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Friday Afternoon Update - Cuonzo Martin is a busy man

Our new coach is looking good on April Fool's Day:

  • Cuonzo Martin won the Ben Jobe Award as the nation's top minority head coach.  Since we enjoy looking for early validation with our new head coaches, it's noteworthy that Martin won the award from a group of finalists that included Shaka Smart and Anthony Grant.  Here's the official release from UT - congrats to Coach Martin.
  • Mike Griffith has a nice update on Kevin Ware and Chris Jones with quotes from our new coach.  Martin says it's his understanding that Jones no longer wants out of his LOI, but Jones has potential academic issues that could delay/prevent his arrival in Knoxville, which Martin also alludes to.  Stay tuned...
  • Griffith also has an update on the assistant coach situation, with Martin confirming that former Pearl assistant and Appalachian State head coach Houston Fancher is a candidate to remain on staff.  Fancher would provide continuity with the team, while Dane Bradshaw - whose name remains in the mix - would provide continuity with the fanbase.  With the coaches' convention going on right now at the Final Four, we could hear more names pop up through the weekend.