Well-wishers spotted Frank Martin at Augusta National on Thursday and thanked the South Carolina basketball coach for an unexpected run to the Final Four.
Martin appreciated it but said the 77-73 semifinal loss to Gonzaga made it tough to relish what the Gamecocks accomplished. He said he didn’t watch a moment of North Carolina’s victory over Gonzaga in the title game.
“I’m a huge fan of basketball,” Martin said, “but once my season ends, I tend to separate a little bit.”
Martin, a first-time visitor to the Masters, goes way back with new Illinois coach Brad Underwood, who assisted Martin at Kansas State and South Carolina.
Asked what Illini fans can expect, Martin told the Tribune: “A whole lot of fun. He’s a community man, not (just) a basketball coach. He will get in the communities and engage.
“Champaign being a smaller town … Brad grew up in small-town USA. So he won’t wait around for people to come to him. He will reach out to people and make them feel welcomed to be a part of Illinois basketball.”
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