Should Gamecocks men's basketball shut the season down

[gAmkok]

I'll join the chorus of Frank Martin fans who are sensing the end. I don't know if it's his bouts with Covid or if it's the grind of the SEC and not being able to win enough, but he definitely seems out of sorts and exhausted. I've noticed it to varying degrees for a few years now and initially thought it was his knee pain, but he had that fixed. Now I'm wondering if it's not just the realization that he can't win enough games to make more progress here. 

I do think that without Covid, this years team had a real shot at making the tournament again (one of them), but maybe that's just naive optimism on my part. I know that if we have to start over, we won't see the tourney for another long while. And I have zero names I think we pursue (Mike Boynton is an easy one but is this really his kind of gig?). We'd probably go after a young up-and-comer again and hope for better than Darrin Horn (God I hate that guy). Sigh

 

[gAmkok]

I think the fatigue that people are seeing is really frustration. Frank has worked hard and has a solid program that just seems snakebit.

If we replace Frank, the next coach will not be as good - and we will be in the tourney next year with a super nucleus of Couisnard, Lawson, Minaya and Bryant. We do not lose anybody,

And next year, Covid will be gone. Plenty of practices, summer pro-am, veteran team.

It would be amazing if you're right about any of this. Hoping you are.

 

[The Bear]

I've also been a Martin apologist for a long time. I'm definitely discouraged with our results so far, but without being an insider, I'm having trouble figuring out where to place the blame. Ultimately, it lands on Frank's shoulders, but if a lot of the struggle is due to things out of his control (ie Covid) I don't think he is to the point of coaching for his job. If this was a normal year and we were able to practice/play in full, I would probably feel differently though. All that said, I'm not necessarily opposed to making a coaching change. I just question who we could get. I don't think we could make a hire like we did when we hired Frank. I don't think there are a lot of established coaches willing to take this job, and I fear going the route of flash-in-the-pan mid-major coach, a la Darrin Horn. Part of me says to go after Mike Boynton, but that's really just because of familiarity with him. Also, not sure he'd be willing to leave Okie State. I just don't know.

I Agree I think if you are going to make an change  Mike Boynton  would be an good hire, he still needs to prove himself, if we wait an couple of years might be able to get Smart out of TEXAS .  I hate Horn didn't work out I was high on him as well.  Then we got Frank I like the guy he run's an clean program but the kid's today just do not won't to play that style of basketball he has to change his style I think if he  is going to get the big name kids. What really is upsetting is the amount of talent in S.C. they he can't  get to come here to U.S.C.   

 

[doublea1971]

I Agree I think if you are going to make an change  Mike Boynton  would be an good hire, he still needs to prove himself, if we wait an couple of years might be able to get Smart out of TEXAS .  I hate Horn didn't work out I was high on him as well.  Then we got Frank I like the guy he run's an clean program but the kid's today just do not won't to play that style of basketball he has to change his style I think if he  is going to get the big name kids. What really is upsetting is the amount of talent in S.C. they he can't  get to come here to U.S.C.   

Shaka Smart was REALLY high on my list of hires after the debacle of the man who (for me... you named him above) shall remain nameless, but unfortunately our AD didn't see things the same way I did.  I was quite geeked about Frank Martin being chosen, and still am quite geeked about Frank as a Coach.  

Anthony Grant (who's a very close friend to Coach Martin) is another guy I'd love to see as HC here should things not work out for Coach Martin to continue.  He had a tough time at Alabama in his last few years, but much of that was (like Coach Martin) not of his own doing.  But his record otherwise, is quite stellar, and the guy can flat out coach a basketball team.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope Coach Martin can turn this ship around this year because there's too much talent on the squad for him not to be able to.  I'm not calling for Coach Martin's head yet.  He's got at least one more season, given the "snake-bit" COVID problems we've had this year, but beyond that... 

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Shaka Smart was REALLY high on my list of hires after the debacle of the man who (for me... you named him above) shall remain nameless, but unfortunately our AD didn't see things the same way I did.  I was quite geeked about Frank Martin being chosen, and still am quite geeked about Frank as a Coach.  

Anthony Grant (who's a very close friend to Coach Martin) is another guy I'd love to see as HC here should things not work out for Coach Martin to continue.  He had a tough time at Alabama in his last few years, but much of that was (like Coach Martin) not of his own doing.  But his record otherwise, is quite stellar, and the guy can flat out coach a basketball team.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope Coach Martin can turn this ship around this year because there's too much talent on the squad for him not to be able to.  I'm not calling for Coach Martin's head yet.  He's got at least one more season, given the "snake-bit" COVID problems we've had this year, but beyond that... 

I agree, he gets at least next year.  But with the possibility of Lawson and Bryant leaving after this year next year could be bad as well.