Frank and his coaching performance this year

[Berries and Cream]

He's still by far our best ball handler and I want the ball in his hands every time.  Using the powers of hindsight I could probably coach us to a victory in every one of our games.  

Was he by far our best ball handler in early January???  Or is that statement a product of your power of hindsight? 

rhetorical question.

Jeez, Belvis, it's as if you haven't watched Will's sad pivot moves against longer, more athletic defenders. Angel was absolutely our best option to handle the ball. He just happened to make two bad TOs at an inopportune time. But if could go back and play the game again, Angel would still be the best option.

[Belvis Noland]

Also, there is this:

"We've got to do some things sometimes early in the year that I don't want to do to make sure we create the mindset to be rock solid at this time of the year," Martin said. "No rhyme or reason, its just the way I've done it for 16 years in high school and the five years I've been the head coach here. So, for 21 years of my career that's how I've done it and usually at this time of year our teams are pretty good."

Well, right.  This is my point.  Martin is willing to sacrifice performance in January so that performance is solid in March. 

And it works.  I'm not disputing this. 

My problem is that this approach to basketball essentially eliminates any hopes of a Conference Title.  We can't sacrifice Wins in January if we want any real shot at a Title.  pretty simple idea, really.   

[ChiComCat]

I don't feel as though there was a conference title that Frank has cost us.  Maybe someday there will be, but until then, I'll take the playing well in Feb/March

[steve dave]

I don't feel as though there was a conference title that Frank has cost us.  Maybe someday there will be, but until then, I'll take the playing well in Feb/March

yeah, it's a catch 22.  if frank doesn't get us ready in january we don't win those february games and we lose a conference title then anyway.  hopefully some day we have enough talent (< frank's job) and can get those Jan. Ws anyway.  But, I'd rather play our best in Feb/March if not. 

[Belvis Noland]

Jeez, Belvis, it's as if you haven't watched Will's sad pivot moves against longer, more athletic defenders. Angel was absolutely our best option to handle the ball. He just happened to make two bad TOs at an inopportune time. But if could go back and play the game again, Angel would still be the best option.

Spradling is indeed a sad option at PG.  See MU game.  

But, as I sat there watching a pussified interior BU team, I just wanted somebody who could dribble up the floor and make an entry pass to one of our big men.  Martavious Irving (who started the game, BTW) may have worked in that spot.  

FWIW, BU's guards aren't long.  Brady Heslip guarded Spradling the entire game and Pierre Jackson is about 5'-7".  

[kso_FAN]

Jeez, Belvis, it's as if you haven't watched Will's sad pivot moves against longer, more athletic defenders. Angel was absolutely our best option to handle the ball. He just happened to make two bad TOs at an inopportune time. But if could go back and play the game again, Angel would still be the best option.

Spradling is indeed a sad option at PG.  See MU game.  

But, as I sat there watching a pussified interior BU team, I just wanted somebody who could dribble up the floor and make an entry pass to one of our big men.  Martavious Irving (who started the game, BTW) may have worked in that spot.  

FWIW, BU's guards aren't long.  Brady Heslip guarded Spradling the entire game and Pierre Jackson is about 5'-7".  

So after putting Angel in the game and going on an 11-5 run (sparked by an Angel steal, assist, and 3 point make) Frank should've just anticipated Angel was about to screw up and got him out of the game. Makes sense.

[Cire]

Jeez, Belvis, it's as if you haven't watched Will's sad pivot moves against longer, more athletic defenders. Angel was absolutely our best option to handle the ball. He just happened to make two bad TOs at an inopportune time. But if could go back and play the game again, Angel would still be the best option.

Spradling is indeed a sad option at PG.  See MU game. 

But, as I sat there watching a pussified interior BU team, I just wanted somebody who could dribble up the floor and make an entry pass to one of our big men.  Martavious Irving (who started the game, BTW) may have worked in that spot. 

FWIW, BU's guards aren't long.  Brady Heslip guarded Spradling the entire game and Pierre Jackson is about 5'-7". 

So after putting Angel in the game and going on an 11-5 run (sparked by an Angel steal, assist, and 3 point make) Frank should've just anticipated Angel was about to screw up and got him out of the game. Makes sense.

I think belvis noland just may be a see'er.

[mocat]

I love the idea of letting Angel play through his mistakes in the 1st Baylor game to accelerate the growing process.
I do not love the idea of yanking Angel from the MU game for making an errant oop attempt, and watching our 14 point lead disappear down to 3 before putting Angel back in.
These ideas seem to be contradictory, but then again both of these ideas are quintessential Frank. Frank is a Man of Mystery.

[kso_FAN]

I love the idea of letting Angel play through his mistakes in the 1st Baylor game to accelerate the growing process.
I do not love the idea of yanking Angel from the MU game for making an errant oop attempt, and watching our 14 point lead disappear down to 3 before putting Angel back in.
These ideas seem to be contradictory, but then again both of these ideas are quintessential Frank. Frank is a Man of Mystery.

I think Frank was being cautious with his minutes, especially after playing Angel for 39 minutes at Baylor just 4 days earlier, so I don't think it was a mystery. Frank has slowly been upping his minutes, and before Tuesday Angel had played 23, 27, 28, 28, and 39 minutes. Unless he gets in foul trouble, I'd expect to see Angel play 25 minutes (at least) tomorrow. He had a pretty good 18 minutes in Ames, but was limited by foul problems.

[michigancat]

1st hasn't been available for some 8 years now

Because they don't lose stupid games in January. 

By their standards, they've lost a "stupid" game in January every year since 2005.

[Belvis Noland]

So after putting Angel in the game and going on an 11-5 run (sparked by an Angel steal, assist, and 3 point make) Frank should've just anticipated Angel was about to screw up and got him out of the game. Makes sense.

Look, in hindsight, I'm glad Angel was in the game.  We weren't going to win the Conference this season anyway.  Might as well expose our young players to adversity.  

But, come on, let's not re-invent what actually happened in that Baylor game.  

Second Half:
14:45 (KSU 46 BU 42) - Angel turns it over.  
12:54 (KSU 46 BU 50) - Angel turns it over again, gets yanked.

Angel's play contributes to 8-0 Baylor run.    

7:06 (KSU 60 BU 62) - Angel comes back into the game and gets steal.  
7:02 (KSU 63 BU 62) - Angel assist to Sprad for 3.
5:06 (KSU 68 BU 67) - Angel 3-pointer.
4:00 (KSU 69 BU 67) - Angel makes 1 FT, misses 2 FTs
3:31 (KSU 71 BU 69) - Angel TO - BU scores on other end.
3:17 (KSU 71 BU 71) - Angel TO - BU scores on other end.  
0:14 (KSU 73 BU 75) - Angel throws ball away.  game over.  

Angel had a nice 3-minute stretch from 7:06 - 3:31.    

[michigancat]

But, come on, let's not re-invent what actually happened in that Baylor game. 

LOL @ this line

[kso_FAN]

So after putting Angel in the game and going on an 11-5 run (sparked by an Angel steal, assist, and 3 point make) Frank should've just anticipated Angel was about to screw up and got him out of the game. Makes sense.

Look, in hindsight, I'm glad Angel was in the game.  We weren't going to win the Conference this season anyway.  Might as well expose our young players to adversity.  

But, come on, let's not re-invent what actually happened in that Baylor game.  

Second Half:
14:45 (KSU 46 BU 42) - Angel turns it over.  
12:54 (KSU 46 BU 50) - Angel turns it over again, gets yanked.

Angel's play contributes to 8-0 Baylor run.    

7:06 (KSU 60 BU 62) - Angel comes back into the game and gets steal.  
7:02 (KSU 63 BU 62) - Angel assist to Sprad for 3.
5:06 (KSU 68 BU 67) - Angel 3-pointer.
4:00 (KSU 69 BU 67) - Angel makes 1 FT, misses 2 FTs
3:31 (KSU 71 BU 69) - Angel TO - BU scores on other end.
3:17 (KSU 71 BU 71) - Angel TO - BU scores on other end.  
0:14 (KSU 73 BU 75) - Angel throws ball away.  game over.  

Angel had a nice 3-minute stretch from 7:06 - 3:31.    

Look, I wasn't trying to dismiss Angel's earlier errors and the 8-0 run (and his mistakes during it) was bad.

But when put back into the game, as you said, he had a very nice stretch, so there was no reason to anticipate the last two mistakes. That was my point.

[Belvis Noland]

But when put back into the game, as you said, he had a very nice stretch, so there was no reason to anticipate the last two mistakes. That was my point.

For the record, there were 3 mistakes.  Two open court turnovers that led to uncontested layups at the other end.  One errant in-bound pass that ended the game. 

If Frank would've Franked Angel after the first inexcusable TO, Angel wouldn't have commited the last 2 TOs.  I think Sprad or Irving gets yanked for committing the same TO.  But, he left FR Angel in there so that he could experience an adverse, clutch moment in conference play. 

It was a learning experience.  And a valuable one at that.  May not have been the best win/loss decision I've ever seen.  But, a kid's gotta learn at some point. 

[steve dave]

It was the right win/loss decision as well

[michigancat]

Frank clearly chose to lose the first Baylor game, and win the second Baylor game. I support his decision.

[catzacker]

Things I  acknowledge relating to the “frankuary” argument :
-   It could be “fixed”/mitigated by having better talent (i.e. sitting angel or proving points to whomever is offset by putting in someone who has talent and experience instead of whomever frank runs out there and therefore you don’t lose games because your talent will still win out).
-   Sitting on the bench next to Omari and knowing that your coach won’t budge and will actually bench you (regardless of the game’s outcome)is probably a colder reality that could/does provide proper motivation (to those that want to be motivated by sitting next to Omari).
…however…
As a coach, if you can’t get the job done in practice, consistently, then you’re doing something wrong (or you have a flaw in your "system").  This shouldn’t be some type of “formula”.  While the length of Frank’s leash correlated with the length of Jake’s career, the maturation process can be achieved at a more acceptable rate with better overall roster management…that is…don’t put yourself in a position to rely on true freshman point guards to lead you to the promise land.

[michigancat]

don’t put yourself in a position to rely on true freshman point guards to lead you to the promise land.

That's real easy to say, but the fact that Clemente and Pullen had the PG slot locked up for 3 years makes it more difficult for a school the caliber of KSU to land a high quality PG before the 2011 class. I know it would be nice to do better, but it isn't like we fell off a cliff this year. Keep up the top 4 finishes and NCAA tournaments, and it will get easier.

[Winters]

Frank clearly chose to lose the first Baylor game, and win the second Baylor game. I support his decision.

Was cool with this.

[sys]

kstate is defending a little better now than earlier in the year (a lot better than that stretch mid-season when their defense slipped), but basically they're playing at about the same level as they have from about mid-december or whenever on.

[kso_FAN]

kstate is defending a little better now than earlier in the year (a lot better than that stretch mid-season when their defense slipped), but basically they're playing at about the same level as they have from about mid-december or whenever on.

We've basically had 2 bad (really bad) halves since mid-January. The BU/OU/UT stretch in January was really bad, and we managed to go 1-3. A big thing in the last two wins is finally getting back to 50% (or better) eFG% offensively.