From The Couch – The Nightmare Basketball Regular Season Is Over
At least they didn’t finish last. That’s about the most positive thing I can say about this K-State men’s basketball season. I haven’t been writing columns after each game because, let’s be honest, what’s the point? It sucks writing about a losing program, and it is difficult not to be repetitively negative. However, there are a few things I would like to cover now that the regular season is over.
This was the worst conference finish for the K-State basketball team since 2020-21, when Bruce Weber’s Wildcats finished 4-14 in the Big 12. But there were only 10 teams in the league that year, not 16. The three conference wins are the fewest since Weber’s 2019-20 team. Again, there were only 10 teams in the league that season.
We already know there will be a new basketball coach hired, but I have never seen less buzz about a K-State football or basketball hire in my life, and I’m 52 years old. I’m not confident that Gene Taylor will make a great hire. More on that later. Let’s talk about the game at Kansas yesterday first.
JM: I’ve been saying this all season. Friends and family used to text me during games. Lots of them. Nobody does it anymore because they are not watching and don’t care. NIL and the transfer portal have a lot to do with it, but add in a pathetic product, and nobody cares anymore. I know at least 15 people personally who, five years ago, would never miss a K-State basketball game, but no longer watch. I don’t blame them, but it just goes to show what kind of rebuilding job needs to happen here.
One thing I do know is that the interim basketball coach, Matthew Driscoll, will not get the permanent gig.
“I’m really honored to have had the opportunity. However, I think the people that are getting the most overlooked in this whole thing are the staff, like on a daily basis, it’s extremely difficult for what they have to do and the way in which they have to do it, and the sand’s running out.”…K-State interim basketball coach Matthew Driscoll, after K-State’s 104-85 loss at Kansas
JM: You are correct that the sand is running out, but not nearly fast enough.
“I want to make sure that everyone knows that our staff, like they, deserve a lot of credit for what’s transpired these last two, three weeks, and I’m grateful to be beside them.”…K-State interim basketball coach Matthew Driscoll, after K-State’s 104-85 loss at Kansas
JM: What has happened since Driscoll took over as head coach? The team has won two and lost four times. They deserve “a lot of credit” for that, alright.
“I think the marketability has been the most troubling. You know, because everything you see is under the microscope. So today you’re on national TV, on CBS, so some of these guys are playing for contracts. They’re playing for contracts next season in the NCAA; they’re playing for contracts professionally. And like, staff are trying to get a job. And like, so there’s so many different things where marketability is focused on and what you do is always going to be there, because the video doesn’t lie.“…K-State interim basketball coach Matthew Driscoll, after K-State’s 104-85 loss at Kansas
JM: This guy is all about himself, the other guys on staff, and his players. Matt Driscoll is one selfish dude.
“I was extremely proud of the fact that our guys didn’t quit again. Like you could have quit when they got up, whatever it is they got up, you could have quit. And then we got it back to 14, I think, I think they got up, like 20, and then we got it back to 14, maybe 14 with the ball. And so, I love the fact that the guys continued to fight. But then they got it up to 30, and at that point, you know, now it becomes a little bit different, right? And so, but you know, guys made shots down the stretch, which is great for us because it looks closer on a scoreboard.”……K-State interim basketball coach Matthew Driscoll, after K-State’s 104-85 loss at Kansas
JM: In the famous words of Bill Snyder, “they don’t let you quit.”
JM: This is just one small example of the lack of effort, but this is what happened all game. It doesn’t even make me mad anymore. I just laugh at it.
JM: Driscoll has praised Tang in front of the media after each game he has coached. Nobody cares that Tang is an incredible human being. He is a terrible basketball coach, and Driscoll didn’t make the team one lick better when he took over. He is stealing money from the University, in my opinion, just like Tang did.
JM: K-State basketball should be in a position to recruit and attract any mid-major coach in the country, and most Power 4 coaches in the country. But they are not in that position. That is sad and reflects on the K-State athletic director and the University President. K-State has a fan base that wants to have a great basketball program. They have plenty NIL money to compete. So what is the problem?
I have a good buddy who has always said when your program, or any program, hires a new coach that makes you go “who?,” it never works out well. I have a feeling that’s what we are going to get with this hire.
JM: The K-State women won three games in the Big 12 tournament and then lost by 12 points in the semi-final game against TCU. Congratulations. Not a bad showing for a 12-seed.
But what is D. Scott Fritchen doing here? I understand that he is a propagandist paid by the University, but I prefer some objectivity in your reporting. What was historic about it? We see runs like this all the time in conference tournaments. This is the second year of the 16-team Big 12 tournament, so is it really “historic” that a 12-seed made the semi-finals? It is cool that they won three games. How about we leave it at that? I am just a bit perplexed by how some K-State fans celebrate losing. Perhaps I am overreacting.
JM: Football season can’t get here soon enough.
