Frank Martin has been counted out plenty of times. So have his teams.
He wasn't supposed to be successful as a head coach at Kansas State, not after Bob Huggins abruptly left to coach his alma mater, West Virginia. Martin wasn't supposed to be able to recruit to the middle of Kansas, or win games after Michael Beasley and Bill Walker were gone.
Martin's gotten quite good at doing what nobody said was possible.
He'll get another shot this year.
The Wildcats have won more than 20 games each of his first four seasons, including a school-record 29 wins two years ago, and went 23-11 with another NCAA tournament appearance last season. But those teams had Jacob Pullen, the school's most prolific scorer, running the show. Pullen is gone now, and there are murmurs once again that Martin won't be able to sustain the success.
''Jacob was great, and he'll continue to be great. I mean, heck, he's the leading scorer in the history of Kansas State basketball,'' Martin said. ''He's helped us win a lot of games, but you know how else he helped us? Helped prepare those guys after him for when it was their turn.''
More than just win a few games, Martin has accomplished something else that few thought possible a few years ago: He's re-built a program with a long history of success that had fallen dormant.
Before Huggins arrived in 2006 and took Kansas State to the NIT, the program hadn't reached the postseason since the 1998-99 season. Before Martin took over and led the Wildcats to an NCAA bid in his first season, the school hadn't played in the big tournament since 1996.
They've been a staple the past four seasons, and Martin sees no reason why it can't be five.
''I mean, that's never easy, you know? But how difficult was it to replace Mike Beasley three years ago? How difficult was it to replace Bill Walker? How difficult was it to replace Jason Maxiell when we were at Cincinnati?'' Martin said. ''Those are the things you've got to deal with.''
Pullen averaged more than 20 points last season, and played more than 32 minutes per game. But more than the raw statistics, what Pullen contributed in terms of leadership was most critical.
Need a big shot at the end of the game? Pullen took it. Need someone to make clutch free throws to seal a win? Pullen hit at a 77 percent rate. Need someone to distribute the ball? Well, Pullen led the team in assists, too.
''We're not dependent on one guy anymore,'' said junior guard Rodney McGruder, the team's leading returning scorer. ''Let's be honest: Last year we really depended on Jake a lot. The ball was in Jake's hand for 90 percent of every possession. This season we're looking forward to everyone bringing something to the table.''
McGruder is poised to take over as Kansas State's go-to guy.
The long, lean shooting guard played more than 30 minutes a game last season, but was wildly inconsistent. He scored 22 points at Texas and 20 against Oklahoma, but also was held scoreless by Texas A&M and managed just three points against Iowa State and Florida earlier in the year.
Jamar Samuels will team with McGruder to form a potent inside-outside combination.
The 6-foot-7 senior from Washington, D.C., averaged 11 points as a sophomore but regressed last season, averaging just 8.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. Much of that is traced to foul trouble: Samuels fouled out of three games and picked up at least four fouls in a dozen, dramatically cutting down on his minutes and taking one of Kansas State's best inside threats off the floor.
Gritty guard Will Spradling and 7-footer Jordan Henriquez are also back, and they're joined by a recruiting class that includes a couple transfers who could have an immediate impact.
Jeremy Jones, a speedy shooting guard from Seward County Community College, has drawn rave reviews already in practice. Omari Lawrence, who began his career at St. John's, should also help out in the backcourt after spending last season at Cloud County Community College. And freshman Angel Rodriguez could help fill the void left by Pullen at the point.
Even if no one player can accomplish that, enough guys chipping in should come close.
''It's their turn,'' Martin said. ''That's why I'm so anxious to get out there, because I know those guys are ready to do it.''
