MU meets with Martin

[jesmu84]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10701512/tennessee-volunteers-coach-cuonzo-martin-meets-marquette

[CAGASS24]

We'll see how the interview went - I like that he has had a level of success at each prior stop - has big basketball experience as a player - Midwestern guy - and would be a head coach steal from a major basketball program - current players and recruits seemingly approve as well

[willie warrior]

Don't know much about the guy, or his recruiting skills.

One question: Should we wonder why we are after a guy who a month ago, over 36,000 fans signed a petition to have him fired? What is up with that?

[chapman]

One question: Should we wonder why we are after a guy who a month ago, over 36,000 fans signed a petition to have him fired? What is up with that?

Most can see an easy schedule and draw and still stand by it.  Their fans don't slurp anything put in front of them. 

[CAGASS24]

and then backed an open letter to Martin to disregard the petition - 90 percent of fans are fairweather as all hell - sadly, here too - the first person I see that tells me they are not renewing their season tickets because of a coach hire, before a game is even played, I am going to, attempt at least, punch is the mouth

[Groin_pull]

This is sounding like just a formality. Not a home run hire. More like a bloop single to left.

[HutchwasClutch]

I was extremely harsh about Martin even being a candidate and I still hope they go another direction (namely either Miller or Howland- although I believe that Howland's candidacy is finished).

All that being said- he was under enormous pressure at UT just prior to the postseason and both he and his team could have easily folded, but they obviously had a strong postseason run.  Something to be said there about his toughness and resiliency.

[Class71]

Well if you set the bar low enough he looks good. What was all of this discussion about  top tier? Yes, he may become a great coach but given the track record unlikely IMHO. Looks to me that either something is wrong in Denmark or Buzz speak and over exaggeration is contagious. 

If he is selected I will wish him luck and adjust my aim to a much dimmer future. Hope I am wrong but this would be very disappointing. My regrets in being negative but I had higher expectations and believed the "impact coach" rubbish.

[CAGASS24]

Well if you set the bar low enough he looks good. What was all of this discussion about  top tier? Yes, he may become a great coach but given the track record unlikely IMHO. Looks to me that either something is wrong in Denmark or Buzz speak and over exaggeration is contagious. 

If he is selected I will wish him luck and adjust my aim to a much dimmer future. Hope I am wrong but this would be very disappointing. My regrets in being negative but I had higher expectations and believed the "impact coach" rubbish.

The "impact" rubbish was exactly that - rubbis - its a term used to stroke egos based on the name cachet of the coach - an impact hire is one that has early success ON THE COURT or AT THE RECRUITING TABLE - no one here wants just a good presser and crap results -

[Niv Berkowitz]

I like that he has had a level of success at each prior stop

Yep. A "level of success". That's a great barometer. What kind of level? Is it the 'three-final fours and three league winning, top-rated program" kind of success? Or the "I made it to the NIT...twice!...and came a game of getting fired" success?

If the latter, then C. Martin really has to have your crotch on fire!

[UticaBusBarn]

This is sounding like just a formality. Not a home run hire. More like a bloop single to left.

Maybe a double, off the fists, just inside the right field foul line.

[jt92]

I'm glad I haven't sent my donation in yet.  It's stamped and ready to go.  All I have to do is take the check out once they make this dopey hire.  If he can't recruit in that conference he certainly won't recruit in this one!  Maybe dick strong can put in for me this year!

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I'm glad I haven't sent my donation in yet.  It's stamped and ready to go.  All I have to do is take the check out once they make this dopey hire.  If he can't recruit in that conference he certainly won't recruit in this one!  Maybe dick strong can put in for me this year!

The SEC is not exactly the hot-bed for bball outside of KY & FL - why wouldn't recruit players better at MU?  He is from the mid-west as is his staff.  TN is not that strong in mens bball from a tradition standpoint and it is a football first school.  I am not saying he is my first choice here, but it is not like he failed to recruit at IN or some other blue blood.

[jt92]

This is more like the guy who hits the ball a mile but it turns out to be foul.  On the next pitch he strikes out.  This is not even a bunt single but it's a strike out!

[jt92]

The SEC is not exactly the hot-bed for bball outside of KY & FL - why wouldn't recruit players better at MU?  He is from the mid-west as is his staff.  TN is not that strong in mens bball from a tradition standpoint and it is a football first school.  I am not saying he is my first choice here, but it is not like he failed to recruit at IN or some other blue blood.
[/quot

Because the big east is a worse conference!  It's that simple!

[Skatastrophy]

If we make this hire would Jeronne Maymon return to Marquette to help Martin recruit our returning players to stay on the team?

[NersEllenson]

Yep. A "level of success". That's a great barometer. What kind of level? Is it the 'three-final fours and three league winning, top-rated program" kind of success? Or the "I made it to the NIT...twice!...and came a game of getting fired" success?

If the latter, then C. Martin really has to have your crotch on fire!

Dude - You are so over the top with the Howland slurp.  Question:  Why do you think he's available and on the market and MU hasn't offered him yet??  Why do you feel he was fired from UCLA?  Why do you think he could replicate at MU what he's done at UCLA - they are, night and day programs geographically and historically you realize?  You really think Howland could have gotten Kevin Love to Milwaukee from Oregon?  Russell Westbrook to Milwaukee?

[GOO]

36,000 fans would have signed a petition to fire Bo Ryan 2 months ago during their 6 game slide... UW fans were saying they are too slow, not athletic enough, Bo is too old, etc, etc....

[Groin_pull]

Dude - You are so over the top with the Howland slurp.  Question:  Why do you think he's available and on the market and MU hasn't offered him yet??  Why do you feel he was fired from UCLA?  Why do you think he could replicate at MU what he's done at UCLA - they are, night and day programs geographically and historically you realize?  You really think Howland could have gotten Kevin Love to Milwaukee from Oregon?  Russell Westbrook to Milwaukee?

Of course not. MU is no where close to the top tier. That's what I've been saying...and getting slammed for. It's not negativity...it's reality. MU certainly has some things to sell, but it also has a lot of disadvantages to overcome. Guess that's why MU will soon be introducing Martin as their next coach. Dick Strong's millions don't buy as much as they used to.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Dude - You are so over the top with the Howland slurp.  Question:  Why do you think he's available and on the market and MU hasn't offered him yet??  Why do you feel he was fired from UCLA?  Why do you think he could replicate at MU what he's done at UCLA - they are, night and day programs geographically and historically you realize?  You really think Howland could have gotten Kevin Love to Milwaukee from Oregon?  Russell Westbrook to Milwaukee?

If we could retire one phrase here at Scoop, could I nominate "slurp"? Whenever someone likes someone, they are a 'slurper'. Please.

You ragged and bitched and moaned about Buzz all year, Ners. You got your wish. He's gone. So yeah, I'm more on board with one candidate than another. That guy is Howland.

And you are right - he got guys to go to UCLA, which apparently to you, isn't a big deal. Hell, anyone can get guys to go to UCLA. OK, fine, even if I believe that, let me ask you this -

You realize he coached at Pittsburgh and was incredibly successful there, right? So, what got players to go to Pittsburgh of all places? Their love of bridges? An awesome riverfront? The incredible blue-collarness of the town? The weather?

Picking and choosing one of his locations as proof that he's overrated is not what I'd call fair.

[melissasmooth]

Martin has missed the NCAA tournament five of six years. The only year he made it was by making the play-in game. Stellar.

[Tugg Speedman]

36,000 fans would have signed a petition to fire Bo Ryan 2 months ago during their 6 game slide... UW fans were saying they are too slow, not athletic enough, Bo is too old, etc, etc....

When they lost to tOSU at home 60 days ago, three days after losing to Northwestern at home, they completed a run of 1 - 5 that took them from being ranked #3 to unranked in three weeks.  The fans were so irate that they were booing Trevon Jackson and so pissed at the team they thought like I did at the time ... they were not going to the big dance.

And yes, they were saying Bo should retire after the season ended.

[GooooMarquette]

This is sounding like just a formality. Not a home run hire. More like a bloop single to left.

More like an easy grounder, bobbled by the SS.  E6.

[Tums Festival]

Because the national media continues to say he's a candidate, I'm clinging to my 1-2% likelihood we still hire Howland. The 98% is being spent bracing myself for the rip-roaring Cuonzo Martin era. This hire will make as big a splash as throwing a pebble in the ocean.

[mr.MUskie]

Copied from the UT board...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris4Vols22
Any coach is a gamble, but I doubt Martin would be considered a risky one by most.
You say he's up and on the rise.

He has a UT winning percentage of slightly over 60% for his three years at UT.

If we go back and include his time at M.S. his all time winning percentage is only 60.19% over 6 years of coaching. That's mediocre at best, and most fans aren't and won't be happy with a coach that wins slightly over half his games. IMO, That's not irrational as a fan base.

2008-2009 - 11–20 record
2009-2010- 24-12 record
2010-2011- 26-9 record
2011-2012- 19-15
2012-2013- 20-13
2013-2014- 24-13

124 wins/ 82 losses