Cosgriff on Battle: “I am going to make it my cause to go out and see if we can hang a banner of her at Williams Arena.”

[BleedGopher]

Per Shama:

Retired girls’ high school basketball coach Brian Cosgriff, who won eight state tournament titles, thinks the world of Amaya Battle, the Golden Gopher senior guard who played her last game in Friday’s NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA. Cosgriff coached her at Hopkins High School and recalled how the death of Battle’s mother prompted her to stay home for college and be near family.

The versatile scorer, rebounder and assist maker is one of the Gophers all-time best players. Cosgriff describes her as a great player, person and student who is also “funny as heck.” Cosgriff told Sports Headliners: “I am going to make it my cause to go out and see if we can hang a banner of her at Williams Arena.”

David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Go Gophers!!

 

[Holy Man]

Per Shama:

Retired girls’ high school basketball coach Brian Cosgriff, who won eight state tournament titles, thinks the world of Amaya Battle, the Golden Gopher senior guard who played her last game in Friday’s NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA. Cosgriff coached her at Hopkins High School and recalled how the death of Battle’s mother prompted her to stay home for college and be near family.

The versatile scorer, rebounder and assist maker is one of the Gophers all-time best players. Cosgriff describes her as a great player, person and student who is also “funny as heck.” Cosgriff told Sports Headliners: “I am going to make it my cause to go out and see if we can hang a banner of her at Williams Arena.”

David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Go Gophers!!

She should get it, of course. But how does this guy have any influence? How about her teammates, past players and coaches get involved? I suspect they will.

 

[Belzx009]

She should get it, of course. But how does this guy have any influence? How about her teammates, past players and coaches get involved? I suspect they will.

And with his lack of support for the Gophers over the years….how many Hopkins girls had the Gophers not gotten. I do think he had a role in that. I always felt he wanted them to find more successful schools.

 

[samloupete]

I agree as long as Carlie Wagner goes up first.

 

[Belzx009]

I agree as long as Carlie Wagner goes up first.

Totally! She does NOT get enough credit! She made two NCAA tournaments! In a time when it wasn’t a norm!

 

[BigTenGuy]

Are there criteria for jersey hanging? There are currently 7, or have I missed one:

All Americans:
Whalen (also BIG POY)
McCarville
Banham (BIG POY)
Shudlick (BIG POY

Pioneer Legends:
Laura Coenen (BIG POY, 1st All BIG)
Debbie Hunter (1st All BIG)
Linda Roberts (pre-BIG WBB)(All Region)

Seems like Amanda Zahui B (All American, BIG POY) should be next, or is she already up there?

Doesn’t seem like Battle is in the same group as the above players.

 

[AllEars]

Are there criteria for jersey hanging? There are currently 7, or have I missed one:

All Americans:
Whalen (also BIG POY)
McCarville
Banham (BIG POY)
Shudlick (BIG POY

Pioneer Legends:
Laura Coenen (BIG POY, 1st All BIG)
Debbie Hunter (1st All BIG)
Linda Roberts (pre-BIG WBB)(All Region)

Seems like Amanda Zahui B (All American, BIG POY) should be next, or is she already up there?

Doesn’t seem like Battle is in the same group as the above players.

I agree with this post. I didn't see Zahui B. play enough to have an opinion; however, I have enduring memories of Whalen, McCarville, and Banham.
Perhaps some, like myself, act from an emotional impulse. Maybe wait awhile for Battle to see if the memory of her passes the test of time.

 

[MaroonMagic]

Doesn’t seem like Battle is in the same group as the above players.

I don't disagree, but it seems like this era of Gopher basketball is going to be different. I'm not sure that Coach P likes to play through only one or two options, so we may not see the same level of individual stardom as other teams do or that we have in the past. However I am curious to see if and how that might change if we get more flashy talent!

 

[AllEars]

I agree with this post. I didn't see Zahui B. play enough to have an opinion; however, I have enduring memories of Whalen, McCarville, and Banham.
Perhaps some, like myself, act from an emotional impulse. Maybe wait awhile for Battle to see if the memory of her passes the test of time.

... regarding McCarville, I believe that she never graduated, so her banner wasn't in the rafters until Coach Whalen went to bat for her, citing one or two on the men's side that never graduated. I could be wrong on this.

 

[bkeller49]

I lived Zaui B but she left early to turn pro when we had Banham coming back from her injury. Kind of let us down.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

She should get it, of course. But how does this guy have any influence?

He just created awareness and started the process

How about her teammates, past players and coaches get involved? I suspect they will.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I agree with this post. I didn't see Zahui B. play enough to have an opinion; however, I have enduring memories of Whalen, McCarville, and Banham.
Perhaps some, like myself, act from an emotional impulse. Maybe wait awhile for Battle to see if the memory of her passes the test of time.

I posit that being one of only two hoopers in a career to have scored 1000 points (11th all time), grabbed 600 boards (9th all time)and fished 500 assists (2nd all time) is the test of time in and of itself. The shot to get to the Sweet 16 is the cherry on top.

The other player with those unbelievable career stats is Rachel.

 

[AllEars]

I posit that being one of only two hoopers in a career to have scored 1000 points (11th all time), grabbed 600 boards (9th all time)and fished 500 assists (2nd all time)is the test of time in and of itself. The shot to get to the Sweet 16 is the cherry on top.

The other player with those unbelievable career stats is Rachel.

... indeed, memories may fade, but facts don't.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Battle is not a great player… Great players get a banner hung… If a program is lacking great players you don’t go the next rung of players trying to come up with someone.. You wait for the next great player.. IMO…

 

[Roland Brooks]

Battle to her credit started all four years thus played a ton of games and minutes to her credit once again.. Battle naturally will rack up numbers… for example for playing as much as she did I believe she is the all time turnover leader.. her or Banham. Assists per game Battle is 5th.. If Amanda ZB ain’t up there Battle would need to get in line…

 

[Belzx009]

Amanda ZB didn’t finish her college career. I feel like leaving early would make me not want her up there. You want girls to look at ladies who stayed.

 

[tripledouble]

Amanda ZB didn’t finish her college career. I feel like leaving early would make me not want her up there. You want girls to look at ladies who stayed.

Agree totally. IMO, both Battle and Wagner are more deserving, although I'm on the fence re: hanging banners for either of those players.

 

[Roland Brooks]

ZB left after 3 years to go be the second overall pick of the WNBA draft.. .. I would rather have young ladies who are ballers know about ZB than a cute story about another player… IMO

 

[Gophers112233]

Battle #3 deserves to be up in the rafters...

she was one of the BEST PG we have had in a long time..



1,533 Points (10th)
599 Assists (2nd)
651 Defensive rebounds (2nd)
128 Games started (2nd)
776 Total rebounds (10th)
188 Steals (10th)

 

[Roland Brooks]

Her first 10-11 games minimum this year she awful.. She had stretches like that all 4 years… played lights out last half of this year.. great players who get banners hung don’t have those stretches yearly… obviously the tradition of great Gopher ladies is not that deep…

 

[Roland Brooks]

What are ZB’s two year numbers?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Battle is not a great player…

That’s a subjective opinion, isn’t it?

How do you specifically define a great player?

Great players get a banner hung… If a program is lacking great players you don’t go the next rung of players trying to come up with someone.. You wait for the next great player.. IMO…

 

[Roland Brooks]

That’s a subjective opinion, isn’t it?

How do you specifically define a great player?

Are you saying she is a great player?

 

[Roland Brooks]

I am not an analytics efficiency guy.. but I would guess they would not be to kind to Battle… longevity stats I respect them

 

[Roland Brooks]

Battle #3 deserves to be up in the rafters...

she was one of the BEST PG we have had in a long time..



1,533 Points (10th)
599 Assists (2nd)
651 Defensive rebounds (2nd)
128 Games started (2nd)
776 Total rebounds (10th)
188 Steals (10th)

What are Kenesha Bell’s 4 year stats including Marquette post those next to Battle or even Bell’s three year Gopher stats

 

[BigTenGuy]

Kenisha Bell is a 2-time 1st-team All Big player, including unanimous by the coaches. She would be ahead of Battle.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Battle #3 deserves to be up in the rafters...

she was one of the BEST PG we have had in a long time..



1,533 Points (10th)
599 Assists (2nd)
651 Defensive rebounds (2nd)
128 Games started (2nd)
776 Total rebounds (10th)
188 Steals (10th)

In three years 215 steals.. over 1700 points over 500 rebounds and 500 assists.. that’s Bell… that’s not including her freshman year

 

[Roland Brooks]

Kenisha Bell is a 2-time 1st-team All Big player, including unanimous by the coaches. She would be ahead of Battle.

Thank you!!! I just posted Bell’s 3 year numbers

 

[Roland Brooks]

I am glad they used Bell’s message to the team before the UCLA game… good to see her included

 

[Gophers112233]

In three years 215 steals.. over 1700 points over 500 rebounds and 500 assists.. that’s Bell… that’s not including her freshman year

Amaya had close to 800 rebounds, and 600 assists.. 188 steals..

Bell had 6 Less TO's then Amaya had and 100 less assists then Amaya..