His coaching style is getting his guys to play tough and physical as is fitting for someone coming out of East St. Louis. As a player at Purdue, his rep was as a defensive stopper with a solid three-point shooting touch.
How he dovetails with new recruits, of course, remains to be seen. Let's see who he hires as his assistants first and foremost because that will be the most critical element in the future level of talent the Bears land. However, Martin possesses the charisma and presence to open relationships and close deals.
The same goes with his current roster as the underclassmen have to be impressed after meeting him. Expect the talk of transferring to dissipate immediately as Jabari Bird, Tyrone Wallace and Jordan Matthews should really benefit from Martin's presence.
The question though, make that the elephant in the living room, is does Assistant Coach Travis DeCuire remain? He interviewed at San Jose State University last year (although the job was sewn up from the get-go) and now at Cal, with no offers. He certainly was favored by the majority of returnees.
With both Missouri State and Tennessee, Martin's teams posted a better record every season -- MS: 11-20, 24-12 and 26-9 and TENN: 19-15, 20-13 and 24-13.
Yes, his coaching seat was obviously hot in Knoxville but a telling point is that his team finished strong despite the calls for his ouster. In reality, there is an element of fantasy operating among a number of Tennessee fans who are strident in the belief that their domain should be as hot a spot for incoming talent as Lexington, Kentucky. Right.
Let's also see if the Cal athletics brass are serious about leveling the differences in the
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