MARCH 2010: Coaches are like mad scientists. They collect ingredients to make the perfect potion, then discover part way through their experiment they ran out of “eye of newt” or their “toe of frog” has a torn ligament. The most successful scientists—and coaches—are the ones who adjust their formulas best to fit their ingredients. It doesn’t hurt to have plenty of quality ingredients on the shelves to substitute into the potion.
Kansas State head coach Frank Martin has emerged as one of the best in the business in getting his mixture to work. While those who watch him casually will say he’s “mad,” he’s actually quite calculated with his approach.

“It’s the same thing we tried to implement the first two years,” he said. “We’re not changing our style. We’ve just got to get better in our style. Our players have a better understanding of it. We’re going to keep attacking on defense. I think our size and athleticism on the front line defensively should make us better, because we have more guys who can contest at the rim, which is important for how we try to defend.

“Our assistants have been able to go out and recruit guys who can better prepare us to succeed in that style. We’ve got to have balance. We’re improving, but so is everybody in the Big 12. It’s not that we’re moving forward and everyone else is moving backward. It’s a grind. If you want to compete in the Big 12 you have to recruit at a higher level.”

Prior to the season, Martin’s Wildcats were picked fourth in the Big 12 poll, behind Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Heading into March, the Wildcats are in solid second place, having beaten both Texas and Oklahoma.

They have clinched a fourth straight first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament at Sprint Center. If the Wildcats are a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, it would be their highest seed since seeding began in 1979. The previous best was a No. 4 seed in 1988 when they lost to Kansas in the Midwest Regional final.

Martin’s formula is not a secret one. He is using one most coaches use, and he has the ingredients to make it work. There are several keys to putting together a Final Four team: playing your best ball late in the season, good guards, a physical front line and senior leadership.

After losing on Jan. 30 at home to Kansas, the Wildcats went 7-0 in February. Four victories were on the road and won the seven by an average of 12.6 points.

The Wildcats have excellent guard play, led by Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente. Clemente scored 44 points at Texas last year and has put together a hot streak again during the conference season. Pullen leads the Wildcats in scoring, steals, free throws made, free throws attempted and free-throw percentage, and is the team’s vocal leader.

“Last year (Pullen and Clemente) grew tremendously as players,” Martin said. “The part I was the proudest of for those two guys is the way they made their personalities grow on the team. I don’t think there’s a better indication than when we started the Big 12 season 0-4 (in 2009). Those two guys were the spirit of our team. They were willing to embrace those possibilities and to take the chance. They gave us a chance. At the end of the season, we went out to San Diego State and didn’t play well in the second half and got beat. They didn’t go home and cry to mom or feel sorry for themselves. They got right back in the gym and made themselves better and stronger.”

Kansas coach Bill Self said Pullen “is one of the most improved players in the country.”
“He came here as a pretty cool guy, but he’s one of the premier guards out there,” Self said. “I think he’s really good.”

Pullen was in double figures in all 28 games heading into March.

The Wildcats have backcourt depth. When the Wildcats beat the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns, Pullen (12) and Clemente (5) combined for 17 points). But Rodney McGruder added 11 points and seven rebounds. McGruder, Nick Russell and Martavious Irving are all freshmen making an impact at the guard position.

The Cats also have a strong front line. Three returnees are bolstered by three key newcomers. Senior Luis Colon starts at center. He doesn’t stuff the stat sheet, but he is one of the more physical players at 6-10, 265. He’s joined in the starting lineup
by Dominique Sutton, a defensive specialist with great explosiveness. When the opposition’s top offensive player needs to be shut down, Martin calls on Sutton to do the honors. Recently, Sutton has found his offensive game. He had a season-high 21 points against Nebraska.
Jamar Samuels is in his third year in the program, but after red-shirting his first year, he’s just a sophomore. He’s got to be the front-runner for the Big 12’s Sixth Man of the Year. He’s third on the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game. Plus he’s hitting nearly 60 percent of his field goals, including better than 37 percent from three-point range.

The three newcomers are freshmen Wally Judge, a McDonald’s All-American, 7-footer Jordan Enriquez-Roberts and transfer Curtis Kelly. Judge has come on of late, but he’s still averaging just 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Enriquez-Roberts needs to add some muscle, but when he’s on, he’s an intimidating shot blocker.

The biggest addition has been Kelly. He was a five-star recruit out of high school when he signed at Connecticut. But he averaged just 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in his first two years and wanted out. Kelly has made big contributions, albeit in streaks.

He averages 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and is a shot blocker.

“When I saw Curt play in high school I thought he was a pro,” Martin said. “He went to UConn and things didn’t work out. The reason I decided to take him was in the recruiting process, never once did he lead me to believe that Jim Calhoun and UConn had anything to do with his lack of success there. He accepted that responsibility. That told me who is as a person. Since he’s been on our campus, he’s been phenomenal. He’s worked his tail off. He’s in line to get his degree in May. He’s lost 30 pounds. He gives us a presence at the rim, both on offense and defense. He’s been great.”

Kelly appreciates the opportunity.

“I came from nothing,” Kelly said. “I was so down and so sad (at Connecticut). To come here and contribute and be a part of a family is a dream come true. I just owe a lot to Frank for getting me here.”

Only Clemente, Colon and defensive specialist Chris Merriewether are seniors, but the Wildcats are an experienced team. Four starters are 22 or older and the fifth, Pullen, is in his third year as a starter. But the man in the lab coat has plenty of youthful ingredients as well.

At one point in the second half of the overtime loss to Kansas, the Wildcats had three freshmen, a sophomore and a senior in the lineup. It wasn’t because the upperclassmen needed a break. It wasn’t because of foul trouble. At that point Martin felt Judge, McGruder, Irving, Samuels and Clemente gave his team the best chance to do what he wanted them to do.

“That was a great game. I don’t think we played great,” Self said. “I don’t think it’s possible to play great as hard as K-State plays.”

Mike Anderson agreed, citing the Wildcats’ prowess on the defensive end. “That’s a good defensive team,” he said after K-State held his Tigers to 31.7 percent from the field in a 63-53 Cats win.

“We’re going to play hard,” Martin said. “That’s not an option for us.”

They can play hard for a full game because of depth. There are 10 different Wildcats averaging double-figures in minutes.

So how will Martin’s concoction turn out? Some say their season might end with One Shining Moment.

“Kansas State has Final Four potential,” television announcer Jay Bilas said. “Everybody in the top 20 has Final Four potential. It’s very much like 2006, when Florida won its first title.
I don’t recall a great rush to say that Florida was the team to beat. There are no great teams this year. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some really good ones, like Kansas State. If you keep getting better, there’s no reason you can’t be there at the end.”

The expectations are growing in Manhattan. While the 2007-08 Wildcats had Michael Beasley, this year’s team is better. They expect to go far into March.

“This is the most athletic team I’ve had, by far.” Martin said. “It’s the most balanced, deepest and most athletic team we’ve had since I’ve been at K-State and possibly since I’ve been in college basketball.”He’s not mad, mad, I tell you. Not mad. Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha."