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SAN ANTONIO – In April 2023, Alijah Martin’s stunning magic carpet ride came to an abrupt halt.
As an eight seed, Martin and Florida Atlantic went all the way to the Final Four in Houston. There, though, they suffered a heartbreaking, buzzer beating shot courtesy of Lamont Butler and San Diego State.
For most college players, that shot at glory would be their last.
Two years later and 200 miles west, Martin is back at the Final Four. This week, he’s offered Florida basketball a unique and needed insight into playing on the sport’s biggest stage. In the process, he’s hoping to gain some vengeance and win it all in his fifth season of college basketball.
Last season was far from an easy one in Boca Raton. The Owls struggled at times under the weight of the expectations set a year prior. Their egos and pride grew bigger. The target on their back larger.
“We fought man because that’s human nature. Things that you got to fight,” Martin said. “It definitely built us for the ongoing years and how to deal with success.”
After a first-round loss, coach Dusty May departed for Michigan, and it became open season on the Owls top players. Martin entered the transfer portal, and when Florida made its pitch, it came with a PowerPoint presentation, which Martin liked.
“I'm a big visual guy, and if I could see the potential, I'm all about it,” Martin said. “I knew my impact, and I knew what I could bring to this team, and I just trusted Golden.”
Immediately, Martin clicked with his new guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. The three hold massive experience, but at four different schools.
Martin said he played with Richard and Clayton when he stepped onto campus and felt each other out.
“Ever since then, we've been going out to eat together, hanging out at each other like we always been around each other,” Martin said.
Richard said their connection was helped by a shared goal: To win.
Fellow guard Denzel Aberdeen said Martin’s reminded the team of that mission throughout the season, especially during the dog days of January and February.
“His vocal aspect, his dog mentality. He pushes each day in practice. He's never had a day where he's been down or not having a good day, like he's going to bring in on defensive and offense.”
All in all, Aberdeen believes the winning culture that Martin cultivated brings Florida together.
Gators coach Todd Golden agrees. He said Martin’s addition raised the program to another level.
“For individual players in the way they compete,” Golden said. “He does a great job of creating that expectation within our program on a day-to-day basis.”
That isn’t to say Martin is all serious. He’s known for being one of the biggest trash talkers on the team. He says it’s all random, but one instance comes to mind.
“Let’s say you get a bucket, and I’ll say, ‘all right, do that all game,”’ Martin said. “The last two minutes of the game, it’s not the same no more.”
Golden was asked about Martin’s trash talking, and he mostly refused to commit. He noted, though, that the players call him “Crash Out” for a reason.
“He really gets after it, has a great sense of competition and mentality,” Golden said.
In some many ways, Martin’s presence this week gives Florida an advantage over other teams. Auburn has no players who have played in a Final Four. Florida, of course, besides Martin does not. Golden have never won an NCAA tournament game prior to this season.
But Martin is the first player to start for two Final Four teams. He admits he could have been more locked in two years ago in Houston. This time around, he won’t make that mistake, especially since all four teams here are No. 1 seeds.
Shooting wise, the idea of playing in a domed stadium has worried many Florida fans since Florida is a three-point heavy team. Martin has encouraged the team to shoot outside.
“Shoot on an outside court at night, just for the backdrop,” Martin said. “That's the only thing that's closest to playing in the NFL stadium.”
Center Micah Handlogten referenced that Butler buzzer beater two years ago and that the squad wants revenge for him. Martin himself said he doesn’t like to talk about it too much, adding he wants to create new memories. He admitted, though, that the game provides motivation.
“We want to go out there and we want to win for him. Just seeing him and seeing his reaction to it, how much it kills him inside that they lost that game,” Handlogten said.
Martin didn’t play in the Gators win at Auburn on February 8, but he still holds familiarity with one Tiger – Denver Jones. Like Martin, Jones spent his first few years in South Florida – at Florida International.
In a January 2023 game in Miami, Jones scored 25 vs. the Owls in an FAU overtime win.
Martin’s quick impact doesn’t surprise Jones. He guarded him one-on-one numerous times and said he’s been this strong for years.
In that January game, the crowd at FIU was under 2,500. Saturday, 70,000 people will be in the stands. Jones can’t believe the turn his college career has taken. He figures Martin feels the same.
“We’ll talk to each other after the game,” Jones said.
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at [email protected] and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball benefitting from Alijah Martin's experience in Final Four
Continue reading...
As an eight seed, Martin and Florida Atlantic went all the way to the Final Four in Houston. There, though, they suffered a heartbreaking, buzzer beating shot courtesy of Lamont Butler and San Diego State.
For most college players, that shot at glory would be their last.
Two years later and 200 miles west, Martin is back at the Final Four. This week, he’s offered Florida basketball a unique and needed insight into playing on the sport’s biggest stage. In the process, he’s hoping to gain some vengeance and win it all in his fifth season of college basketball.
A presentation gets the ball rolling
Last season was far from an easy one in Boca Raton. The Owls struggled at times under the weight of the expectations set a year prior. Their egos and pride grew bigger. The target on their back larger.
“We fought man because that’s human nature. Things that you got to fight,” Martin said. “It definitely built us for the ongoing years and how to deal with success.”
After a first-round loss, coach Dusty May departed for Michigan, and it became open season on the Owls top players. Martin entered the transfer portal, and when Florida made its pitch, it came with a PowerPoint presentation, which Martin liked.
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“I'm a big visual guy, and if I could see the potential, I'm all about it,” Martin said. “I knew my impact, and I knew what I could bring to this team, and I just trusted Golden.”
An immediate chemistry
Immediately, Martin clicked with his new guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. The three hold massive experience, but at four different schools.
Martin said he played with Richard and Clayton when he stepped onto campus and felt each other out.
“Ever since then, we've been going out to eat together, hanging out at each other like we always been around each other,” Martin said.
Richard said their connection was helped by a shared goal: To win.
Fellow guard Denzel Aberdeen said Martin’s reminded the team of that mission throughout the season, especially during the dog days of January and February.
“His vocal aspect, his dog mentality. He pushes each day in practice. He's never had a day where he's been down or not having a good day, like he's going to bring in on defensive and offense.”
All in all, Aberdeen believes the winning culture that Martin cultivated brings Florida together.
Gators coach Todd Golden agrees. He said Martin’s addition raised the program to another level.
“For individual players in the way they compete,” Golden said. “He does a great job of creating that expectation within our program on a day-to-day basis.”
That isn’t to say Martin is all serious. He’s known for being one of the biggest trash talkers on the team. He says it’s all random, but one instance comes to mind.
“Let’s say you get a bucket, and I’ll say, ‘all right, do that all game,”’ Martin said. “The last two minutes of the game, it’s not the same no more.”
Golden was asked about Martin’s trash talking, and he mostly refused to commit. He noted, though, that the players call him “Crash Out” for a reason.
“He really gets after it, has a great sense of competition and mentality,” Golden said.
Alijah Martin’s invaluable experience
In some many ways, Martin’s presence this week gives Florida an advantage over other teams. Auburn has no players who have played in a Final Four. Florida, of course, besides Martin does not. Golden have never won an NCAA tournament game prior to this season.
But Martin is the first player to start for two Final Four teams. He admits he could have been more locked in two years ago in Houston. This time around, he won’t make that mistake, especially since all four teams here are No. 1 seeds.
Shooting wise, the idea of playing in a domed stadium has worried many Florida fans since Florida is a three-point heavy team. Martin has encouraged the team to shoot outside.
“Shoot on an outside court at night, just for the backdrop,” Martin said. “That's the only thing that's closest to playing in the NFL stadium.”
Center Micah Handlogten referenced that Butler buzzer beater two years ago and that the squad wants revenge for him. Martin himself said he doesn’t like to talk about it too much, adding he wants to create new memories. He admitted, though, that the game provides motivation.
“We want to go out there and we want to win for him. Just seeing him and seeing his reaction to it, how much it kills him inside that they lost that game,” Handlogten said.
Facing a familiar foe in Denver Jones
Martin didn’t play in the Gators win at Auburn on February 8, but he still holds familiarity with one Tiger – Denver Jones. Like Martin, Jones spent his first few years in South Florida – at Florida International.
In a January 2023 game in Miami, Jones scored 25 vs. the Owls in an FAU overtime win.
Martin’s quick impact doesn’t surprise Jones. He guarded him one-on-one numerous times and said he’s been this strong for years.
In that January game, the crowd at FIU was under 2,500. Saturday, 70,000 people will be in the stands. Jones can’t believe the turn his college career has taken. He figures Martin feels the same.
“We’ll talk to each other after the game,” Jones said.
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at [email protected] and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball benefitting from Alijah Martin's experience in Final Four
Continue reading...
