The first name that popped into my head when I thought of a replacement at Missouri for Mike Anderson was Cuonzo Martin at Missouri State. After just three season, he took the Bears from worst to first during the regular season. Martin released a statement, regarding rumors.
“Nobody from Missouri has contacted me or my agent, so anything connecting me to that position at this point is simply a rumor. My priorities continue to be with Missouri State and building a championship program here.”
Martin is finishing his first year of a guaranteed five year contract extension that he received after his second season which saw the Bears win the CIT, a post-season tournament for schools not picked in for the NCAA or NIT. Those extra tournament games paid off this year as the Bears finished with 29 wins and their first regular season title in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Bears were the number one seed for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and were one possession, one shot away from possibly winning, until a ball was dribbled off a foot, which gave Indiana State the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Missouri State was the first MVC team since 1997 to win the regular season title and not go to the Big Dance.
Martin is 61-41 in three seasons.
