STILL, WE’RE SOFTENING OUR RHETORIC …
Recently, FITS posted a scathing article about second-year University of South Carolina head basketball coach Frank Martin.
Missed it? Click HERE.
Since that article ran, Martin’s team has posted a disappointing 6-9 record (including a 1-8 mark in Southeastern Conference play). So naturally we’re here to rip him again, right?
Not exactly …
Don’t get us wrong: We’re exceedingly disappointed by the performance of this year’s Gamecocks’ hoops squad. This program can – and must – do better. And judging by the sparse crowds at the Colonial Life Arena, it needs to start doing better sooner rather than later.
Still, there are a few things worth mentioning in Martin’s defense …
First, his team is playing without its best player – two-sport star Bruce Ellington (who has wisely chosen to focus his energy on preparing for the 2014 NFL draft). USC is also playing without its assists leader Tyrone Johnson – who was tied for the team lead in points per game when he broke his ankle three weeks ago.
Those are two serious personnel losses …
Still, Martin’s young squad hasn’t played as poorly as its record would indicate. In fact we crunched some numbers and found that for want of only 39 points (spread out over eight games), Martin’s team is 8-14 as opposed to 16-6. In other words it is thirteen three-pointers away from being a legitimate NCAA Tournament contender … as opposed to a team that must win every single one of its remaining games to break the .500 mark.
Martin has a long way to go … and a lot of work to do … but Gamecock fans shouldn’t be totally inconsolable about the future of the program. Having said that, we would encourage Martin to finish the 2013-14 season strong … as opposed to experiencing the sort of late-season swoon we saw in 2012-13.
27 comments
I’m willing to wait some more. But some of the WORST broadcasters in Columbia like the dull minded Carey Rich..love Martin. That does not give me confidence.Rich is a big jock sniffer of Tajh Boyd.
Thats because Columbia sucks.
Where do you live?
I’m guessing Columbia.
I would guess Columbia. He seems to know it pretty good.
Most small-time, never-been-anywhere rednecks feel superior to crap on their home. They think it makes them look sophisticated. FITS does it a lot…
To me, it’s a trait of people who are ashamed of themselves, and think others, in bigger and better places… are better than them…A form of self-loathing. It is VERY prevalent in liberals…who are just too stupid to know the difference between good and bad.
Sic Willie sports math. If Denver had only scored 36 more points they would have beaten Seattle.
High Five!
defend everything clempson and criticize everything Carolina.
at least, you are irrationally consistent.
USC is not a basketball school, it’s a football school. It’s like talking football at Duke.
Duke 10-4, 6-2 (ACC). Cutcliffe: Second straight ACC Coach of the Year award, Walter Camp Coach of the Year. I think they are talking about it.
Maybe you were thinking of North Carolina…or you don’t want to think about them because of 0-57. Or is 5 in a row just f’ing with your mind?
Stay Orange, brother.
While I do think USC basketball sucks balls, I find it funny idiot Clemson fans like this assclown (even though he pretends he is not knowing its embarrassing to admit) say anything about it. Since they only love history and past championships why don’t they realize that USC has more ACC championships in basketball than Clemson does and they haven’t even been in the conference in over 40 years. They also have more regular season titles in the SEC too than Clemson in the ACC. They also hold the overall series records. I mean that’s all that matters right? Past or “lower rated” conference titles? The SEC and more to the point USC sucks in basketball and we know it, but Clemson isn’t anything either. that means according to everything Clemson fans try to use to show they are a better football team, they have no way to say USC isn’t the better basketball school. Not logically or universally valid at least. They either have to admit the fact that USC is a better basketball team/program than Clemson, or admit the premise of the whole football argument they use is as much BS as what I just claimed.
All that talk and you said nothing.
I guess you cant read.
Yet some how, you still can’t keep Clemson out of your mouth either.
The statement Squishy made had nothing to do with Clemson. I would say it’s an astute observation. USC basketball is terrible and football is the main highlight of the school in the past year. When you lose your best player, it shows.
Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to prepare to watch my team get the ever living shit kicked outta them tomorrow night at the hands of the #1 team in the country.
I thought to Dirtpecker fans the ACC was irrelevant regardless of any team’s record.
Nobody has mentioned what Dirtpecker U’s record is at Chappel Hill. Not that it really matters, but I bet it’s not much better than Tater U’s record.
But it is better. Use your own computer and go look it up. and nice try on the “Tater U comment”. We all know you are a clem5on fan, and just embarrassed to admit it.
So what you’re saying is that the Dirtpeckers have not beaten UNC in Chappel Hill, but because they have fewer losses there that that is something to be proud of. I know your standards are low, but really???
I’m not a Tater fan, I just tolerate their less self absorbed fans than the Dirtpecker fans who walk around like they suffer from shortman’s disease.
At no time did I say that. USC has won in Chapel Hill. And more than once or twice. Like I said if you want to talk shit actually do research or know what you are talking about instead of making shit up, or do you not know how to use a computer. I know its hard for you to look since USC hasn’t played in the ACC since the early 70’s but its there and you can do it (I hope). 2 quick hints look at the 1769-70 season or the 68-69 season. Again as everyone knows they haven’t played them much there since then but there are others too if you know how to look. Or are you just a democrat that wants everyone else to do the “work” for them? Now you have gone and made me sound like that idiot Tango. Thanks jack ass. But unlike you I actually know what I am speaking about.
So Dirtpecker U. dominated UNC 45 years ago. Is that back when they used to shoot freethrows granny style?
Ha, now you’re trying to make this a political argument. Do you suffer from ADD?
Now if the Dirtpeckers can just get over that 13 game slump from the mighty basketball powerhouse Vols.
Isn’t today’s loss to Tennessee the Dirtpecker’s 13th straight loss to the Vols? Since when did Tennessee become an SEC basketball powerhouse?
and to think, we/USC could have Gregg Marshall. Marshall wanted the job.
Given the quality of the leadership at South Carolina athletics in Pastides and Tanner and the kind of success that the university has seen in recent years this GameCock fan is willing to be patient and trust the people who are in place to make a difference. I look forward to the day when the Cocks are shooting hoops on TV as regularly as the baseball and football teams are.
Pastides and leadership should never be mentioned in the same sentence. The guy is nothing more than a whipping boy for the Board of Trustees which is why they haven’t let him go.
Thank you for your continued interest (obsession) with the University of South Carolina. Sleep tight, my Orange friend.
Sorry Carls Jr., I believe all that transfat has gone to your head. I happen to live in Columbia and am aware of things and people around me. You may believe Pastides is the best of the best but those who work and have worked at USC know a little more than someone who’s just a Dirtpecker fan. Did you know about Pastides nervous breakdown a few years ago when he was VP of Research under Sorenson? They said he went to Greece for a year, but it was more to get his head straightened out than a research trip and I seriously doubt he was in Greece during that year, more likely in some high dollar asylum.
The sad thing is that no one cares about your opinion. I seriously ask myself why from time to time I look at this website.
No way was Bruce the best basketball player on the team, he could not shoot.