Cuonzo Martin hired at Tennessee:

[Skjellyfetti]

Missouri Valley, Missouri State fans (do we have any?)... please clue me in on this guy.

Haven't heard of him. What style of basketball does he play? What kind of coach is he? What did he do at Missouri State?

[DJH]

He loves to fist pump.

[MSUDuo]

Great hire for Tennessee. Just the guy to get in there with all the crap going on

Was at Missouri State for 3 seasons. Went 11-20 in his first year, 24-12 and CIT champions in his second year, and 26-9 and MVC Champs this year.

He is a part of the Gene Keady coaching tree which includes Alan Major at Charlotte, Bruce Weber at Illinois, Matt Painter at Purdue, Steve Lavin at St. John's, and Kevin Stallings at Vanderbilt.

He is more of a defensive coach than an offensive coach. Very intense. Great motivator. Still learning everything there is about being a head coach though.

A story you will hear over and over again is about how he was raised in East St. Louis and is a cancer survivor.

Overall, a tremendous stand up guy. We are all shocked but knew we wouldn't keep him forever...

[clenz]

High energy guy...

Hated by opposing fans for not showing much respect in victory...or defeat. It's tough to explain if you didn't watch the way MSU celebrated a REGULAR SEASON conference title and didn't see him not shake hands with the other team, or the way he (and his team) acted like everything they did was the best thing to ever happen to basketball, etc...


Pretty good coach though.

[Grizalltheway]

High energy guy...

Hated by opposing fans for not showing much respect in victory...or defeat. It's tough to explain if you didn't watch the way MSU celebrated a REGULAR SEASON conference title and didn't see him not shake hands with the other team, or the way he (and his team) acted like everything they did was the best thing to ever happen to basketball, etc...


Pretty good coach though.

Sounds like DJH.

[clenz]

High energy guy...

Hated by opposing fans for not showing much respect in victory...or defeat. It's tough to explain if you didn't watch the way MSU celebrated a REGULAR SEASON conference title and didn't see him not shake hands with the other team, or the way he (and his team) acted like everything they did was the best thing to ever happen to basketball, etc...


Pretty good coach though.

Sounds like DJH.

Keep in mind these videos are the for the regular season title....which in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean jack shit - perfectly shown by MSU not making the NCAA tourney

[youtube][/youtube]

Martin is the clapping coach at the 12 second mark.
[youtube][/youtube]


UNI didn't have this kind of reaction after beating the number 1 team in the nation.

These types of things are why Martin and MSU were not respected by MVC fans this year....well that and the way their players throat slashed at opposing benches/fans, starred down every body after every basket, chest thumped after every rebound, etc...

[clenz]

Oh...and MSU fans will be here to defend this actions in a short amount of time. However, this is probably the only issue that has gotten everyone on the MVC message board on the same side of the issue.

http://mvcfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=935" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Honestly, for something like that to happen on that board....well it would be like ky and JoltinJoe to agree on something religious/abortion related


I've heard he is a class guy, and his speech receiving the MVC COY award was very good.

Like I said he is a very good coach and may be a class guy off the court. However, his shtick on the court won't be welcomed very kindly in the SEC

[DJH]

High energy guy...

Hated by opposing fans for not showing much respect in victory...or defeat. It's tough to explain if you didn't watch the way MSU celebrated a REGULAR SEASON conference title and didn't see him not shake hands with the other team, or the way he (and his team) acted like everything they did was the best thing to ever happen to basketball, etc...


Pretty good coach though.

Sounds like DJH.

Your obsession with me is noted.

[Grizalltheway]

Sounds like DJH.

Your obsession with me is noted.

I'd lock your windows at night if I were you. Just sayin'.

[jacobadam]

Martin was part of two of those state titles at Lincoln, with Ellis in 1988 and without him in 1989. The team finished third in the state tournament in 1990. Martin had every intention of accepting a scholarship from the University of Illinois, the only school he was considering. But when the Deon Thomas recruiting controversy made headlines in the summer of 1990, it appeared Illinois would be penalized.