Will Spradling wasn't tough enough to play for Frank Martin

[ChiComCat]

Did we ever find out why Will played 30+ mpg under Frank, considering they hated each other?

Good question.  In almost every other situation where a mediocre player doesn't get along with a coach to the point they hate each other, that mediocre player sits on the bench.

The line that was thrown around was that "You suck and I'm going to keep playing you so everyone can see you suck" or something to that effect, followed by the burning Will's house down while he is in it. 





I have a bigger issue with Will playing.

[Belvis Noland]

Did we ever find out why Will played 30+ mpg under Frank, considering they hated each other?

Good question.  In almost every other situation where a mediocre player doesn't get along with a coach to the point they hate each other, that mediocre player sits on the bench.

Guess Frank hated Tay and Shane as much as, or more than, Sprad.

[sonofdaxjones]

Probably because Frank never recruited a suitable replacement.

km deploying and employing a very effective scorched earth policy.

Fantastic

[Belvis Noland]

The line that was thrown around was that "You suck and I'm going to keep playing you so everyone can see you suck" or something to that effect, followed by the burning Will's house down while he is in it. 

Basically, exhibit A under the definition of garbage coach.  Will sucked and shouldve been benched.  Fact.  Playing the guy, who you recruited, to exploit his failure, is as much an indictment of Frank's shitty recruiting and player development as Will's shitty play. 

[sonofdaxjones]

Pretty much in a holding pattern on Sprads myself . . . I was defending him for all the unneccessary abuse he took from idiotically hot headed Frank Martin . . . But I expect more games like last Saturday.

[MakeItRain]

Did we ever find out why Will played 30+ mpg under Frank, considering they hated each other?

Good question.  In almost every other situation where a mediocre player doesn't get along with a coach to the point they hate each other, that mediocre player sits on the bench.

Guess Frank hated Tay and Shane as much as, or more than, Sprad.

Frank didn't have an issue with Sprads before he and Shannon drove a knife into his back.  Frank was a shithead to Will because he wanted him to live up to whatever potential Frank and Brad thought he had.  The deterioration of that relationship is solely due to Will and Shannon being liars and hypocritical FPs.  I wonder how much of this could have been avoided if Frank cowered to Shannon's wishes and not played Will at the 1 like at all, ever.

[kso_FAN]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

[sonofdaxjones]

Did Spradling play point in high school?   

If not, what kind of potential/expectations (particularly at the 1) did Frank and Undies have of a pizza faced white kid from Shawnee Mission South High School (playing at the 1) at the major conference level? (more rhetorical than anything).

IMO it sounds more like, "I've got to have him do it, because I've done a $hitty job of recruiting, and finding the talent I really need, I am going to take it out on the moderately talented white kid from Shawnee Mission South."

[Belvis Noland]

Did we ever find out why Will played 30+ mpg under Frank, considering they hated each other?

Good question.  In almost every other situation where a mediocre player doesn't get along with a coach to the point they hate each other, that mediocre player sits on the bench.

Guess Frank hated Tay and Shane as much as, or more than, Sprad.

Frank didn't have an issue with Sprads before he and Shannon drove a knife into his back.  Frank was a shithead to Will because he wanted him to live up to whatever potential Frank and Brad thought he had.  The deterioration of that relationship is solely due to Will and Shannon being liars and hypocritical FPs.  I wonder how much of this could have been avoided if Frank cowered to Shannon's wishes and not played Will at the 1 like at all, ever.

Frank should've had an issue with Will from day 1 when it became painfully obvious that he didn't fit in the system, or plain wasn't good enough.  If the Sprads mumped Frank, he should've kicked him off the team or benched him for insolence.

Just seems ridiculous and entirely irational to play the guy MORE, out of spite. 

[Belvis Noland]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

Exactly.  He kicked Russell (4* pg) off the team because he couldn't cut it at 1.  But he plays Will - slower, weaker, smaller - more mpg.

[sonofdaxjones]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

Exactly.  He kicked Russell (4* pg) off the team because he couldn't cut it at 1.  But he plays Will - slower, weaker, smaller - more mpg.

Because Nick Russell couldn't guard his own shadow.

[ChiComCat]

The line that was thrown around was that "You suck and I'm going to keep playing you so everyone can see you suck" or something to that effect, followed by the burning Will's house down while he is in it. 

Basically, exhibit A under the definition of garbage coach.  Will sucked and shouldve been benched.  Fact.  Playing the guy, who you recruited, to exploit his failure, is as much an indictment of Frank's shitty recruiting and player development as Will's shitty play. 

I was just saying what was thrown out.  I don't necessarily believe this.  Or if he said it, it was less because of wanting to show Will sucks and more about the lack of better options.

Also, I don't doubt he told Will to transfer, but I think Will saw his D2 options sitting in front of him and decided he would stay and fight.  Just my take though, as everyone has theirs.

[steve dave]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

I mean, we know for a fact that Frank floated the stuff to some of the media about him feeling he wasn't getting a fair shake in his contract negotiations.  I think Frank floats a lot of this stuff around. He loves playing the victim and is good at getting his point of view circulated. I think our fanbase (myself included) was too quick to buy into it. I mean, one member of the media tells us that they won't pay Frank and here comes the gullible goEMAW posse to the rescue.

[CNS]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

Exactly.  He kicked Russell (4* pg) off the team because he couldn't cut it at 1.  But he plays Will - slower, weaker, smaller - more mpg.

Because Nick Russell couldn't guard his own shadow.

Yep.  some of you guys have romanticized Nick.

[sonofdaxjones]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

Exactly.  He kicked Russell (4* pg) off the team because he couldn't cut it at 1.  But he plays Will - slower, weaker, smaller - more mpg.

Because Nick Russell couldn't guard his own shadow.

Yep.  some of you guys have romanticized Nick.

I still don't think he should have been Franked though.

[CNS]

Hindsight is 20/20, Dax.  He deserved the crap out of that Franking at the time.

[Belvis Noland]

I liked the idea of Nick. Big, strong pg with a nice shot. Bad defense.  Hoped he couldve been fixed. 

I think our coaches romanticize the idea of Will.  Smart, hard working guard that should be able to rain 3s. Doesn't rain 3s.  Were all hoping he can be fixed.

[MakeItRain]

I agree with all, Frank should have recruited better.  This isn't a revelation to any of us but that isn't the point of this, we're talking about why Will's and Frank's relationship soured.  The recruiting better thing and the point guard thing are intertwined IMO.  Frank thought that Will would best be utilized at the point because he didn't produce enough to play the 2 for 30 minutes a night.  I honestly think that if Frank and Will were both here this year Will would be the back up 1 or he would be somewhere other than Manhattan.

As for why he didn't get Franked, its a combination of still wanting Will to contribute/inability or unwillingness to admit a mistake and Semi O.  You all can decide the percentages of these things.

[CNS]

Do you guys remember how Nick acted completely allergic to the ball in games where he was asked to be part of the press break and Jake wasn't in?  He got rid of it as quick as possible and started looking for an epi pen immediately.

He was scared out of his mind half the time against high level opponents. 

[CNS]

I agree with all, Frank should have recruited better.  This isn't a revelation to any of us but that isn't the point of this, we're talking about why Will's and Frank's relationship soured.  The recruiting better thing and the point guard thing are intertwined IMO.  Frank thought that Will would best be utilized at the point because he didn't produce enough to play the 2 for 30 minutes a night.  I honestly think that if Frank and Will were both here this year Will would be the back up 1 or he would be somewhere other than Manhattan.

As for why he didn't get Franked, its a combination of still wanting Will to contribute/inability or unwillingness to admit a mistake and Semi O.  You all can decide the percentages of these things.

Yeah, it's obvs why sprads did the cowardly crap person things he did.  Had to play/start, didn't want to be embarrassed by going on market and being ignored by all but mid majors, didn't want to have to prove himself at Washburn and end up still maybe not starting.  Will pulled the ultimate Game of Thrones move on Frank to keep his starting job.  In the Game of Sprads, you either win or you get a crap job in South Carolina.

[steve dave]

Yeah, it's obvs why sprads did the cowardly crap person things he did. 

what were those things cns casey?

[MakeItRain]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

I mean, we know for a fact that Frank floated the stuff to some of the media about him feeling he wasn't getting a fair shake in his contract negotiations.  I think Frank floats a lot of this stuff around. He loves playing the victim and is good at getting his point of view circulated. I think our fanbase (myself included) was too quick to buy into it. I mean, one member of the media tells us that they won't pay Frank and here comes the gullible goEMAW posse to the rescue.

Are you "message boarding," being revisionist, or just don't remember the circumstances of pay Frank?  Literally every single coach at K-State had gotten raises since Currie had been here, OBz, Brad Hill, Suzie, Deb, Rovelto, freaking everyone.  It was nearly a year after these raises were handed out and there was Frank twisting.  He was either 10th or 11th in conference salary.  Sure they could have had plans to renegotiate in the offseason, but it shouldn't have gotten to that point.

[CNS]

Yeah, it's obvs why sprads did the cowardly crap person things he did. 

what were those things cns casey?

From what I gather from the last several months of bbs'n, SD, the sprads joined father/son forces to manipulate the AD into playing hardball with Frank, forcing Frank to leave or be neutered by player/father/AD tag team.

If this is incorrect, I blame the ppl here that have better knowledge of the situation and yet refuse to share.

[kso_FAN]

Yeah, it's obvs why sprads did the cowardly crap person things he did. 

what were those things cns casey?

Yeah, I don't believe much of the Sprad's conspiracy theories. I don't doubt that his dad was a prick, but that's about it. Frank could've just told him to back off like he's probably told countless other dads/handlers. I think Frank played him because he trusted him to do a lot of things right on the court and expected him to improve on his shooting, even though he's unspectacular at most things.

[steve dave]

Why didn't Frank just tell Shannon to shut up and Will to transfer? Its not like he ever had any problems Franking others.

That part has never made sense to me; he was willing to burn some east coast/DC bridges (Wally), TX bridges (Nick), FL bridges (Freddy) but wouldn't touch his KC in roads with Shannon?

I mean, we know for a fact that Frank floated the stuff to some of the media about him feeling he wasn't getting a fair shake in his contract negotiations.  I think Frank floats a lot of this stuff around. He loves playing the victim and is good at getting his point of view circulated. I think our fanbase (myself included) was too quick to buy into it. I mean, one member of the media tells us that they won't pay Frank and here comes the gullible goEMAW posse to the rescue.

Are you "message boarding," being revisionist, or just don't remember the circumstances of pay Frank?  Literally every single coach at K-State had gotten raises since Currie had been here, OBz, Brad Hill, Suzie, Deb, Rovelto, freaking everyone.  It was nearly a year after these raises were handed out and there was Frank twisting.  He was either 10th or 11th in conference salary.  Sure they could have had plans to renegotiate in the offseason, but it shouldn't have gotten to that point.

I'm stating what Frank actually did and how people reacted (and still react) to it. You can file that under whatever category you want.