Kenyon Martin argues the transfer portal has ended Cinderella stories in March Madness, as top players move to elite teams, making upsets increasingly rare.
Kenyon Martin Points Out Key Details Leading Elite Schools’ Dominance
Former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin reveals why he thinks the top-ranked teams now have a distinct advantage in the NCAA and the NCAA Championship.
For just the second time in the tournament’s history, this year’s March Madness final will be between two number-one seeds as the Florida Gators face the Houston Cougars in the Alamodome.
Kenyon Martin Slams Transfer Portal As Main Suspect.
Last night, at Gil’s Arena, prior to the Final Four matchups between Florida and Auburn and Houston and Duke, Martin discussed why he believes we don’t see any “Cinderella schools.”
“The conversation I had with somebody was, you don’t see any Cinderella schools this year or last year,” the NBA All-Star claimed, slamming the Transfer Portal as the main culprit.
“Every Cinderella School’s big player, their best player, transfers to the elite eight. You aren’t seeing any Cinderella stories anymore. Sorry to burst your bubble,” Kenyon continued.
Recently, NCAA Football Head Coach Mickey Joseph from Grambling State University shared the fact that he believed smaller schools should be given compensation in cases like this, a take that is more relevant now than ever if what Kenyon Martin claims is true.
“”I think there needs to be a buyout. If they move up from me and go to a Group of Five or a Power Five, I should get some kind of compensation for that. NCAA, if you’re listening to me, I need a buyout.” The NCAA Football Coach said earlier this week.
Also on this week’s Gil’s Arena, the former University of Cincinnati alumni also slammed older players, sharing his take on what he dubbed as sheer ridiculousness with 25-year-olds playing College Basketball.
“I’m looking at him like, look at this grown-ass man.” Martin hilariously slammed Auburn Tigers Guard Chad Baker-Mazara, who is 25 years old, continuing on to claim that Mazara had to be “At least 30.”
When Was March Madness’s Last Big Cinderella Run?
In 2023, the Florida Atlantic Owls, a Number 9 Seed in the East, made a deep run in the NCAA Championship, reaching the Final Four in a historic run.
They ultimately lost in heartbreaking fashion to San Diego State, losing by a single point. Head coach Dusty May was poached by the Michigan Wolverines.
Center Vladislav Goldin and Guards Johnell Davis and Allijah Martin all jumped ship from that Florida Atlantic Owls team, with each player playing for big teams in this year’s March Madness tournament, only serving to back Kenyon Martin’s claims.
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If the former Cincinnati man’s claims are true, then the Florida Atlantic Owls may have been the last Cinderella run in the NCAA Championship for a while.
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