Illinois Flavor at Tennessee

(Indianapolis, IN) – Tennessee’s basketball fortunes are tied to Southern Illinois Values. Friday when the Volunteers take on Michigan in a ‘Sweet Sixteen’ game, the entire coaching staff will be from Illinois. How do ‘midwestern values’ affect a Southeastern Conference team?

You can see it on the cover of their media guide. As Jordan McRae and Jeronne Maymon hold their sledge hammers in a menacing way. Throughout the guide you see other players with the hammer and on the opening page of Head Coach Cuonzo Martin’s bio page you see the quotes “There’s nothing like hard work, guys. I’ve said it from day one. . . hard work. You can’t duplicate it, you can’t negate it and it’s understood. Hard work will will win ballgames. Not many guys want to go hard.”

Martin, an East St. Louis native, graduated after leading Lincoln High School (now closed) to two straight Illinois State Championships. He was named one of “100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.” He went to to play for Gene Keady at Purdue where he learned more about hard work and good values and was an all-Big Ten performer.

Assistants Tracy Webster, Jon Harris and Kent Williams all played the sport at a high level and all have Illinois roots. Webster (Associate Head Coach) starred at Thornton High in Harvey where he was an all state point guard. Webster then excelled at Wisconsin.

Jon Harris was the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” player of the year and first team all state playing for Edwardsville High. He went on to become a two-year captain at Marquette where he finished his career as one of the greatest rebounders in Conference USA history.

Williams was as good a college shooter as I have ever seen. He amassed countless three pointers at Mount Vernon High and moved on the Southern Illinois Carbondale where he was a two-time all-MVC performer and he wrapped up his career as the second leading scorer in Saluki history.

Harris and Williams told me they believe their roots, their similarity and their versatility makes them a unique staff.

All four coaches played in the biggest of games, performed at a very high level in high school, college and there is some professional experience (Martin in the NBA, Europe, etc. & Williams in the NBDL). Webster was a point guard, Williams a shooting guard, Harris more of a defensive, rebounding wing and Martin a force in many ways. They can speak to any kind of situation their Volunteers will see.

If the St. Louis area has an emotional tie to this regional, it would have to be to these Volunteers. Cuonzo Martin epitomizes what we hope the nation sees and respects about our area.

Do Good