Josh Martin – Junior – 6’7”, 220 lbs

By the Numbers:

Injuries were once again a factor in Josh Martin’s final season at Cal Poly. By Owen Main

25 Games

19.9 Minutes per game

7.4 Points per game

5.0 Rebounds per game

1.3 Assists per game

36.7.% Field Goals

33.3% 3 Pointers

65.5 % Free Throws

A transfer from Minnesota, Josh Martin’s highlight reel and skillset were all high-major. When he came in, I remember thinking about the potential of what he could allow Cal Poly’s coaching staff to do in terms of schemes. Could they put him at the five, use the physicality of their guards at the time, and go with some kind of super-small death lineup? What would it look like to play Martin at the three with two bigger players around him? With a relatively mature individual offensive skillset, Martin seemed like the kind of player you could maybe plug-in and go with. 

But it was never that easy. 

Injuries early in his Cal Poly career caused limited practice and game time. He missed the first nine games of his first eligible season at Cal Poly in 2016-17. We saw flashes of his dynamic athleticism going to the bucket. It made you wonder what he could do with a full season. Early-on in what was supposed to be his junior year, Martin had a 17 point, 21 rebound game against Pepperdine. In the team’s fifth game, he broke his foot and missed the rest of the season. 

In his true junior season (fifth in college) this past year, Martin again sustained an early-season injury, missing six games during what was probably Cal Poly’s best stretch and only three-game win streak of the season. When he returned, he again seemed like he was playing catch-up. He scored 19 points in a loss at Bethune-Cookman, 24 points in a loss at UC Irvine, and 20 points in a loss at UCSB. But his production was mercurial. Martin scored in double digits in just two of 10 home games against Division I teams and went five straight conference games late in the season without scoring more than 2 points. 

At season’s end, Martin announced he would be finishing classes to graduate from Cal Poly, making him an eligible grad transfer, eligible immediately. 

When he came to SLO, I asked around and all anyone ever told me was how much time Martin liked to spend in the gym. During his first redshirt year, I arrived early to games to see Martin and then associate head coach Paul Fortier working to get shots up. Maybe it was all in my head, but there was so anticipation about what impact he could have. 

Martin’s career at Cal Poly will be remembered in flashes. A soaring left handed dunk. A blocked shot. That two-footed takeoff. One of those same feet in a boot more than once. Crutches. That consistent weapon that Cal Poly thought they had in the holster never quite got calibrated while in San Luis Obispo.

Looking forward

Assuming he ends up at another Division I school (no announcements have been made yet), Martin can be an impactful contributor. Wherever he ends up, a guy who has gone through everything he has with injuries will be an easy guy to root for and a very interesting player for Cal Poly fans to keep track of throughout next year. 

*Ed note: Over the next few weeks, we’ll be recapping the season of every Cal Poly player who played in 2017-18.

Here are five questions I’m wondering as Big West Conference play gets started this week:

How did pre-conference season go?

Well, it went all right. Not great. There were a few good wins. Cal Poly got some victories away from Mott when they beat Santa Clara and College of Charleston to kick off the Great Alaska Shootout. They also beat Pepperdine at home. While they scrapped and made it close at Cal, the Mustangs didn’t really give themselves much of a chance to win in five of six games against top-100 opponents.

One reason is they had a hard time stopping opponents’ three-point shooting. While their two-point defense isn’t bad, the Mustangs have struggled to stop opponents from behind the arc this season. Maybe that’s an understatement. Let’s put it this way – there is only one other team in Division I college basketball whose opponents are shooting a higher percentage from three point range than teams than Cal Poly (Division I opponents only). UCSB is 34th in the country in three-point shooting percentage. 

The one game that got away is definitely Bethune-Cookman, where they almost certainly should have won. That’s one that everybody would probably like to have back. (They’ll get it back when Bethune-Cookman returns the trip). The Central Michigan game, when they scored 53 points and only lost by three. That’s another one they’d like back. So, yeah. They maybe could have won two or three more games. 

If they play exactly like they did in the first half, they’ll be a bottom-four Big West team in the regular season. 

Consistent scoring?

Early-on it seemed Joe Callero’s team had a rhythm between Donovan Fields, Victor Joseph, and Marcellus Garrick on the perimeter. After the Great Alaska Shootout, the team had a three-point percentage above 40 percent and looked like they’d be able to shoot their way into a lot of games. 

Things have fallen off though. In their past four games against Division I opponents, Cal Poly averaged just a hair over 58 points per game. They’ll have to do better than that in conference play if they want to compete night-in and night-out. Unless Callero somehow brings back the 2-3 matchup zone. Then 58 might be plenty… . 

Sharpshooters or nah?

Cal Poly’s shooting is a huge key for them. It’s a key for everyone really, but how much are the Mustangs playing in synch and in rhythm offensively has a lot to do with who’s getting good shots and whether they’re taking advantage of the good looks they get. 

Joe Callero will point to guards Victor Joseph (20) and Donovan Fields (3) to help get Cal Poly off to a positive start this week at home. By Owen Main

This is a streaky and sometimes mercurial Mustang squad. Their ability to stay engaged offensively for a full 40 minutes and avoid major shooting slumps within games could be the difference in staying with some of the best Big West teams. 

What role will Marcellus Garrick have in Big West play?

The Hancock College transfer started the season with hot shooting and high-scoring games. Sure, teams have gotten a scouting report on Garrick, but I don’t believe we’ve seen his entire offensive game. Garrick has moves off the dribble as more of a slasher than he’s shown through much of the season so far. Look for him to attack defenders who overplay him and think of him as a spot-up shooter because of his hot shooting early in the season. 

When Garrick is getting to the free throw line and displaying his athleticism knifing to the basket, he’s at his best. 

Bonus: Health

Joe Callero always says health is a major factor. Cal Poly has enough rotation players to withstand some injuries, but that doesn’t mean that health won’t play a factor in how this team fares.

Bonus #2: Big Hank coming into his own

Hank Hollingsworth has turned himself into a regular rotation player and interior defensive stalwart for Cal Poly. The redshirt sophomore continues to develop on both ends of the court. Consistent contributions from Hollingsworth will give Cal Poly a shot to win games in Big West play. 

Cal Poly starts their conference schedule on Thursday night at home vs. UCSB and hosts Cal State Fullerton on Saturday evening. Both games tip at 7:00pm. 

Photos from Cal Poly vs. Notre Dame de Namur by Owen Main. 

For more photos click here. If you just want to contribute to the cause, Venmo @Owen-Main or paypal owen@fansmanship.com. 

Owen and Nick talk some Cal Poly and Big West Men’s basketball. After Cal Poly lost to Fresno State and Bethune-Cookman, what should fans expect this Saturday at Princeton? Also discussed are Josh Martin’s return, Cal Poly’s offensive flow, Cal Poly’s three-point shooting, and how the Big West has stacked-up against other conferences. 

Lastly, which of Owen’s preseason picks for the Big West are looking good and which look really awful (hint: UCSB). 

After coming back from a seven point deficit with 1:24 to play in regulation, a five-point deficit with under :49 seconds left in regulation, and a three-point deficit in the first overtime, Cal Poly forced a second extra period and picked-up an important 96-92 home victory over visiting Long Beach State.

Cal Poly senior Joel Awich throws down a dunk in the first half of Saturday night’s thriller. By Owen Main

Cal Poly was down by five points with only 49 seconds left in the game when Long Beach State’s Travis Hammonds rebounded a missed Reese Morgan free throw. When Josh Martin pressured Hammonds in the back court, he picked up a foul, but also something much more valuable — a Hammonds elbow to his nose.

The foul — judged by officials to be a flagrant — gave Cal Poly two free throws and the ball. It was also Hammonds’ fifth foul. After Roschon Prince missed a pair of free throws, Morgan made a pair. On the ensuing possession, Morgan sized-up a three-pointer from about 26 feet out and knocked it down, completing a five-point possession that erased the five-point Cal Poly deficit.

The review of the flagrant foul lasted at least 5-10 minutes. I know there were at least three songs that were played in completion during the review, making an agonizingly close game seem even more so.

2 OT,s 188pts 2 lead changes 3 ties Only 23 total turnovers Clutch shots & FT's. Crazy student section. One of the best CP games ever.

— Tom Barket (@TomBarket) January 17, 2016

Back-to-back sell outs & an energized Mott lifted our team to a double OT victory over Long Beach St.! Total team effort! Loved #Area12

— Joe Callero (@CoachCallero) January 17, 2016

Packed to the gills

For the first time in the Joe Callero era, Cal Poly sold-out back-to-back home games this weekend. The crowd played a big role in Thursday night’s big comeback against UCSB, though it fell short in the end. Many, including myself, wondered whether the students would be burned-out by the tough, emotional rivalry loss.

The fans — students and community alike — answered resoundingly, helping to carry the Mustangs to another comeback. Saturday night’s was one that the home team could finish.

The way the first two conference games went at Mott, 3,032 might become a common number to see on Cal Poly box scores the rest of the way. Seriously, the place was kind of a zoo. Good stuff San Luis Obispo!

Going full Monson

Dan Monson is one of my favorite coaches to watch in the Big West. By Owen Main

With Cal Poly down by two in the first overtime, Joel Awich was fouled by Gabe Levin going to the hoop and awarded two shots with 1:46 to play. After Awich made the first free throw — his third , Long Beach State coach Dan Monson challenged that Levin committed the foul.

While Awich stood at the free throw line waiting, the referees took about a minute to review the play and confirm that the foul was on Levin.

Lo and behold, Awich’s next shot was way off and Long Beach State maintained a one-point lead that they quickly turned into a three-point lead. I suppose Awich had the last laugh when he nailed a three-pointer to tie it less than 30 seconds after being iced, but Monson’s late-game ability to ice-out an opponent was a move that less savvy coaches might not have made.

Bennett rounding into shape

Brian Bennett started the season injured and out of game shape. Over the last eight weeks or so, Bennett has done a lot of extra work to round back into shape and get back to the form that earned him second-team all-Big West honors last season. He’s much more active over the past week or two — six offensive rebounds on Saturday night are evidence of that.

He didn’t start in either game this past weekend, but the senior averaged 17 points and eight rebounds anyway. This Mustang team is 10 players deep and matchups are going to play a big role against some conference teams, but Bennett’s ability to dominate the offensive paint will be vital moving forward.

Brian Bennett is playing much more like the second-team all-conference player he was a year ago. By Owen Main

Bench Work

Cal Poly’s bench out-scored Long Beach State’s 58-32 for the game. 32 bench points seems like a lot. 58 is just obscene. Four Cal Poly players — Martin, Taylor Sutlive, Joel Awich, and Bennett tallied double-figure point totals on Saturday night.

After outscoring UCSB’s bench 40-6 on Thursday, Cal Poly’s bench outscored opponents 98-38 on the weekend. Cal Poly’s bench has bested their opponents in each of their first three conference games.

I know Joe Callero would like to start the players he feels are playing the best, but who starts doesn’t really matter on this team. If you are one of the players in the 10-man rotation, you’ll get your chance. If you play well, you’ll probably be on the floor in the second half when it matters most. The Mustangs switch-out for offense and defense in close games anyway, so you better know your role and you better be ready to play that part if you want time on this Mustangs team.

On the road again

Cal Poly hits the road in Southern California next week for two winnable road games — both of which can be found on ESPN3. On Thursday, the Mustangs will play the CSUN Matadors at 7:00pm. Reggie Theus’ team isn’t eligible for the postseason this year, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hungry to play spoiler in the regular season. Kendall Smith, a UNLV transfer, is someone the Mustangs will have to keep track of on the perimeter and Tre Hale-Edmerson is an inside threat to contend with.

On Saturday, Cal Poly will play at Cal State Fullerton. The early 4:00 ESPN3 tip-off time will be an interesting one. If Cal Poly thinks they’re a top-half team in the Big West, these are two road wins that are important to get.

Programming Note

It was announced this week that Cal Poly’s home game againstconference frontrunner Hawai’i on February 6th will be televised on ESPNU.  Previously, Cal Poly didn’t have any televised or ESPN3 games scheduled to be broadcast from Mott Athletics Center this season.

Photos by Owen Main

To view all photos, click here.

A three game road trip to Texas was never so complicated.

After playing the first two games of a three-game Texas road trip to end their pre-conference schedule, the Cal Poly men’s basketball team took a five-day break around the Christmas holiday. Players, coaches, and team personnel left from San Antonio last week and disbursed to Seattle, Minnesota, other parts of Texas, and all over California, among other places.

Their return became a nightmare of delays and cancellations caused by a strong storm in Texas that brought tornadoes to the northern part of the state. According to this article, about half of Sunday’s flights were delayed, averaging an hour or two. Many Cal Poly folks wished their flights were delayed by only a few hours.

Josh Martin (front right) and Trevor John (front left), along with coaches and teammates were on this plane for the better part of five hours without leaving San Antonio. Gross. Photo courtesy of Josh Martin

After being delayed on a flight from San Luis Obispo to Phoenix, only about half of a group of coaches and staff were able to sprint to the connecting flight on Sunday morning. Others, including play-by-play broadcaster Tom Barket and some coaches who gate-checked bags, were not that lucky and were delayed in Phoenix for most of the day after missing the connection.

“Mitch Reaves made it and they closed the door behind him,” said Associate Head Coach Paul Fortier. “We were 30 seconds behind him, but they had closed the door.”

Some who made the connection probably wished they hadn’t. A group of players and coaches on the flight from Phoenix to Houston circled Houston for some time before diverting to San Antonio. After sitting on the tarmac for three hours there, they were allowed off the plane for 20 minutes before boarding again, only to wait for a few more hours. That group arrived at Houston around 8:30 or 9:00 on Sunday night and was able to check into their hotel. Josh Martin, who spent the holiday in Phoenix, was one player who made the San Antonio stop.

“I feel weird I feel like I’m rested but as soon as I step on the court, my body’s going to be deflated and not ready to go,” the 6′ 8″ Martin said before Monday’s practice. “I tried to do some stretching last night, but I was definitely sore.”

The three who didn’t make the flight out of Phoenix — Joe Callero, Paul Fortier, and Barket — tried in vain to get on at least two flights before they finally caught one late in the evening and arrived at about 12:30, some six hours after the scheduled Sunday evening practice at Rice. Only seven players made it to the session.

“Being 6’9″, it wasn’t as bad as having to sit on an airplane for that long,” said Fortier, who caught some NFL action on the televisions in the airport with Callero and Barket throughout the day.

Joel Awich, a 6’7″ senior from Minnesota, had a two-hour delay, but his direct flight from Minneapolis was able to land safely and he made it to the scheduled practice along with seniors David Nwaba and Reese Morgan, among others. For his part, Awich seemed pretty focused on the job ahead.

“We just watched film on them,” said Awich on Monday afternoon before practice. “They looked really good. Like every other game, a team we can beat, but we just have to be serious, get our heads in the game early, shake off all this flight stuff, get back to where we are as a team, and handle our business tomorrow.”

All three Texas-based players ended up sleeping in their own beds on Sunday night. After Taylor Sutlive’s flight from San Antonio to Houston was canceled Sunday night, he hitched a ride with his family, picking up Hank Hollingsworth in Austin on the way to Houston, where he arrived around the middle of the day on Monday.

Sutlive, who mostly followed the Texas Longhorns growing up just north of San Antonio, also talked about shaking off the rust.

“It could affect the team mentally,” said Sutlive of the delays. “But A&M’s a good team regardless. We missed a practice yesterday. A lot of it’s concentration and focus. We have practice tonight and we’ll be ready to go. The atmosphere in [Reed Arena] is great and obviously we’ve got to come ready to play.”

The two players who got the worst of the travel issues were Seattle-based Luke Meikle and Zach Gordon. On the same flight, the two had a similar diversion as the group that went to San Antonio, only ZG and Luke (6’8″ and 6’9″ tall respectively) were diverted to Lake Charles, Louisiana and  sat on the Tarmac for up to 7 hours without getting off the plane and without food. By the time they let them deplane in Lake Charles, the only place they could get food was McDonalds. After finding a hotel in Louisiana late on Sunday night, Meikle and Gordon finally made it to Houston on Monday morning and joined the team in College Station around the middle of the day.

Fortier said that the Mustangs had a lot to do on Monday in preparation for Tuesday’s game.

“It was the first time the guys were able to present our scouting report to them,” said Fortier. “We did that this afternoon once ZG and Luke got in, so were were able to go over some things from our last game as well. We still want to learn from things we can learn from. Then we got to really get a good sweat. Our guys’ intensity level was good. I think from the few days off, guys came back with their batteries charged.”

MT @TomBarket: Full practice, Reed Arena in College Station. CP plays 2nd game ever vs SEC. Tomorrow 5PT v Texas A&M pic.twitter.com/szT7x0mvJw

— Big West MBB (@BigWestMBB) December 29, 2015

Fortier sees a big test ahead of the Mustangs on Tuesday night in College Station.

“They’re a big, talented team, and they have a number of seniors,” said Fortier of the Aggies. “When you see top-25 teams [in today’s college basketball], you see younger players, but they have a number of seniors in their starting five. They are an older experienced team that play well together and a couple of freshmen who play together as well.”

Finally reunited, Cal Poly will tip-off against #19/20 Texas A&M at 5:00pm. You can find the game on the SEC Network or listen to Tom Barket here.

Thankfully a full practice in College Station tonight w/ the entire team. Game Tue. vs. #14 Texas A&M will require our best effort in years!

— Joe Callero (@CoachCallero) December 29, 2015

On Friday, JD Scroggin came out of hibernation and reported that Josh Martin, formerly of Minnesota and Bothell High School in Bothell, WA, would transfer to Cal Poly.

Martin is a 6′ 8″ forward nicknamed “The Hulk,” who found himself down on the Golden Gophers’ depth chart. He has been to San Luis Obispo before, when he competed in the Mission Prep Christmas Classic as a high schooler.

Martin saw playing time in seven of the Gophers’ first eight games this season, but hadn’t seen the floor in almost a month — a span of six games.

Martin’s addition once again showcases Joe Callero’s ability to recruit from the Seattle area. With Cal Poly’s post depth waning after the 2015-16 season (Joel Awich and Brian Bennett will both be seniors), Callero’s addition of another big man makes sense. Earlier this year Luke Meikle, a post player from Tacoma, transferred to Cal Poly from Gonzaga.

What other transfers has Cal Poly had in the Callero era?

What’s impressive about some of the videos I posted below is not just Martin’s fierce dunks, but his confidence and ability to shoot from outside. I’ll be interested to see how Martin fits-in over time, but Cal Poly fans should be excited to get a high-major athlete on-campus with, potentially, 3 1/2 years of eligibility remaining.

While Luke Meikle would be available to Callero at the beginning of next season, Martin would become available for 2015-16 Big West Conference play, per NCAA transfer rules — as reported by Scroggin.

Enjoy the videos:

His Minnesota coach talks a little about Martin and what type of player he is: