
Zach Long, Associated Press
Frank Martin had never been a head coach beyond high school when he was hired by Kansas State to succeed Bob Huggins.
The school was criticized for picking a coach who had no previous college head coaching experience.
By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune
Last update: February 27, 2010 - 1:30 AM
In the middle of a tight game against his team's archrival, Kansas State coach Frank Martin went ballistic.
His tirade commenced during a timeout at the end of an 81-79 overtime loss against Kansas Jan. 30.
But as quickly as he flipped, he reminded his players how he felt about them.
"Frank just started screaming at somebody for something and next thing you know, he just looked at all of us and stopped and said, 'I love you guys, now go finish the game,'" said junior guard Jacob Pullen. "He was going off at first and then he started laughing. We looked each other like, 'What's going on ... Is he crazy?'"
That mix of tenacity and tough love has endeared Martin to a blossoming program and its supporters in Manhattan, Kan. The No. 6 Wildcats (23-4, 10-3 Big 12) have won six in a row and will certainly contend for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, especially if they win at No. 1 Kansas next week.
Martin was hired following Bob Huggins' abrupt resignation following the 2006-07 season after only a year with the program. The hiring of Martin was quickly criticized by some Kansas State backers who thought he got the job to preserve an incoming recruiting class that included future NBA forwarda Michael Beasley.
Martin at the time didn't have any head coaching experience beyond high school.
"It comes with the territory," Martin said of the early criticism. "I got no problem with that."
Former Kansas State athletic director Tim Weiser, now the Big 12's deputy commissioner, said he wanted to give the program some stability when he hired Martin.
He said he thought Martin would help the program grow, but he never imagined they'd make so much progress this quickly.
"I don't think anybody could have envisioned a program being top five in the country," he said. "I think what I can say with certainty is that over the long haul, we knew Frank was going to achieve
In three-plus seasons, Martin has succeeded beyond the "Michael Beasley Show," a staying power some teams that depended on one-and-dones in recent years -- such as UCLA and Memphis -- haven't had.
His key? While Beasley and fellow one-and-done Bill Walker dominated the headlines during that memorable 2007-08 season, Martin molded a healthy core of youngsters who are now veteran leaders.
Juniors Pullen (18.8 points per game this season) and Dominique Sutton (7.7 points) were freshmen. Senior point guard Denis Clemente (4.1 assists per game) transferred from Miami that season and was redshirted.
"We started laying down the groundwork [during the 2007-08 season]," Martin said. "We've got some experienced players."
With a key matchup at Kansas Wednesday, the Wildcats will get another chance to stake their claim as one of the Big 12's best, assuming they top Missouri Saturday.
But win or lose, Martin will continue to build what few thought he could.
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