Former Morehead State coach and current WKYT Channel 27 General Manager Wayne Martin served as a honorary coach with Joe B. Hall and Denny Crum Monday night at Rupp Arena. (Photo by Glenn Morris) |
LEXINGTON — Wayne Martin got a taste of coaching again.
It didn't take the former Morehead State men's basketball coach and Winchester native long to get back into the swing of things in front of a packed house at Rupp Arena Monday night.
Martin clearly had the best seat in the house in an exhibition game featuring the Kentucky Pros and the Dominican Republic national team. Martin was seated between retired University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Joe B. Hall and former University of Louisville coach Denny Crum on the Pros team bench.
“Just sitting between Joe Hall, Denny Crum and just being in (Rupp Arena) was pretty special for me,” Martin, general manager at WKYT-Channel 27 in Lexington said afterward. “The (players) were all respectful, and it was special event for me to be a part of.”
Martin, along with Hall and Crum, served as an honorary coaches for the Kentucky Pros team, made of former University of Kentucky standouts now playing in the NBA. Although just an exhibition — a 106-88 victory for the Dominican team — Martin admitted the competitive juices were prevaliant throughout the contest.
“Nobody likes to lose,” Martin said with a smile afterward. “I don't care of its a pickup game or an exhibition game. It was frustrating at times, when our kids didn't get back on defense as well, and didn't guard as well.”
Martin also noticed the intensity of Hall during a shoot-around on Monday morning.
“I'm telling you, he was putting in a low-post offense and reminding DeMarcus Cousins that he needed to stay around the basket and not stand out at the three-point line,” Martin said. “He was into it.”
Crum also was back into past form.
“Coach Crum has a completely different demeanor,” he said. “But, he was always communicating.”
Martin never coached against Hall, but lost to Crum three times, including a loss to the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament in 1984. Martin considered joining Hall's staff at Kentucky in 1983, but stayed at Morehead State.
Hall and Crum were once considered “bitter rivals,” but Martin said the two longtime coaches share a unique friendship in retirement. The pair host the “Joe B. and Denny” radio show Monday-Friday, a partnership forged by the late Dick Robinson.
“They have a lot in common,” he said. “Their hobbies are fishing and hunting. They get along really well.”
Martin's squad featured former University of Kentucky standouts John Wall, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, Jodie Meeks, Tayshaun Prince, Eric Bledsoe, Keith Bogans and Nazr Mohammed.
The squad featured more talent that Martin ever coached in his tenure as a college coach at Pikeville College and Morehead State.
“I only coached two guys who went on and played in the NBA and I had several who played in Europe, but that was a special collection of talent there and it speaks well of them to come back and play this game,” he said.
Martin was pleased to see Cousins display the same demeanor he displayed during his lone season at Kentucky and liked the way Meeks conducted himself.
“I don't think anybody plays with as much passion as DeMarcus Cousins,” he said. “Jodie Meeks is just an absolute gentleman. The entire time he was on the floor, he was playing hard defensively and playing hard offensively.”
Martin was equally impressed with the Dominican Republic squad.
“Kids that play as a team, play with a passion for their country,” Martin said of the Dominican Republic squad, led by current University of Kentucky coach John Calipari. “Seven times out of 10, that cohesiveness and that passion will beat eight individuals. They had been practicing for three weeks and it showed. They are playing for a purpose and the pros were entertaining and they were entertaining.”
Martin enjoyed the experience, but doesn't plan on stepping back into coaching any time soon.
“This was my swan song,” he said with a smile. “I don't if I can find another opportunity with that kind of atmosphere. So I think this one will be a good one to leave on.”
It didn't take the former Morehead State men's basketball coach and Winchester native long to get back into the swing of things in front of a packed house at Rupp Arena Monday night.
Martin clearly had the best seat in the house in an exhibition game featuring the Kentucky Pros and the Dominican Republic national team. Martin was seated between retired University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Joe B. Hall and former University of Louisville coach Denny Crum on the Pros team bench.
“Just sitting between Joe Hall, Denny Crum and just being in (Rupp Arena) was pretty special for me,” Martin, general manager at WKYT-Channel 27 in Lexington said afterward. “The (players) were all respectful, and it was special event for me to be a part of.”
Martin, along with Hall and Crum, served as an honorary coaches for the Kentucky Pros team, made of former University of Kentucky standouts now playing in the NBA. Although just an exhibition — a 106-88 victory for the Dominican team — Martin admitted the competitive juices were prevaliant throughout the contest.
“Nobody likes to lose,” Martin said with a smile afterward. “I don't care of its a pickup game or an exhibition game. It was frustrating at times, when our kids didn't get back on defense as well, and didn't guard as well.”
Martin also noticed the intensity of Hall during a shoot-around on Monday morning.
“I'm telling you, he was putting in a low-post offense and reminding DeMarcus Cousins that he needed to stay around the basket and not stand out at the three-point line,” Martin said. “He was into it.”
Crum also was back into past form.
“Coach Crum has a completely different demeanor,” he said. “But, he was always communicating.”
Martin never coached against Hall, but lost to Crum three times, including a loss to the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament in 1984. Martin considered joining Hall's staff at Kentucky in 1983, but stayed at Morehead State.
Hall and Crum were once considered “bitter rivals,” but Martin said the two longtime coaches share a unique friendship in retirement. The pair host the “Joe B. and Denny” radio show Monday-Friday, a partnership forged by the late Dick Robinson.
“They have a lot in common,” he said. “Their hobbies are fishing and hunting. They get along really well.”
Martin's squad featured former University of Kentucky standouts John Wall, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, Jodie Meeks, Tayshaun Prince, Eric Bledsoe, Keith Bogans and Nazr Mohammed.
The squad featured more talent that Martin ever coached in his tenure as a college coach at Pikeville College and Morehead State.
“I only coached two guys who went on and played in the NBA and I had several who played in Europe, but that was a special collection of talent there and it speaks well of them to come back and play this game,” he said.
Martin was pleased to see Cousins display the same demeanor he displayed during his lone season at Kentucky and liked the way Meeks conducted himself.
“I don't think anybody plays with as much passion as DeMarcus Cousins,” he said. “Jodie Meeks is just an absolute gentleman. The entire time he was on the floor, he was playing hard defensively and playing hard offensively.”
Martin was equally impressed with the Dominican Republic squad.
“Kids that play as a team, play with a passion for their country,” Martin said of the Dominican Republic squad, led by current University of Kentucky coach John Calipari. “Seven times out of 10, that cohesiveness and that passion will beat eight individuals. They had been practicing for three weeks and it showed. They are playing for a purpose and the pros were entertaining and they were entertaining.”
Martin enjoyed the experience, but doesn't plan on stepping back into coaching any time soon.
“This was my swan song,” he said with a smile. “I don't if I can find another opportunity with that kind of atmosphere. So I think this one will be a good one to leave on.”
