| | MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Kenyon Martin knew his season was over
before he hit the floor.
Cincinnati's star player, perhaps the best in college
basketball, was setting a screen in the opening minutes of
Cincinnati's Conference USA tournament opener Thursday when he
bumped into Saint Louis' Justin Love.
|  | | Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin answers questions in the locker room following the No. 1 Bearcats' loss to Saint Louis. |
Martin's ankle turned underneath him as he fell, breaking his
right fibula and ripping several ligaments.
Gone in that instant -- his dreams of leading top-ranked
Cincinnati to its first national championship since the 1960s and
the days of Oscar Robertson.
"I didn't have any control over it," Martin said quietly after
Cincinnati's 68-58 loss to Saint Louis.
Sitting in a wheelchair with his foot in a cast, Martin said he
told Dr. Angelo Colosimo that his leg was broken as soon as the
doctor came onto the floor.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Martin was selected the Conference USA
player of the year Wednesday, and is the favorite for national
player of the year honors.
He led the conference with 19.5 points and 10 rebounds a game.
He also had the top field-goal percentage (57 percent) and is the
career blocked shots leader for both Cincinnati and Conference USA
with 292. He set the single-season mark with 107.
With Martin, Cincinnati set a regular-season record with 28
victories. The Bearcats also had the first undefeated record in
conference play at 16-0.
Martin will play again. Colosimo said doctors will insert a
screw into Martin's ankle, and that he should be able to starting
running again in eight weeks.
That won't be soon enough for the Bearcats, who had been looking
for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
"This was their chance," coach Bob Huggins said. "You just
have very few chances I think in life to be special, and we've gone
through a lot."
Huggins said his Bearcats will regroup, and other players will
have to work to replace Martin. Senior Ryan Fletcher said it won't
be easy.
"One person isn't going to be able to be Kenyon Martin. But
together we can all contribute what he brought to us," Fletcher
said.
Martin, who returned to The Pyramid late in the game to cheer
his teammates, thinks the Bearcats still have a chance at winning a
national title. The forward, who hasn't missed a game since he was
a freshman, plans to be with them every step even if he has to pay
his own way.
"I've been here since day one. I just can't suit up. I can't
get on the court," he said.
"I can still get a ring. I can still get a banner. I just can't
play."
| |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kenyon Martin breaks his right fibula.
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What will be the ultimate effect of Kenyon Martin's injury.
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 Bob Huggins is remorseful about his fallen leader.
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Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps talk about Cincy in the wake of the Kenyon Martin injury.
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Dick Vitale on the impact of Kenyon Martin's injury.
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