Frustration Continues For Martin, UMass

UMass head coach Frank Martin expressed some similar frustrations following Tuesday's loss to Miami-Ohio.

(UMass Athletics)

Frank Martin could not hide his frustration following UMass’ 86-77 loss to unbeaten Miami-Ohio on Tuesday night.

The Minutemen erased an early deficit, took a second-half lead and tied the game at 68-68 with just over seven minutes remaining before the RedHawks closed on an 18-9 run.

For Martin, the frustration centered less on execution of a single play and more on missed chances, especially in front of 7,500 fans, the largest crowd of the season.

“Disappointed,” Martin said. “This is the second opportunity that we’ve had in my four years here where we have a great crowd, unbelievable support.”

Martin was referring to the Minutemen’s 75-67 home loss to St. Bonaventure two years ago.

“A lot like (Tuesday’s) game, we fought and fought and just couldn’t win,” Martin said. “Obviously same situation…very disappointed. I was proud of our effort, but just disappointed.”

Martin pointed directly at his veterans.

“We didn’t get very good performances from our old guys and it started right from the jump ball,” he said. “Our older guys, it’s not like they didn’t care and didn’t try, they just didn’t play well.”

Miami guard Peter Suder finished with a game-high 23 points.

Leonardo Bettiol would eventually foul out. Martin pointed to Bettiol’s third foul as an unnecessary one to commit, which forced his minutes to be limited down the stretch before ultimately fouling out.

“It’s every game,” Martin said of the foul issues. “He’s an adult. It’s not like I’m coaching a college freshman.”

After Isaiah Placide tied the game at 68 with a three, Martin recited the next three possessions from memory and detailed defensive breakdowns involving Luka Damjanac, Bettiol’s replacement.

“Luka is defending their center who does not shoot the basketball and he goes up there and crowds him flat-footed,” Martin said. “Their center, when he does drive, he goes right, drives him, hip checks him, foul.

“Next play, Luka comes down and he’s defending #11, #11 does not drive the ball. All he does is shoot threes. Luka’s five feet off and gives him a three. Then on the third possession, comes down, Luka gets caught on a cross screen, gets posted up and three-point play. That’s the next three possessions from 68-68.

“At that moment of the game, you cannot be that vulnerable on those kinds of plays. Those are three bad consecutive plays.”

Martin repeatedly returned to the theme of veteran execution in high-leverage moments.

“To win these kinds of games, your older players have to play well,” he said. “Play well doesn’t mean score 35. Play well means do the little things the right way.”

Asked how to get his veterans to handle those moments better, Martin acknowledged he did not have a simple answer.

“I wish I had that answer for you because the two that we need to play well have been with me for three years and neither one did,” he said, seemingly referring to Daniel Hankins-Sanford and Jayden Ndjigue. “It’s not a lack of desire. It’s not like they don’t care. I got good kids on this team.

“But at the end, let’s be honest, they’re getting paid to perform now. It’s no longer the let’s high-five the poor little scholarship guys that ate cold pizza for dinner. You’ve got to perform. That’s the reality of the moment.”

UMass fell to 15-12 overall and 6-8 in MAC play, sitting seventh in the league standings with four regular season games remaining. The top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament.

UMass remains home to host Buffalo on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Mullins Center.

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