Some Thoughts on the Young Season

[doublea1971]

I've been sitting back and watching the Gamecocks men as they have battled with Boston University in a losing effort and with Gardner-Webb in a close-shave win.  It strikes me that this is EXACTLY what I predicted would happen, and I said this all WAAAY back in June.  Take a look at the post that I made on June 16th (see below, or look at "Basketball thoughts" topic from June).



Do keep in mind that I was pretty roundly criticized for saying that we were young and inexperienced going into this season (mentioning specifically that Minaya and Moss were coming off injury, and that it would take some time for them to get back to full form).  I felt then, and I reiterate now, that we're an immensely talented team, but a team that will take some time to find out how it wants to play, and what it is capable of doing.

For those that think that the sky is falling, read the FULL post on that June 16th date.  I, personally, think that these are just normal bumps in the road with a team finding it's identity and with a Coach who is still feeling out his starting lineup.  Give us 3 more games... by the time we get past Houston, I think we'll be a MUCH different team.  I also predict that we'll see a defensive shift.  A mindset change for how we want to be known defensively - one where the NATION will take notice of Frank Martin's team's defensive efforts.

I'm going to go so far as to say that the December game against Virginia is going to shock the national pundits.  We may not win, but we're going to give Virginia a handful that game.  They will remember the Gamecocks and the NCAA will look at that game SPECIFICALLY come selection Sunday.  You heard it here... on November 25th.  Mark that date, and mark this post on your calendars.

Keep your chin up, fellow Frank Martin fans... VERY good things are just around the corner for this team.

 

[Longhaul]

I've been sitting back and watching the Gamecocks men as they have battled with Boston University in a losing effort and with Gardner-Webb in a close-shave win.  It strikes me that this is EXACTLY what I predicted would happen, and I said this all WAAAY back in June.  Take a look at the post that I made on June 16th (see below, or look at "Basketball thoughts" topic from June).



Do keep in mind that I was pretty roundly criticized for saying that we were young and inexperienced going into this season (mentioning specifically that Minaya and Moss were coming off injury, and that it would take some time for them to get back to full form).  I felt then, and I reiterate now, that we're an immensely talented team, but a team that will take some time to find out how it wants to play, and what it is capable of doing.

For those that think that the sky is falling, read the FULL post on that June 16th date.  I, personally, think that these are just normal bumps in the road with a team finding it's identity and with a Coach who is still feeling out his starting lineup.  Give us 3 more games... by the time we get past Houston, I think we'll be a MUCH different team.  I also predict that we'll see a defensive shift.  A mindset change for how we want to be known defensively - one where the NATION will take notice of Frank Martin's team's defensive efforts.

I'm going to go so far as to say that the December game against Virginia is going to shock the national pundits.  We may not win, but we're going to give Virginia a handful that game.  They will remember the Gamecocks and the NCAA will look at that game SPECIFICALLY come selection Sunday.  You heard it here... on November 25th.  Mark that date, and mark this post on your calendars.

Keep your chin up, fellow Frank Martin fans... VERY good things are just around the corner for this team.

Thanks as always for your insights.  I enjoy your posts

 

[kingofnerf]

Being young, like we are this year, is one thing.

Being selfish and pig-headed enough to cost your team the season (as we were the last two years) is quite another.

We are young this year as in the past, but the FRs are responsive enough to coaching to keep problematic upperclassmen on the bench this year if things get out of hand.

I also think Bolden is better on both ends of the court than most of the graduate transfers we have had recently.

Frank has said teams get better in December, so we'll see what we get this time around.  Still one game at a time, though.

 

[doublea1971]

Being young, like we are this year, is one thing.

Being selfish and pig-headed enough to cost your team the season (as we were the last two years) is quite another.

We are young this year as in the past, but the FRs are responsive enough to coaching to keep problematic upperclassmen on the bench this year if things get out of hand.

I also think Bolden is better on both ends of the court than most of the graduate transfers we have had recently.

Frank has said teams get better in December, so we'll see what we get this time around.  Still one game at a time, though.

Just curious, Nerf... who are the problematic upperclassmen?  We don’t have a lot of upperclassmen period, and those that are seem to be pretty solid contributors.  At least as far as I can see.  I go back to why I posted this to begin with... we’re a VERY inexperienced team.  We’re VERY new-player heavy, with little continuity from the past two years.  I think that will weigh HEAVILY in our favor in a month.  But for now, it’s more of a problem than a help.

But, I’ve gotta say... not sure I see anybody returning that I’d call pig-headed or selfish.  But that’s just my opinion.  My opinion and .50 will get you a cup of coffee.

 

[kingofnerf]

Just curious, Nerf... who are the problematic upperclassmen?  We don’t have a lot of upperclassmen period, and those that are seem to be pretty solid contributors.  At least as far as I can see.  I go back to why I posted this to begin with... we’re a VERY inexperienced team.  We’re VERY new-player heavy, with little continuity from the past two years.  I think that will weigh HEAVILY in our favor in a month.  But for now, it’s more of a problem than a help.

But, I’ve gotta say... not sure I see anybody returning that I’d call pig-headed or selfish.  But that’s just my opinion.  My opinion and .50 will get you a cup of coffee.

Going off of Frank's pressers over the years, this has always been a problem that's kept us from winning enough games to matter.

Kotsar is the last of those recruits who don't do what the coach expects in games.  The ones before now have waited until their last year to do the unglamorous things they need to do to compete and win in SEC play.

I think our hype and a large arena like CLA has had a lot to do with it.  Guys will have a great game and try to do their own thing in the next practice and game, then no PT for them the next few games.  They don't guard the ball and settle for easy 3-point attempts that miss most of time...and we lose enough games to keep us out of the NCAAT.

Chuck Martin seems to have brought in more coachable kids than we have had in the past, but it's a risk that's always there and it only takes one guy to totally derail Frank's system.

Kotsar has historically disappeared once SEC play starts. He doesn't block out and only gets 2 rebounds per game.  I don't see that changing this season, but we'll see.

 

[Ironfan]

They maybe coachable but they cant shot for shit. Can't shoot, Can't win.

 

[crowcutta]

haase for all his abundant limitations was a big who could stretch the floor.  i was really hoping they would get kotsar to expand his range to the point where he could pull bigs out of the paint to open up the offense yet hes attempted zero threes this year.  so right now we have zero bigs who can stretch the floor, only 2 above average 3 point shooters to this point with lawson as the only other player above 30% from 3.  minaya is a guy youve got to hope improves close to his freshman 3pt accuracy of 36.4 but he shot awful last year from distance before getting hurt and is bad once again this year.  moss was at least serviceable from 3 last year before getting hurt, but hes been awful shooting from anywhere this year.  

at this point id go 4 guards inserting hannibal cousinard into the starting lineup with bolden and lawson hoping the added speed opens up more driving lanes and open jumpers having your 3 best shooters out there along with a true pg.  otherwise im not sure how the offense performs any better unless we get a healthy and improved bryant to return soon to give us a bigger wing who can attack the basket. 

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Very disappointing start to the season.   The preseason hype has gone down in flames.  We were absolutely schooled by WS last night.  Had to be a satisfying win for Greg Marshall.

 

[$Billz]

They maybe coachable but they cant shot for shit. Can't shoot, Can't win.

  Yup, got a bunch of guys that should be able to defend on a above average level but can hit the the backside of a barn door to save their lives. Hard to believe you cant find kids that can shoot just a little but still be a very good defender. With the exception of a couple of players, CFM seems to think he can teach shooting and I dont believe in that thinking. 

 

[kingofnerf]

Not able to watch or listen to the game, so I am just going to keep moving forward at this point.

 

[FurmanCock]

Not able to watch or listen to the game, so I am just going to keep moving forward at this point.

Your lucky.  I taped the game and after the first five to seven minutes fast forwarded through the rest.  The offense was unwatchable.

Probably could have cut and pasted something here from one of the football threads.

 

[kingofnerf]

Frank's seasons have been pretty goofy from a W-L standpoint the past several years.

Although it was a bad loss, it's kinda is par for the course.

So I am not necessarily worried at this point. LOL

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Start worrying...

 

[OreCock]

Frank's seasons have been pretty goofy from a W-L standpoint the past several years.

Although it was a bad loss, it's kinda is par for the course.

So I am not necessarily worried at this point. LOL

I agree with this.

I also feel like if Minaya can get it together that it would lift the whole team.  I like the feel and flow of the team when he's on the floor..I think he could be the glue if he can get his game going.

 

[kingofnerf]

I listened to the second half on the radio and I thought we played pretty good until the last 3 minutes.

It's taken a while for Frank to figure out who his starters are going to be and now he needs to narrow his focus on making them better players.

He's also got his starters figured out much sooner than in years past and that's a good thing.  Most of the time nobody really knew who the starters were going to be until SEC play began.

The core home crowd will get behind the team for the George Washington game and get the win.  I also think we would have won this game if it had been at the CLA.

Our FG percentage was 30/60 and UNI was 25/51.  UNI out-rebounded us 31 to 27, which is not to big a gap.  However, UNI was 20/24 on their FTs while were just 5/11 and that cost us the win. We have to strive to be aggressive in the paint and drive to score and get FT opportunities.

Kotsar played 36 minutes but only had 3 dang rebounds.  No single player had more than 5 rebounds, though.

All of these things are fixable.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

It does no good to get to the free throw line if you can't make free throws.