'Totally different team': What Missouri State basketball coach changed after disappointing season

Cuonzo Martin doesn't want to talk about last year too much.

Who can blame him? He thought before the season that the Bears would finish in the top half of the Missouri Valley Conference, and instead had one of the worst seasons in the program's history.

It didn't take a basketball savant to recognize that the Bears lacked the talent necessary to win at a high level. It's why Martin only brought back three players for the team's first venture into Conference USA.

"You have to coach your team to the best of your ability," Martin said. "Last year was great because you're constantly learning, you're constantly studying, taking notes, and you're always building as a coach. I like where we're at right now; that's in the past and in the wind, for all I'm concerned."

Martin is in the third week of practices of his second season during his second stint as the Missouri State men's basketball coach. The 9-23 finish in 2024-25 is a far cry from the 2010-11 season when he led the Bears to their lone MVC regular-season championship, finishing 28-9 and with an NIT appearance.

Martin pressed the reset button, nearly overhauling the roster. He only brought back Michael Osei-Bonsu, Zaxton King, and Logan Epes, three hard-working, tough-minded Martin-type players. He also added 11 newcomers, ranging from an Australian semi-professional freshman to JUCO and Division I and II transfers.

The coach believes this year's roster will more closely resemble one that reflects his coaching style.

"These guys are similar to my DNA, so to speak," Martin said. "There's a toughness level and a grit to them, and a togetherness. You look for talent, and I think we have a lot of parts that are going to help us win games — we have size, we have shooting, and we have all the parts. Now we have to bring them together."

When briefly observing the Bears' Wednesday practice, it's apparent that they have improved in terms of athleticism, while combining it with longer, more athletic body types. North Dakota transfer Amar Kuljuhovic, at 6-foot-8, is a prime example of a taller, more versatile player than the Bears had the year before.

Even Osei-Bonsu, the Bears' primary big last year, has adjusted his body to improve his athleticism, which was showcased through his lateral movement. Martin sees scenarios in which Osei-Bonsu brings the ball up the court.

The returning players complimented the early play of Truman State transfer Kobi Williams, a 6-foot-4 guard, as well as Georgia Tech transfer Darrion Sutton and his potential as a 6-foot-8 wing. Freshmen Trey Williams and Melakih Cunningham have also turned heads, in what should be a deeper backcourt alongside King, who started every game for the Bears last season.

It's early, but there's a much different feeling within the Bears' locker room now than just a few months back when the 2024-25 season came to its merciful end. There is little doubt that the Bears will head into their first season in Conference USA confident that they're heading in a better direction.

"This is a totally different team," Martin said. "It's a team that's built to win, a team that will have success."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State basketball coach Cuonzo Martin confident in Bears' direction