K-State’s Martin knows major scrutiny will come this season

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. | The question bothered Frank Martin because he didn’t have an immediate answer.

After the Wildcats had defeated Southern California in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Martin was asked if he felt vindicated.

You know, the hits K-State absorbed for elevating an assistant who had no Division I head coaching experience, whose top credential was largely seen as the ability to keep Michael Beasley and Bill Walker in purple jerseys, who was fired from his high school job.

How did it feel, Martin was asked in the aftermath of the victory over the higher-seeded Trojans, to throw it all back in his critics’ faces? But Martin couldn’t find the words. He hadn’t connected with the idea that K-State’s best postseason occasion in decades was his personal triumph.

“A week went by, and I was still thinking about that question,” Martin said during the annual Big 12 spring meeting. “I like to give answers, and I didn’t have one then.”

Eventually it came to Martin, and here is what he would have said that day before the Wildcats met Wisconsin in the second round.

“I never in my life worried about the people who think I’m not good enough or the right person,” Martin said. “I’ve always worried about the people who believe in me.”

Those thoughts keep Martin motivated in what should be a second season even more challenging than his first. No Beasley and perhaps no Walker. The roster will have talent, but Martin’s program will become a curiosity for a different reason.

How will Martin deal with expectations and then shape a team without the player who is expected to be taken first or second in June’s NBA draft?

“Us succeeding is important to so many people because our fans care so much,” Martin said. “That’s the way it should be.”

Change has come rapidly at K-State. Longtime administrator Bob Krause succeeded Tim Weiser as athletic director. Beasley and Walker declared for the NBA draft. President Jon Wefald announced his resignation. Martin signed his contract.

It means Martin is building the 2008-09 roster in a construction zone, wondering like everybody else whether Walker will be part of it. “It takes pro players to win in the Big 12,” Martin said. Losing Walker would make K-State two down in that department.

“It’s a heckava lot easier with guys like Bill on your team,” Martin said. “But we’re building a program, not coaching a player. I like to think we’re further along as a program than we were two years ago, and it’s not based on one or two players but on a complete program upgrade.

“What we did this past year hopefully will continue to give us credibility as a program. Hey, if K-State’s a good program for Michael Beasley, it’s got to be a pretty good place for somebody else.”