So, even though I have a different perspective I think this is a good post and makes for good discussion. Here's what I mean by that:
I do think it was a really well coached game by Fran. But here's some clarity to address some points that you made. "His team fought and battled even after they could have quit down by 21. And showing fight and sticking with it is usually more important than individual game decisions." That might not be "in game coaching" but having a team that fought and battled even after they could have quit...is part of his good coaching. I remember a post on this board not to long ago that was titled something like, "When did Fran lose this team"......obviously he hasn't, through some pretty tough times.
Then, I get your points about not subbing until the 11 minute mark, who he put in, who he pulled out, and when he did those things. I think that first you have to give the coach (any coach) some credit for knowing their team in a way that we don't. I think it's also easy to be critical of those moves when the results aren't what we hoped AND in forgetting that the opposition has something to say about it as well. Fran was in the process of trying to orchestrate the 3rd largest comeback in school history....and there's decades of history.
The change up in going back to man after the zone was being so successful. As a fan I was stunned, depressed, wanting to throw things at the TV during the start to the game where Indiana just ate our defense alive.......it was horrible. So I get what you are saying. But I also understand that Fran and his staff see the game/players/matchups and fine details at an exponentially higher level than any of us fans do....so, when he makes that switch (that looks like a bad move to me) it is most likely because he/they see or know something that we don't.....then when it doesn't work out it's easy for us fans to go, "My god, why would you switch to man defense now"......well, it might be that the opponent has something to do with the results OR that our own guys didn't execute the changes that they talked about at halftime, OR that Indiana was still able to get the matchups they wanted in spite of some minor change that we implemented.
I could mention more but I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.