Martin: New perceptions of him ‘comical’
COLUMBIA, S.C. >> South Carolina coach Frank Martin believes he’s the same straight- forward, open book he has always been, though perceptions of him have changed with the Gamecocks’ run to the Final Four.
“How the stories have changed that I’m a yeller and a screamer to that I’m a passionate man,” Martin said Tuesday, “I find that very comical.”
It has been at times a difficult, at times an amusing and at times a frustrating ride during Martin’s five seasons with the Gamecocks, who are two wins away from a national title after not winning an NCAA Tournament game in 44 years before this March. They play Gonzaga Saturday night in Phoenix.
“I’m having the time of my life, because of the kids in that locker room,” Martin said.
Martin has had a very fluid locker room since he arrived from Kansas State with a successful NCAA pedigree — four tournaments in five years with the Wildcats — in March 2012. He lost four players off his roster after the first season, and two or more every year after that including this past offseason with the departures of forwards Eric Cobb and Raymond Doby, and guards Marcus Stroman and Jamall Gregory. The four were expected to add depth to this season’s roster.
Instead, Martin did what he’s leaned on since arriving — teaching young people life lessons and his way of playing basketball.
“You could see how much he cared,” said Estonia native Maik Kotsar, the 6-foot10 freshman who scored 12 points in South Carolina’s 77-70 win over Florida last Sunday to reach the Final Four.
Sometimes, Martin acknowledged, he cared too much.
At the end of his second season in March 2014, Martin the “yeller and screamer” was caught dressing down freshman guard Duane Notice, a tirade that angered some fans behind the bench and earned Martin a onegame suspension from athletic director Ray Tanner.
“”I talk to my players a lot about maturity,” he said at the time. “I think it’s time I work on my maturity as well.”
Martin has not given up on the yelling and his players say any harsh words are balanced with a parent’s devotion and fierce loyalty.
When backup point guard Rakym Felder was arrested at a campus night club area before ever playing a game, Martin defended him loudly to many who knew nothing about him.
“He’s not a good kid,” Martin said of Felder, “he’s a beautiful kid.”
Felder said upon his return, “I knew Frank would have my back, and he wouldn’t give up on me.”
Players don’t give up on Martin, either.
South Carolina leading scorer Sindarius Thornwell was a rising star his freshman year with many whispering in his ear that the Gamecocks — 14-20 for their fifth straight losing season — would never succeed and he should declare for the NBA. Thornwell stayed and has led the Gamecocks first- ever Final Four journey. He’s scored 102 points in four NCAA games.
With his program embroiled in a sexual assault investigation, Michigan State coach MarkDantonio decided more conventional questions about spring practice would have to wait.
There are far more serious issues facing the Spartans this offseason.
“I think to stand up here and talk about who’s going to be our quarterback right now is trivial compared to what we’re dealing with. That’s why I’ve not wanted to do that,” Dantonio said. “Didn’t want to come up and talk about spring practice or talk about depth charts or those type of things because I thought it was unfair to the investigation as a whole. So we refrained from doing that.”
Allegations of sexual assault have been made against three Michigan State football players. The school announced Feb. 9 that the players had been suspended fromteamactivities. On Tuesday, Dantonio held a news conference for the first time since that announcement.
The names of the players have not been released, and prosecutors have not announced any decision on charges. Reporters have not had access to spring practice at Michigan State, but the spring game Saturday is still taking place as scheduled.