Martin Goes To Bat For Player
Cuonzo Martin went to bat for his players this past week, and on Saturday against the Crimson Tide, they repaid the favor. The usually soft spoken Martin publicly pointed out that his center Jarnell Stokes was being treated differently by referees, perhaps due to his sheer strength. He noted that the calls were unequal and put his big man in early foul trouble, causing him to play passive most of the game. Martin stopped there. He did not point out the many moving screens that went uncalled or the separate set of rules concerning slaps at the ball under the basket. He could have and would have been justified. Until the Alabama game, the officiating had been as lopsided as a fat kid on a teeter totter. But against Alabama, the game was called evenly, perhaps due to Martin defending his big man. And in return, his big man played his best game of the season, recording a double double and dominating the paint while leading the Vols to a much needed victory. So here’s to a coach having the guts to stand up for his players. And here’s to players that say if you have my back, then I have yours.