Frank Martin must sit one game
— -- South Carolina coach Frank Martin has been suspended by the school for Saturday's regular-season finale at Mississippi State for harsh language aimed at his players during Tuesday night's 72-46 home loss to top-ranked Florida.
Late in the game, Martin was caught on camera shouting and cursing at freshman point guard Duane Notice. A clip of the incident went viral. Earlier in the second half, Martin was seen cursing at forward Michael Carrera.
Associate head coach Matt Figger will fill in for Martin against the Bulldogs.
"The one-game suspension is a result of inappropriate verbal communication as it relates to the well-being of our student-athletes," South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said in a statement Thursday.
Martin was not part of his regularly scheduled radio call-in show on Thursday night, assistant coach Perry Clark filling in instead.
Show host and Gamecocks play-by-play announcer Andy Demetra said Clark would not take questions about the suspension.
"All parties have nothing more to say at this time," Demetra said, referring to the team, the school and Martin.
The 47-year-old Martin came to South Carolina two years ago with a drill sergeant's reputation for getting things accomplished. His death stare when players or officials cross him is harsh and penetrating. Oversized cutouts of a glaring Martin have made regular appearances in the stands among Gamecocks fans these past two seasons.
Martin had made four NCAA appearances in five seasons at Kansas State in his first college head-coaching job and has struggled at times with the mistakes that come from turning a program around.
He said after a loss to Kentucky during his first season that his players got out of the Wildcats' way and let them practice their dunking. After a 64-46 loss to LSU in 2013, he said was never more embarrassed to call himself a basketball coach.
He apologized to leading scorer Brenton Williams in January for a tirade during a loss to Mississippi directed at the Gamecocks' lone senior.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
