Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin gives postgame speech in opposing SFA locker room
Missouri’s 82-81 win over Stephen F. Austin Tuesday was a doozy, with Kassius Robertson recovering from a pair of missed free throws to clinch the win for the Tigers with a dramatic diving steal in the last three seconds of the game.
But Robertson’s heroics weren’t the most remarkable moment from Tuesday’s game.
That came courtesy of Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin via his inspired postgame speech praising players for their defense and effort. A speech he delivered to opposing Stephen F. Austin players in the visiting locker room.
It was a tough loss in Columbia, but Mizzou head coach @CuonzoMartin did something he had never done in his coaching career – enter an opponents locker room. @MizzouHoops, you’ve got the epitome of class leading you. Maybe we’ll see you in March. #AxeEm pic.twitter.com/86IOt2m9D9
— SFA Basketball (@SFA_MBB) December 20, 2017
Can’t say we’ve seen that one before.
It sounds like it’s not common for Martin, who hammered home to the Lumberjacks players that he had never in his career visited an opposing locker room to heap praise on another team.
Martin sounded legitimately inspired, particularly by Stephen F. Austin’s defense.
“You’re the best defense we’ve played all year, Martin said. “The way ya’ll defend. I’m calling coach (Kyle Keller). I’m 100, I need to learn from him.”
The Lumberjacks forced 21 Tigers turnovers with constant ball pressure. They force more than 23 turnovers a game and appear to be a team no power conference team wants to face come March.
They also inspired Martin to give us one of the coolest moments of this young NCAA basketball season.
