expresses any criticism. He seems to think that fandom = blind loyalty and relentless positivity and that's his right. I personally think that fandom encompasses a broader range of human responses, including occasional bursts of rage. You can love something deeply and still get mad at it or want it to be better. And for the most part, UMass fans are pretty reasonable. Take a look at other fan bases and I suspect you'd realize that very little on this message board or on twitter crosses the line. Even with the Brandon thing, I think most are pretty mindful to make it a Frank issue, not a Brandon one.

[NilesGold]

^As always we end up in a black and white situation here when the question is a bit more complex.

Not going to quote the entire thing, but well said, I agree with pretty much all of it and it's essentially what I've been trying (and seemingly failed) to convey here, you've said it much better than I have.

[NilesGold]

Frank has repeatedly searched his name on twitter and blocked anyone who expresses any criticism. He seems to think that fandom = blind loyalty and relentless positivity and that's his right.

I find this to be one of the more bizarre aspects of Frank. He gives zero fucks about expressing his frustration & criticisms on the sideline during games for all to see, but he's blocking people on Twitter who express criticism?

[DoctorJ]

I would think that he does that to keep in a positive and forward-looking headspace. It's probably a good thing.

Ticket sales are up, player quality is up, we have a winning record, won a pre-season tournament, have four new recruits lined up for next season. So far, I think we are doing pretty well under Frank. I hope he yells at more people. I hope to meet him someday and have him yell at me.

Right now I am worried about Noah's ankle, Widen's knee and RJ's wrist, and maybe whatever is nagging TJ - seems obvious he and Wildens are having injury issues.

Tough to win consistently with the injuries to key personnel on a developing team under a new head coach.

Having RJ able to play should help and, perhaps, some limited minutes from Noah - though I am not expecting it. I'm looking forward to Frank's approach to St. Joe's away game. That and how Gapare responds after VCU game.

[NilesGold]

I would think that he does that to keep in a positive and forward-looking headspace.

Maybe someone should recommend that he mute people instead of blocking them.

Injuries have definitely been harmful, but every team has to deal with that to some degree, UMass' haven't been nearly as debilitating vs what others have had to contend with.

[minutefanjsf]

I would think that he does that to keep in a positive and forward-looking headspace. It's probably a good thing.

Ticket sales are up, player quality is up, we have a winning record, won a pre-season tournament, have four new recruits lined up for next season. So far, I think we are doing pretty well under Frank. I hope he yells at more people. I hope to meet him someday and have him yell at me.

Right now I am worried about Noah's ankle, Widen's knee and RJ's wrist, and maybe whatever is nagging TJ - seems obvious he and Wildens are having injury issues.

Tough to win consistently with the injuries to key personnel on a developing team under a new head coach.

Having RJ able to play should help and, perhaps, some limited minutes from Noah - though I am not expecting it. I'm looking forward to Frank's approach to St. Joe's away game. That and how Gapare responds after VCU game.

I have met him. Not a situation to be yelled at, though. lol. My impression is he is a compassionate, “good” guy.

[Quann]

Constructive criticism is fine guys but the way some of you talk about UMass basketball you’d think that we’d have more than one NCAA tourney appearance in the last 25 years. I’m very thankful to have a caliber of coach like Frank Martin here and everyone on here should be too, I never expected that when we let go of McCall. I figured it’d be some up and coming guy again, to get a proven quality coach like Martin was a blessing.

[wmmmfan]

Frank will have this program righted in year 3. He is recruiting guys who play D, can shoot and can push it in transition. My only concern is a defensive presence in the middle, maybe that’s Gapare.

[DanaDingle3]

Frank will have this program righted in year 3. He is recruiting guys who play D, can shoot and can push it in transition. My only concern is a defensive presence in the middle, maybe that’s Gapare.

Needed this post rn. Thanks

[dennisdent]

Loved how Martin started RJ in the second half!!! What a great coaching move by Martin! Baby steps Frank, baby steps. Don't want to make too many correct coaching decisions or you'll have to defend why it took you so long to do this...

[Juice Stand]

Frank will have this program righted in year 3. He is recruiting guys who play D, can shoot and can push it in transition.

If they stick around. The transfer portal is real.