Jamison Battle to enter the Transfer Portal

Let me see if I have this straight. We get on this message board and rip a player that doesnt play good. Then we rip the player because he wants to leave. Then we rip the program for letting the player that we’ve ripped on for not playing good, leave. I think Ive got it now.

You completely understand, that's good !!!
 

Did something earth shaking happen here? Didn't we expect this? If we lose anyone else that will be very bad. But for now, this is the settling out of what we expected. Now we go get some players. Ben is up against the clock. I hope he gets it done.
Optics. We thought he was going pro. He’s bailing instead. Different.
 


Let me see if I have this straight. We get on this message board and rip a player that doesnt play good. Then we rip the player because he wants to leave. Then we rip the program for letting the player that we’ve ripped on for not playing good, leave. I think Ive got it now.

Did you really need that spelled out to you? People are commenting that Battle wasn't very good this year (most people acknowledge that it was partially due to him playing out of position). I don't know if anyone is ripping him for wanting to leave. People are ripping the program because of player who is struggling, local, guaranteed to play a ton wants out.

None of those concepts at all contradict with each other.

There is also the bitter truth that regardless of how Battle has played, we will likely replace his scholarship with what is essentially eating his scholarship.
 

Did something earth shaking happen here? Didn't we expect this? If we lose anyone else that will be very bad. But for now, this is the settling out of what we expected. Now we go get some players. Ben is up against the clock. I hope he gets it done.
Year 0, part 3.
 



Did something earth shaking happen here? Didn't we expect this? If we lose anyone else that will be very bad. But for now, this is the settling out of what we expected. Now we go get some players. Ben is up against the clock. I hope he gets it done.
I think the “transfer portal” with Battle and Cooper might offer some insight. Could be I’m just reading into it. Both players got tons of minutes, tons of shots and still entered the portal. Who knows with this squad?
 

Optics. We thought he was going pro. He’s bailing instead. Different.
OK. The effect on next year's team is exactly the same. We had to be different than we were this year. Battle is a good guy and a good player but the combination of him and Garcia wasn't going to work. I would have loved for him to stay in a reduced role but he wasn't going to do it. Next year is in the hands of Payne, Garcia, JOJ, Carrington, Christie and whoever they can get. That's not an awful core. I am hanging in there to see who Ben can recruit with his back against the wall.
 

What’s the risk of letting Ben go now? Only financial with buyout? If any other key players leave, it certainly appears he has lost the locker room. Building requires guys willing to put up with the growing pains. Hopefully we have some of those guys.
Battle was leaving one way or the other. Garcia plays his position. It says nothing at all about the locker room.
 



OK. The effect on next year's team is exactly the same. We had to be different than we were this year. Battle is a good guy and a good player but the combination of him and Garcia wasn't going to work. I would have loved for him to stay in a reduced role but he wasn't going to do it. Next year is in the hands of Payne, Garcia, JOJ, Carrington, Christie and whoever they can get. That's not an awful core. I am hanging in there to see who Ben can recruit with his back against the wall.
Think you are handling it in a good fashion.
 


Optics. We thought he was going pro. He’s bailing instead. Different.
The optics are he decided a long time ago to leave and try to make some money. Garcia plays his position. Staying another year and playing like he has kills any chance for foreign money.
 

I think the “transfer portal” with Battle and Cooper might offer some insight. Could be I’m just reading into it. Both players got tons of minutes, tons of shots and still entered the portal. Who knows with this squad?
I sure don't know. If I had to guess, Ben discussed with both that there would need to be role changes next year. I think we can all agree that Cooper and Battle were not going to be 30 minute plus players on a good team. It had to be Battle or Garcia at the 4. Battle can't play the 3 in the Big Ten. Look, this is ugly right now, but the last thing I wanted next year was the same lineup as this year.

I am willing to bet that both Cooper and Battle have a really good relationship with Ben. It was just time to move on for the good of the players and the coach.
 



I think the “transfer portal” with Battle and Cooper might offer some insight. Could be I’m just reading into it. Both players got tons of minutes, tons of shots and still entered the portal. Who knows with this squad?
Battle wants a pro contract. His stock was higher a year ago than today. He knows it will be lower still if he plays another year here out of position.

He is now exploring a way to increase his stock. Makes good sense.
 

Battle was leaving one way or the other. Garcia plays his position. It says nothing at all about the locker room.
That's fine, but 3 starters who could have returned are now in the transfer portal. 3 starters from a 2 win team with no one ready to replace them. I think this is what is giving everyone cause for concern, especially with Ben's track record in the portal. Will he find better players then who has left? If so, why does he have a better chance to land good players after a terrible season than he did before last year when things appeared to be going in a better direction?
 



Year 0, part 3.
I hear ya- but- in year zero (I hate that term just as much as you do) we had Ihnen and Thompson returning. Next year we will have Payne and Garcia (top 3 front court in the Big Ten next year) JOJ, Carrington, Christie, Betts, Ihnen and Fox. That's quite a bit different. NEED GUARDS!
 




That's fine, but 3 starters who could have returned are now in the transfer portal. 3 starters from a 2 win team with no one ready to replace them. I think this is what is giving everyone cause for concern, especially with Ben's track record in the portal. Will he find better players then who has left? If so, why does he have a better chance to land good players after a terrible season than he did before last year when things appeared to be going in a better direction?
So you wanted the same lineup next year?
 

So you wanted the same lineup next year?
I never had a problem with the roster this season except not having one more guard more capable than samuels, I don't have faith Ben will figure out what appears to be another completely new starting lineup sans Garcia. Maybe he would figure out how to utilize his players if he has them for longer than a single rent a year. I guess that didn't really work out with Battle, so maybe all new players each and every year is the way to go. We gotta get lucky one of these years? I am afraid he will be playing Betts at guard and JOJ at Center or some other wildly unusual strategy.
 

I sure don't know. If I had to guess, Ben discussed with both that there would need to be role changes next year. I think we can all agree that Cooper and Battle were not going to be 30 minute plus players on a good team. It had to be Battle or Garcia at the 4. Battle can't play the 3 in the Big Ten. Look, this is ugly right now, but the last thing I wanted next year was the same lineup as this year.

I am willing to bet that both Cooper and Battle have a really good relationship with Ben. It was just time to move on for the good of the players and the coach.
 

I hear ya- but- in year zero (I hate that term just as much as you do) we had Ihnen and Thompson returning. Next year we will have Payne and Garcia (top 3 front court in the Big Ten next year) JOJ, Carrington, Christie, Betts, Ihnen and Fox. That's quite a bit different. NEED GUARDS!
I get you’re trying to spin a positive but this is absolutely ridiculous.
 

That's fine, but 3 starters who could have returned are now in the transfer portal. 3 starters from a 2 win team with no one ready to replace them. I think this is what is giving everyone cause for concern, especially with Ben's track record in the portal. Will he find better players then who has left? If so, why does he have a better chance to land good players after a terrible season than he did before last year when things appeared to be going in a better direction?
Cbj apologists are making more rationalizations and excuses. Nothing more.
 


I hear ya- but- in year zero (I hate that term just as much as you do) we had Ihnen and Thompson returning. Next year we will have Payne and Garcia (top 3 front court in the Big Ten next year) JOJ, Carrington, Christie, Betts, Ihnen and Fox. That's quite a bit different. NEED GUARDS!
I like Ihnen minus 2 knee injuries, I still like Thompson and wish we kept him around for a reserve role. Payne/Garcia is an upgrade no doubt. I like Carrington if healthy, I like JOJ in the right role (preferably 6th man). Christie will probably have a better freshman year than Carrington or Henley did, at least we hope. Not counting on Ihnen/Fox for anything, Betts will be buried if those 2 see the floor anyway.
 

I never had a problem with the roster this season except not having one more guard more capable than samuels, I don't have faith Ben will figure out what appears to be another completely new starting lineup sans Garcia. Maybe he would figure out how to utilize his players if he has them for longer than a single rent a year. I guess that didn't really work out with Battle, so maybe all new players each and every year is the way to go. We gotta get lucky one of these years? I am afraid he will be playing Betts at guard and JOJ at Center or some other wildly unusual strategy.
:)

Ben is either going to hang himself or redeem himself with what happens this spring and in summer development. All we can do is let this play out now. I have said a lot about how this hire wasn't the right one, but he's here, he's a good guy and it isn't over yet. The core we have is not bad, I think it is a better mix than what we played with last year, assuming development, decent health and some additions at the guard.
 

Look, this is ugly right now, but the last thing I wanted next year was the same lineup as this year.

Amen!

Now, it's certainly possible that the lineup next season could be worse but I'm like Mae West: "When given the choice between two evils, I always pick the one I haven't tried before."
 




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