Martin spends summer building his Bears hoops team

SPRINGFIELD, Mo–There’s never an off season in college athletics.

Players are always honing their skills and staying in shape.

At Missouri State, the men’s basketball team is wrapping up its summer program.

After two years away from coaching, Cuonzo Martin has found his whistle and is loving the process of building a team.

It’s a gym full of unfamiliar faces.

More than two dozen athletes working on forming one team.

“For me, the summer time, getting better practices are always good. Games are always good. Just being around the guys, I think that’s very important. I think again with so many new guys, getting to know them. And them getting to know me. I think that’s very important,” said Martin.

The one face you might recognize is Cuonzo Martin.

It’s aged a bit since the last time he was here.

But the 14-year head coach is excited about his second stint at Missouri State.

Martin:”Like anything, like a professor who teaches class. He doesn’t give a final exam on the first day. We’re still teaching the class. Everyday it’s a process to be great. The ball handling, the passing, the shooting, the simplest things are always the best things. The fundamentals of the game, you need those.”

Martin and his new coaching staff is taking advantage of the NCAA rules allowing eight weeks of limited summer practices.

The new group needs to come together.

And this is where that happens.

“For us it’s still the same. You’re coaching young student athletes to the best version of themselves. Everyday it’s a process to be great. Seeking the best version, everyday in the classroom, on the court and in the community,” said Martin.

13 years ago Martin led Mo State to the summit of the Valley, winning the Bears only regular season conference championship.

This is Missouri State’s last dance in the Valley before moving to Conference USA.

It seems only fitting that Cuonzo Martin is back for the farewell tour.

“Of course I’ve had great success in the Valley. We won a conference championship. The Valley is a tremendous league. But it’s life. It’s like anything there’s change. And sometimes change is good. And I think in this case change is probably a good thing,” said Martin.

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