The list of issues the California Bears face this offseason is extensive, with nothing more important than the matter of the Cuonzo Martin contract situation.
Now in his second season at Cal, Martin and the school are still operating under the agreements reached in his initial offer sheet and he has yet to formally sign his contract. Sometimes, these situations are easily rectified. Here, though, the lack of formal ties between the two parties is a dangerous situation for the program.
Cal just finished getting upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Hawai’i after losing the services of both Tyrone Wallace and Jabari Bird. Wallace will graduate this spring and the team will also likely lose star freshmen Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb to the NBA Draft. With only Tyson Jolly coming into the program as a possible difference maker, one has to think that the Bears are set to take a serious step back next season.
Then there is the scandal involving assistant coach Yann Hufnagel and his impending termination for sexual harassment of a local, female reporter. Things are as rocky as ever in Berkeley and with what appears to be a relatively easy out, questions are starting to fly around the possibility of Martin pursuing other opportunities.
We’re not saying he’s gone, far from that. But it’s becoming more and more of a story, given the program’s complete dud of a season.
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