Was Cuonzo Martin Set up to Fail by Vols as Head Coach of Tennessee Basketball?

Oct 22, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl speaks with the media during the SEC media day at the Ballantyne Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruce Pearl Effect

When Cuonzo Martin stepped foot on campus in Knoxville, Tennessee basketball had just enjoyed its most successful six-year run in the history of the program.

An SEC Championship, the school’s first No. 1 ranking, a tournament appearance every year, the school’s first ever Elite Eight appearance, the school’s first ever 30-win season, and constant national exposure had fans in love with the person who made it all responsible: Bruce Pearl.

Martin was in the unfortunate position of following Pearl, whom many believe, myself included, never should have been fired in the first place. He lied about a violation that is no longer even a violation.

And had Mike Hamilton had any guts, by all accounts he could have beaten the NCAA in the sanctions they were threatening the Vols with by fighting just a little bit. But he caved and fired Pearl, completely dividing the fan base.

Not only was Pearl energetic off the court and wildly successful. His style of play on the court was wildly exciting. Tennessee fans fell in love with the up-tempo basketball, the constant pressing, and the quick shots in transition.

With his quiet demeanor to contrast Pearl and his boring, half-court man-to-man defense that he runs, Martin was already behind the eight-ball in keeping Vols fans energetic.

Those two NIT appearances that followed only made things worse.

The petition to fire him came in his third year, and it was when he looked destined for a third straight NIT appearance at the time. Pearl’s show-cause was ending, and there appeared to be no good reason not to bring him back.

Fans were not as much against Martin as they were for Pearl coming back. Maybe it was a bit too emotional. Maybe it was jumping the gun.

But if you understood the way Pearl was viewed as the savior of Tennessee basketball only to be forced out for something that is no longer even a violation, you would see why fans wanted him back so badly.

Next: Final Verdict