Cuonzo Martin hired to coach Tennessee
Cuonzo Martin says he did his homework on the possible NCAA punishment Tennessee faces before agreeing to accept the job as the Volunteers' new men's basketball coach.
Cuonzo Martin says he did his homework on the possible NCAA punishment Tennessee faces before agreeing to accept the job as the Volunteers' new men's basketball coach.
In addition to his own due diligence regarding the NCAA, Martin said Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton "has assured me it will all work out."
Tennessee introduced Martin, 39, as the Vols' new coach yesterday, only a week after Bruce Pearl was fired for recruiting violations. Martin takes over not knowing what kind of sanctions the NCAA might impose. School officials will go before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on June 10-11, with final word on the Vols' punishment likely not coming until the fall.
Hamilton said he talked to Martin's former coach and boss - Gene Keady - before deciding to hire him.
"More than that, he's going to do it the right way," Hamilton said.
Tennessee gave Martin a 5-year deal guaranteeing him $1.3 million plus bonuses related to the team's success with the option of a 2-year extension after a 24-month review.
The school also gave Martin protection in his contract against whatever sanctions the NCAA does hand down. His original deal will be extended based on the number of years Tennessee is punished either with restrictions on recruiting, ban on postseason play or reduction of scholarships.
Martin went 61-41 in three seasons at Missouri State after 8 years as an assistant coach at Purdue under Keady and Matt Painter. During his tenure, the Bears improved from 11-20 in his first season to 26-9 in 2010-11, earning them their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship and Martin the MVC coach of the year honor.
As a player at Purdue, Martin scored 1,666 points in 127 career games.
The East St. Louis, Ill., native was selected 57th overall in the 1995 NBA draft by Atlanta and played in the NBA for 4 years.
Noteworthy
* Georgia Tech picked Dayton coach Brian Gregory to rebuild its beleaguered basketball program, which fell on hard times after reaching the national championship game in 2004. He replaces Paul Hewitt, who was fired after his fourth losing season in 6 years.
Gregory, 44, coached at Dayton for eight seasons, posting a record of 172-94.
* The NCAA Tournament's TV ratings are the highest since 2005. Through the regional finals, this year's tourney has averaged a 6.0 rating and 13 share. That's up 11 percent from 2010.
* Seniors dominated the Associated Press All-America team for the first time in 5 years: BYU's Jimmer Fredette, Duke's Nolan Smith and Purdue's JaJuan Johnson were joined on the team by Connecticut junior Kemba Walker and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger.
Fredette led the nation in scoring at 28.5 points per game.
Kansas' Marcus Morris, of Prep Charter, led the second team and was joined by Arizona's Derrick Williams, Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard. *