Jan. 22, 2008
Kansas State long ago risked selling out to the dark side for a renewed shot at national prominence. There have been 16 Sweet 16s and four Final Fours in the program's history, but basically nothing since Mitch Richmond led the Cats to the 1988 Midwest Regional Final. That's why we need to get this out of the way before the beers and Rolando Blackman stories start flowing again in Aggieville.
If Kansas State truly gets back to prominence at some point in the future, a big thanks goes to Huggins. Call him a mercenary after bolting for his alma mater West Virginia following one season, but give him credit for making a guy like Beasley possible. Without Huggins there is no Martin, his former assistant. Without Martin taking over within days, there is no monster recruiting class being held together. Beasley and his roomie Walker, among others, probably wouldn't be here.
Beasley is what they call a load. A combination of Carmelo Anthony and, if you squint, Charles Barkley, who is leading the Big 12 in scoring (No. 4 nationally). That's why Fatima Smith and her four other children followed Michael from D.C. to Manhattan for this season.
"I've never been bitter at Huggins at all," Smith said. "As long as the recruiting class came in, it was a situation that had to be done. My exact words to Huggins were, 'The train is moving on, we just have to stop and let one passenger off.'"
This unpolished diamond of a program has been dumped in the lap of Martin, a 41-year-old, who eight years ago was coaching high school. He hooked on with Huggins, then Andy Kennedy, for his two seasons in Cincinnati making him the logical successor when Hugs shocked K-State's world.
The school had tried a California slickster (Pepperdine's Tom Asbury) and journeyman (former Bulls assistant Jim Wooldridge). Now they're going with East Coast Hustle. That can be taken two ways. For now it means the Wildcats are orbiting around the tournament bracket again. Beasley is a possible No. 1 draft choice. Walker is expected to be a short timer as well.
That might not be good for continuity but it's the sign of a rising program.
"Every team needs a superstar but every superstar needs a team," Beasley said. "I would love to carry my team on my shoulders but like I tell people, I can't do it alone.
"I hear it every day walking around campus, 'Beasley you've got to take us all the way.' I can only help. I can't pull the whole train myself. I need conductors to help me."
The train might have pulled out of the station when Kansas State blew out then-No. 10 Texas A&M. Beasley got two quick fouls, which normally would have relegated him to the bench. But Martin trusted him enough to sub him in and out, mostly on offense, without any further damage.
After picking up a third foul in the second half, Beasley settled down to lead the Wildcats with 21 points while playing only 24 minutes.
"I feel like he was born to do what he does," Smith said of her son. "He never even had any basketball lessons."
