I don't believe I said I'd take him over Walter Clayton. I just said I'll be happy with a Martin for one year if he makes us better. This is the world we live in.
My point is that two years is always preferable to one. Not a deal breaker, of course, but much easier for continuity and staff personnel management.
Agree, as long as our S&C and system gets the best out of each player - which Golden and Co have most definitely proven
He will need to get stronger like Chin. Haugh got pushed around by Tech's and Houston's PFs. It's why I like Chin's game. That kid is strong and physical. Not too many college players can push him around.
Anyone wanting Walter's role is going to have large cajones or delusional. Golden will only hire the former.
I'll trust Golden's evaluation here, but I'm always a bit skeptical of Ivy League transfers. Michigan thought they were getting a stud in Princeton's 6'2, 185 pound PG Jaelin Llewellyn going into the 22-23 season. He had finished fifth in the Ivy League in points per game with 15.7 (38.6% on 3's) the previous season. He really struggled at Michigan. Huge step up from Ivy League to SEC.
Always a risk, but didn't Llewellyn blow out his knee? That, plus a coaching change, may have had something to do with it.
Really like your post and great summation. One edit: Martin with 2 Final Four runs, unless not making the first Final Game negates a ‘run’.
When Golden was hired I said the hope/ expectation should be second weekend. Some years you are down, or you get upset early, some years you make a great run or just have a great team (like this year) But put yourself in a decent position most years and things take care of themselves. Golden actually said the exact same thing in his introductory presser, which was one of the first signs we had the right guy. He gets it.
That sort of became the standard under Donovan. It’s a bit delusional in CBB to expect championships, with it being single elimination. I think the only time I ever thought it “championship or bust” was when the 04’s came back to repeat. Of course you have to be in it to win it. So if a team is pretty consistently feeling like a sweet 16 contender, maybe it all comes together for a final 4 run at the end. Still damn hard to win a ‘ship. Look at our amazing ‘14 team that couldn’t get past UConn, and this final 4 was really anybody’s to take. Smallest possible margins.