Mark this down in ink: as long as we have Frank Martin at the wheel we will absolutely and positively exceed this opportunity and circumstance again. We will proceed to the Final Four with Frank (and maybe even win it all).
Now, I'm not a Pollyanna sunshine pumper. So read on.
Clemente was/is a huge cog in this year's machine. As one who appreciates the boricua spirit* that burns inside him, he was an artist on the floor for us. There's no replacing Denis Clemente - he will be sorely missed and I'm so sad to see his playing days end at K-State (I'm hoping Coach signs him on as a grad assistant for next year - see comments below). We will struggle next year at moments given that we will PG by committee. It may be painful, even moreso if Jake had never played at the 1 spot, but he has.
I wish Spradling had a year to play with Clemente because I think that's our hope for 2011 and beyond at PG - but I digress.
Frank demands results. If you think that Frank was not invested yesterday, then go back and watch the video on his pre-game and half-time talks. He knew and stressed for the men that opportunities MUST be seized. He will demand and work toward results no matter what the other variables around him are. If 'Te 420K leaves, guess what? Frank will find a way to recruit with the tools around him.
Someone mentioned that the bigs all choked. Uh, brethren, Curt Kelly became a man (sorry for the cliché) before our eyes during this tournament. If he can do that consistently next year, we have a leg up on the Big XII (assuming Aldrich is gone and Udoh considers bolting). JamSam is a sophomore (remember that?). 'Nique is the topic of a separate post to come later. I also believe that Freddy and Wally are going to do great things next year - we may go with the tallest lineup in the Big XII (country?) at times next year.
We may or may not see the Elite 8 next year - most of that will be determined by one Mr. Jake "Fear the Beard" Pullen and the level of leadership, consistency, and commitment he chooses to demonstrate. But, mark my words, we WILL come this way again, and we will cross that bridge to the Final 4 again (which we have not done in my lifetime) - IF and only if, we retain one Mr. Frank Martin.
Sorry for the ramble, but I've been drinking and on vacation for a few days - I had to do it.
*mistakenly typed "spirits," of course, Denis may very well have 'boricua spirits' (preferably Don Q or something similar) in him at this moment, but I meant to refer to his 'espíritu boricua.'