Why isn't Miami interested in Frank Martin's services?

The Miami coaching search is a curious one to follow.

Frank Martin seems to be the obvious fit. He's a native South Floridian and the son of a Cuban immigrant. He cut his teeth coaching at the high school level in Miami. And, if you read between the line of this AP report, he appears to want the job.

"I'm never going to say I'm not listening to anybody. Someone might call and it might be an opportunity, a new challenge, something that intrigues me," Martin said. "It might be an (athletic director) that I've known my whole life and he says, 'Frank, I need you.' I'm never going to come out and say I'm not going to listen."

The question, however, is whether or not Miami wants him.


Greg Cote at The Miami Herald wrote earlier today that "supposedly, UM is enamored with Harvard’s Tommy Amaker", and Michelle Kaufmann of the same paper reiterated that sentiment, saying Amaker "appears to be UM's top target".

What Amaker has done at Harvard is impressive. He turned a school that was 8-22 when he arrived four years ago into one that finished 23-7 this season and was legitimately involved in the discussion for an at-large bid the past two seasons. One of his players, Jeremy Lin, graduated and played in the NBA this season. But this is the same Tommy Amaker that didn't reach the NCAA Tournament in six seasons at Michigan, something that John Beilein has been able to do two of the past three years.

Amaker isn't the only coach that the Hurricanes are apparently interested in. Mike Davis (UAB), Rob Jeter (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Donnie Jones (UCF), Tony Barbee (Auburn) and Billy Kennedy (Murray State) have also been mentioned in the search.

But no Frank Martin.

Could it be as simple as Miami being scared away by Martin's reputation?

If you don't know the back story, Martin was the head coach of the powerhouse Miami High program in the mid-to-late 90's. But he was forced to resign and had a state title taken away after it was discovered he broke high school regulations by recruiting players, including Steve Blake and Udonis Haslem, and lying about whether they were living in order to get them eligible to play at Miami High.

And then there is this from Curtis Kitchen, who was on the Kansas State beat last season:

Last November, K-State played Florida in the 2010 Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Miami. The game turned out to be the worst of the season for the Wildcats, who scored their lowest point total of the season in a 57-44 loss.

During the game, sources say, several important people associated with Miami took in the contest a few rows behind the K-State bench, sitting within earshot of Martin, who has demonstrated, at times, the vocal ability to make an entire naval battalion blush.

Martin did his normal thing that night, and it left a lasting impression with those in attendance - enough that when coupled with Martin's gray high school coaching past in Miami, they feel now he isn't worth pursuing despite the larger fanbase's desire for them to do so.

Forget all the talk about coaching salary and basketball budget issues. Forget the fact that Miami currently doesn't even have an athletic director. Is it possible that Miami simply doesn't want Frank Martin, his baggage or his coaching style?

If it is, that would be a tremendous shame.

The Hurricanes have a better-than-you-think roster returning, headlined by the dynamic back court of Durand Johnson and Malcolm Grant. Even if big man Reggie Johnson decides to keep his name in the draft, the next head coach isn't walking into an empty cupboard. Martin has, by far, a better track record than any of the coaches Miami is currently looking at. If he went to Miami and got that team in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid next season, wouldn't it stand to reason that, with his recruiting connections, he would be able to own South Florida? And if he brought assistant coach Dalonte Hill, who has strong recruiting ties in the Washington DC area, Martin might be able to build Miami into a powerhouse program.

That's at least what the fans and the media are thinking.

Miami, apparently, is more worried with their bottom line and their reputation.
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Video of Frank Martin's press conference last night

We all know how intense Frank Martin can get on the sidelines. His glare makes wrestlers in the WWE jealous. There are few coaches who can put the fear of god into a player (or a reporter) like Martin can.

Here's proof:



We already talked about the suspension of Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly and how it epitomizes the lack of leadership this Kansas State team is dealing with.

Perhaps, however, there is a bigger problem here. Take a look at what Jamar Samuels had to say in this column from Jason King:

"I've seen worse," forward Jamar Samuels shrugged. "It didn't affect us."

...

"We'll try that leadership thingy Frank is talking about," Samuels said.

It is not a good thing if Martin's antics are not getting through to his players. It is an even worse sign that Samuels is referring to the leadership Martin has been pining for as "that leadership thingy."

I think it may officially be time to seriously get concerned about Kansas State's potential this season. Am I the only one that doesn't see this getting turned around?
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The suspension of Pullen and Kelly highlights a bigger issue

This post can also be found at Beyond the Arc.

Just minutes before the tip between Kansas State and UNLV at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, word came down that Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly were both to be suspended. Pullen got three games, including Tuesday night's tip, while the length of Kelly's suspension has yet to be determined. Its the second time this season that Kelly has been suspended from the team.

The cause of the suspension revolves around the purchase of clothing at a department store. Apparently, Pullen and Kelly received clothing at a discount price from a woman that works at the store.

"These young men have worked hard to represent themselves and Kansas State in a positive manner," KSU coach Frank Martin said in a brief statement. "Having said that, they made a mistake in judgment and have to pay a price."


Tonight it cost them. Kansas State lost 63-59 to the Rebels in a game where the Wildcats simply could never find any kind of rhythm on the offensive end of the floor. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that losing the best two offensive weapons on a team that doesn't have many of them could yield some ugly results.

And it did. K-State turned the ball over 22 times. They shot 3-12 from three and 14-26 from the line. The 40.4% they shot from the field is much better than one would assume they shot after watching that team try to execute in the half court. And despite all of that, the Wildcats only lost to a good UNLV team by four points.

That should give you an idea of the talent level of this Kansas State team.

The problem is leadership.

The problem is the example being set by the guys that are supposed to be leaders on this team.

"I don't want to hear anything else about leadership about anyone other than the guys on the basketball court," Martin said in a fiery press conference after the loss. "I do not want you to refer any questions again about anybody who was not dressed and in uniform here today."

"Until this team doesn't find that character and that leadership, we're going to continue to flounder around."

There is no way to sugarcoat it -- Pullen and Kelly knew what they were doing was wrong. Its not that they should have known better, its that they did know better and did not care. These players are schooled time and time again about the dangers of accepting gifts. They know how serious the NCAA takes this kind of thing, even if it was as innocent as a female cashier hooking up the two of them one time because she knew who they were and wanted them to like her.

Hey, I was once a broke college student myself. I certainly wouldn't have turned down an offer of a discount on anything, and I probably still wouldn't today. But I also didn't have a basketball scholarship and, potentially, a basketball career that could be put into jeopardy by accepting such an offer.

The lack of leadership was evident on the court the past two games. It was evident every time Pullen struggled to find an open look against Florida on Saturday. It was evident every time Martavious Irving or Nick Russell or Rodney McGruder dribbled into a turnover on Tuesday. It was evident when K-State had no one capable of stepping up and making a big shot.

Denis Clemente may not have been a more talented back court player than Pullen. But he was a better leader. A more natural point guard.

And if this season has proven anything, a more valuable piece to K-State last season than we originally thought.
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