USC’s basketball team has gained a new star member, not in the form of a player, but a new coach. The first game of the season Sunday night marked the beginning of the “Frank Martin era”, and it’s proving to be an interesting one so far.
Coming from Kansas State, Martin may be just what USC’s notoriously poor-performing team needs to win. An animated coach with a fiery personality, Martin remained animated and fiery throughout the game and into overtime, as USC came back from a 17-point deficit to win against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His enthusiasm for his job is apparent, even bribing USC students to come out to the first game by promising free hot dogs and drinks. Martin intends to revamp USC basketball, and though Sunday’s win wasn’t incredibly impressive, it showcased a more exciting, up-tempo and gritty style of basketball.
While it might be a couple more years before USC basketball gains any fame in the SEC, our team needs as much of our support as our football and baseball teams receive now. Sunday night saw an unusually energetic, towel-twirling student crowd, and there’s no reason we shouldn’t be excited about supporting our basketball team all through this season, especially when the coach himself is so invested in trying to get us out there.
So let’s continue being loyal Gamecocks fans and be there to cheer on our basketball team. If nothing else, go just to watch Frank Martin.
Win or lose, he’ll guarantee a good show — even if our team doesn’t.