When the irascible Bob Huggins bolted for his alma mater, West Virginia, there was an immediate sense of betrayal on the K-State campus, not unlike what Marquette loyalists may be feeling today on the heels of Tom Crean's sudden departure to Indiana.

But whereas Crean established deep roots in Milwaukee during his successful nine-year run, Huggins was more of a house guest, a transient in Manhattan. Huggins left after one season, making a hasty and unpopular exit. Not unlike Crean's unexpected move last week that caught almost everyone off guard and bruised some egos.

Fearing the loss of credibility with returning players and incoming recruits, K-State acted quickly in filling the Huggins void by naming one of his assistants Frank Martin. It was widely viewed as an "appeasement'' hire. The Wildcats wanted to hold on to Bill Walker and a highly-touted freshman class, featuring phenom Michael Beasley.

Martin, a Huggins assistant for just two seasons (one in Cincinnatti), had no previous head coaching experience on the Division I level. Martin's reputation was built as a recruiter. And the fact that he was staying, along with assistant Dalonte Hill, who had the closest ties to Beasley, offered the K-State program some continuity.

While Martin endeared himself to the long-suffereing Wildcats fan base with a memorable upset over arch-rival Kansas this season, he may still loom as more of a short term fix than a permanent solution. Especially if he doesn't follow up this season's NCAA tournament appearance with a string of postseason trips.

So did Marquette just hire its own Frank Martin?

That's the buzz.

Brent (Buzz) Williams, 35, is Crean's replacement. (This Buzz should not be confused with Michael Jordan's former North Carolina roommate Buzz Peterson, the director of player personnel for the Charlotte Bobcats, who has served 11 seasons as a head coach at Tennessee, Tulsa, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina.)

Buzz Williams has one-year of head coaching experience at New Orleans, hardly an endorsement. Beyond that, he's a Billy Gillispie disciple, who's known as a recruiter, just like Martin. And there is the suggestion that Marquette, like K-State, wanted to appease its returning players and incoming freshmen by retaining some stability with this hire.

Mind-you, it's nothing personal with Williams, who has earned the respect of his fraternity brothers for his recruiting skills. But you have to wonder if the Golden Eagles aren't selling themselves short? Particularly since Crean has elevated the program's national profile; along with establishing a firm toehold in the competitive Big East.

Time will tell on both Frank Martin and Buzz Williams. But the latter has an even tougher act to follow. And he doesn't have a Beasley on the roster. Or the horizon.