Scott Martin Is Not Satan
Dark days for Purdue basketball, Cartel fans, and it could get worse. Two straight losses to start the Big Ten schedule, rival coaches doing the Hambone, underperforming 2009 recruits, injuries to two top players, a horrible slump for last year's team MVP, and now... rumors that, if they prove to be founded, would amount to a death knell for a program on the cusp of joining the super-elite nationally... E'Twaun Moore may be agitating for a transfer!? A heart can only handle so much. Where is Rowdy when we need a smile?
Few would deny that the Boilermakers wouldn't be in this quagmire had Scott Martin stayed. Martin probably would have been the difference between a loss and win in overtime games against Oklahoma and Illinois and the narrow slip-up at Penn State. With him, Purdue would be 14-1 and ranked top-five nationally. Instead, they're on the brink of imploding.
For a number of selfish reasons, it's become fashionable for Knuckleheads to hate, trash, and deny the existence of Martin. I believe the nickname "Knuckleheads" is tongue in cheek, but it seems apropos enough to me because Martin is a nice guy who had good reason to transfer. Let us look at the reasons he's hated, and why he shouldn't be:
1- Scott Martin just transferred because he was totally jealous of Robbie Hummel.
OK, Seriously?
Are you serious? How did this rumor even get started? The sad thing is, it seems like everyone believes it. Does anyone honestly think Scott Martin ever verbalized a feeling like this? Really? Yes, and Nate Minnoy only transferred because he was losing too much weight running all the sprints Coach Painter made them run.
2- Psh, Martin was soft, didn't play hard, and sucked at D anyways.
No, Really, You're not serious.
Just because Martin didn't lay out every time he took a lay-up and come up limping and grimacing for the next 15 seconds doesn't make him soft. No, he wasn't Brian Cardinal, but who besides Hummel and Chris Kramer compare to Cardinal? He battled on the boards, dove for loose balls, and Purdue still managed to rank second in the Big Ten in points allowed per possession with Martin playing 25 minutes per.
3- Martin is so selfish for leaving.
I don't EFFing believe you. You're really, truly glad Scott Martin left?
No, you're selfish for projecting your desires on an 18 year old kid. Martin doesn't owe any of us anything. In fact, his haters were all aware of that whilst drooling on their keyboards the summer he signed. He did Purdue and Matt Painter a favor by coming here in the first place, as do all recruits we offer (in retrospect, it doesn't feel like Kyle Williams was very charitable). Oh, and, were Dan Vandervieren and Jonathan Uchendu selfish for
4- What a traitor for going to Notre Dame.
You're in your fifties and anonymously trashing an 18 year old.
Scott Martin's decision to transfer was rational. He's a very talented basketball player with (arguably) a shot to make the NBA. He came off the bench as a freshman and likely would have again as a sophomore. Due to our lack of depth inside, he spent most of his time late in the season battling inside on the boards. His future position as a professional would surely be on the perimeter. Purdue probably wasn't going to be a place where he could log mega-minutes on the perimeter. He liked living close to home (that's why he chose Purdue). Notre Dame is a major conference program near his hometown. They're a solid program (who've recently produced more NBA players than Purdue). Their coach probably told Martin what he wanted to hear. He transferred to a school he's comfortable with, to a basketball team that better suits him, he's happier today, and he's probably better situated to pursue a career as a basketball player. It makes sense to me. More sense than pandering to the whims middle-aged people who only care about you because you play basketball.
5- Scott Martin? Who's that? Scott Martin doesn't exist.
You're so butthurt. Please please please just shut up.
I wish you didn't exist.
Labels: Billynho, CBB, Purdue, Purdue Basketball, Scott Martin
posted by Billynho @ 2:08 AM
12 Comments
12 Comments:
"E'Twaun Moore may be agitating for a transfer!?"
Where are you hearing this? If you are causing me much worry and sadness for no reason I will do a bicycle drive-by on you, for real this time.
He might as well transfer, we got too many white players to win.
Do I jest (Timothy?)?
Article= nail on the head
Am I missing soemthing? Is Billynho Scott Martin? Cmon man.
No and we've never spoken (though, full disclosure, I used to work close to the team). He might recognize me, but I'm definitely not him and he has no idea who I am. I'd probably say the same thing about E'Twaun if he does transfer (though his reasons would be a little harder to place) if people are unfair on him.
We've had guys who went to Purdue and committed some horrible acts that everyone supported. I'm cool with that, but don't villainize a good guy who had his reasons.
i wish you didn't exist....
just kidding b!
Tim here...one thing you failed to mention was the stories that kept running last year about Martin having homesickness. So rumours of him leaving for Valpo were already running before season's end. Then when he chose ND it didn't make sense. If Martin had stated a specific reason we could move on...give us some closure! Reasons I think fans would reject...more play time (uh ND has just as much talent), homesick (almost equidistant from home), and jealous (grow up). Acceptable reasons...the team didn't fit his play style, Painter or players were rubbing him the wrong way, or he wanted to hang with college football superstar J-Claw.
J Claw!!!
Dude was injured and was pushed to come back from "injury" sooner than he was comfortable doing so. Dude was wanting to start - Hummel was better and started in his place. Dude was crying because he did not get his minutes - he ain't getting anymore at ND. Dude made a bad decision - flat out - Moore could do the same because he just can't take it. What is it with these spoiled kids? Painter wants to win PERIOD. If you don't want to be pushed to win don't play at Purdue. You think Duke and UNC coaches don't push their kids all day and all night to do the right thing, play hard, stay out of trouble? You ever seen the stories about Coach Wooden from Purdue and UCLA? He was a very, very, very strict guy and his players hated him and later loved him for it. He was so strict that players actually had to cut their hair! I can't imagine that in today's players. But the teams that win and win consistently get the best players that are disciplined at home and at school too.
Scott Martin is not the missing link. Purdue won at Madison last year without him. The team just needs to get healthy and shoot better. That is the difference.
martin was going to be really good. i think you're right in saying we'd have one loss, and i do think we'd be a final four squad with him.
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