Jamison Battle to enter the Transfer Portal

Donate To GopherHole
Gopher_In_NYC said:
Per Marcus’ article, Battle has the same plan as Cooper, look for pro opportunities and go into the portal as well -

m.startribune.com

Star Tribune

Your source for Minnesota news today. Read articles, view photos or watch videos about news in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester, and beyond.
m.startribune.com m.startribune.com
Click to expand...
They could also explore pro options and come back to Minnesota if they want. But they don't want to.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Per Marcus’ article, Battle has the same plan as Cooper, look for pro opportunities and go into the portal as well -

m.startribune.com

Star Tribune

Your source for Minnesota news today. Read articles, view photos or watch videos about news in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester, and beyond.
m.startribune.com m.startribune.com
Click to expand...
Why doesn’t battle wanna be a gopher?
 

matt said:
This is not a super desirable job. It’s much harder if we fired the last guy, who was arguably a hometown hero, after two years. Even after three years, it’s still similar.

Pre-portal, I feel like 4 years was the standard and 3 years was the worst case scenario. I don’t know if the standard has changed now post-portal. But if I’m an up and coming coach getting offered $3M by Minnesota, and I hear that Minnesota fired an alum after 2 or 3 years (with no off-court issues), I keep looking or stay at my current job.

This is truly the worst case scenario that Coyle or the powers that be have put us in.
Click to expand...
Hometown hero? We're talking about Ben, not Lindsey. He's an OK player who played 2 years here when the team wasn't good. Not a hometown hero.

The job is what it is. It will not be made better by giving Ben another year. It won't be made that much worse, but the hole to dig out of with the fan base and recruits will just be that much deeper.
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
No, but I wanted to supplement what we already had with guys with more talent. I didn't want to patch holes with guys who have no business getting a scholarship.

It's like the Cooper situation.
Do I think he was a really good PG? Nope.
Would I have been excited about him being replaced in the starting lineup by someone better? Of course.
How confident am I that our PG situation will be better next season without him? Not confident at all.
Click to expand...
If Ben is an honest guy- and I think he is, he sits down with Cooper and says, we love you, and want you back but we are going to need more speed at the guard position. So we are looking to bring in a PG or 2 to split time with you. Cooper didn't want that and I can't blame him.

I don't think these guys are abandoning ship here, but I do think there are discussions with Ben that are leaving the two of them to believe that it is best for all parties if they move on.
The most untenable position after going 2-17 is to stand pat. We need speed at the point and at the 3 spot. We have all been talking about this all season.

It's fair that you are not confident. I'm not confident either- I am hopeful but I realize its a tough sell.
Let's see what he can do.
 

matt said:
This is not a super desirable job. It’s much harder if we fired the last guy, who was arguably a hometown hero, after two years. Even after three years, it’s still similar.

Pre-portal, I feel like 4 years was the standard and 3 years was the worst case scenario. I don’t know if the standard has changed now post-portal. But if I’m an up and coming coach getting offered $3M by Minnesota, and I hear that Minnesota fired an alum after 2 or 3 years (with no off-court issues), I keep looking or stay at my current job.

This is truly the worst case scenario that Coyle or the powers that be have put us in.
Click to expand...
Ben Johnson is now a hometown hero??? He couldn't win here as a player, as an assistant coach, now as head coach... Some hero
 


howeda7 said:
They could also explore pro options and come back to Minnesota if they want. But they don't want to.
Click to expand...
You’re missing my point.

Yes, I realize that, but if you look at how each of threads were posted, Cooper’s mentions testing the NBA draft waters, while Battle only says he’s entering the portal.

Why two different headlines, when a paid reporter covering the team reports they are doing the same exact thing????

Lackadaisical posting by Tony?
Gaslighting? Getting people upset as evidenced in the thread and creating more clicks/screen time?

Shoddy work IMO.
 
Last edited:


bga1 said:
If Ben is an honest guy- and I think he is, he sits down with Cooper and says, we love you, and want you back but we are going to need more speed at the guard position. So we are looking to bring in a PG or 2 to split time with you. Cooper didn't want that and I can't blame him.

I don't think these guys are abandoning ship here, but I do think there are discussions with Ben that are leaving the two of them to believe that it is best for all parties if they move on.
The most untenable position after going 2-17 is to stand pat. We need speed at the point and at the 3 spot. We have all been talking about this all season.

It's fair that you are not confident. I'm not confident either- I am hopeful but I realize its a tough sell.
Let's see what he can do.
Click to expand...
Then why did he say he expected everyone back? If he’s being honest then he knows there’s a real chance one of those guys says see ya.
 

howeda7 said:
Hometown hero? We're talking about Ben, not Lindsey. He's an OK player who played 2 years here when the team wasn't good. Not a hometown hero.

The job is what it is. It will not be made better by giving Ben another year. It won't be made that much worse, but the hole to dig out of with the fan base and recruits will just be that much deeper.
Click to expand...
The cons of firing a newly hired coach after Year 2 (minus just cause) are greater than the pros, IMO. Coaches stick together and the word would be out to avoid MN and Coyle at all costs. Plus, there was no way Year 2 was going to lead to more than a handful of wins given the status of the roster. I believe next year's team will be better than this year's team if the remaining players return, improve, and are bolstered by a quality transfer-in point guard. The transfer out of Battle, Henley, and the PG do not much change the calculus.
 




CentralGopher said:
Then why did he say he expected everyone back? If he’s being honest then he knows there’s a real chance one of those guys says see ya.
Click to expand...
Does everything you expect to happen go that way? It doesn't for me.

I think it is fair for people to think that Ben has failed (so far he has) and will fail (he may in the end) but for people to start questioning his integrity- I think that's kind of low. He's a good guy, I still hope he succeeds.
 

Block M said:
The cons of firing a newly hired coach after Year 2 (minus just cause) are greater than the pros, IMO. Coaches stick together and the word would be out to avoid MN and Coyle at all costs. Plus, there was no way Year 2 was going to lead to more than a handful of wins given the status of the roster. I believe next year's team will be better than this year's team if the remaining players return, improve, and are bolstered by a quality transfer-in point guard. The transfer out of Battle, Henley, and the PG do not much change the calculus.
Click to expand...
He's 5-35. His star recruit backed out and 4/12 of the remaining players (so far) have hit the portal. No coach who otherwise wants the job is going to say no because poor Ben didn't get a fair shot. Come on. We gave Tubby 6 years and Pitino 8. It's not like we're Cal and have a history of quick triggers.
 

bga1 said:
Does everything you expect to happen go that way? It doesn't for me.

I think it is fair for people to think that Ben has failed (so far he has) and will fail (he may in the end) but for people to start questioning his integrity- I think that's kind of low. He's a good guy, I still hope he succeeds.
Click to expand...
Nope and it makes me think Ben doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in his locker room. Obviously if he was expecting everyone back and now 4 guys are leaving they are jumping ship without him having a clue. That’s concerning no matter if they would have been contributors next year or not.
 



CentralGopher said:
Nope and it makes me think Ben doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in his locker room. Obviously if he was expecting everyone back and now 4 guys are leaving they are jumping ship without him having a clue. That’s concerning no matter if they would have been contributors next year or not.
Click to expand...
He may have thought he could convince some of them to stay?

What was he supposed to say instead?
 

Jamison always seemed angry, never happy. Even when he made his big shot to beat Rutgers, he looked more angry than anything else. Whether he was or wasn’t, he seemed selfish, not much of a team player. So all of that said, I don’t get this kid. First, he was playing close to home, and he had a green light to shoot any shot and was logging almost 35 minutes a game. Where is he going to get a better opportunity than that? On the other hand, losing can get old.
 

CentralGopher said:
Nope and it makes me think Ben doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in his locker room. Obviously if he was expecting everyone back and now 4 guys are leaving they are jumping ship without him having a clue. That’s concerning no matter if they would have been contributors next year or not.
Click to expand...
Oh no! Clearly the world is collapsing. No one has a clue. The University is about to declare bankruptcy! 😏
 

MUgopher32 said:
Those are 5 seeds in mid major conferences. Who also likely are not offering NIL.

So I guess if his hope is to go, be a 3rd option in the MW and hope to make the tourney and win a game. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Lol ok. Was just responding. You said top 6 seeds so was responding to that
 

howeda7 said:
He's 5-35. His star recruit backed out and 4/12 of the remaining players (so far) have hit the portal. No coach who otherwise wants the job is going to say no because poor Ben didn't get a fair shot. Come on. We gave Tubby 6 years and Pitino 8. It's not like we're Cal and have a history of quick triggers.
Click to expand...
No, two years is not long enough. There are more than a few examples in history where patience with a struggling, early-career (insert profession here) individual paid off in the long run. By rights, Chris Collins should probably not be coaching Northwestern this weekend, but he is.
 

Block M said:
No, two years is not long enough. There are more than a few examples in history where patience with a struggling, early-career (insert profession here) individual paid off in the long run. By rights, Chris Collins should probably not be coaching Northwestern this weekend, but he is.
Click to expand...
Ben Johnson is going to get a third year. After that it will be well beyond time to end the giving a job to someone who didn’t deserve it experiment.
 


Nobody will agree with me...so there is no need to read this until some time in the future.
We had two conference wins, 3 starters and our top recruit have chosen not to be part of the program. That means we need to recruit 4 guys at least as good as the departed to be in the win two games range.
But we got Fox Ihnen and Christie so they could help us...but we truly don't know if they will....but okay...recruit just 4 guys as good as three starters and we are somewhat optimistic it could be a little better.
Recruit 3 more for a total of 7 new guys better than we had and we should be 500 good, right?
I hope it happens
I don't agree with anybody here about Battle. He was our best player. I do believe some coach some where will see that and put him in positions to succeed and hide his weaknesses. Battle was really poorly coached this past season. 100% he should leave. Tell me as an opponent game planning who you were worried about from the Gopher team offensively this year? Top 2:
1. For me is Battle. Clearly best shooter. Never got looks he excels at...floundered and embarrassed himself. That's coaching....the positions he was put in to and the mistakes he was allowed to repeat over and over...that's coaching. Did we pay any attention to what he excelled at last year? Bet somebody else did.
2. Payne on the block. But just like I don't have to worry about Battle...I don't have to worry about Payne either because he is at top of the circle.
The chances Ben can start over three years in a row and do better the third time? Be nice but success leaves clues.
 

Block M said:
No, two years is not long enough. There are more than a few examples in history where patience with a struggling, early-career (insert profession here) individual paid off in the long run. By rights, Chris Collins should probably not be coaching Northwestern this weekend, but he is.
Click to expand...
For everyone one of those examples, there's 20 where the coach was canned after year 3 or 4 because things were exactly what they seemed.

Northwestern had never made the NCAA tournament when the hired Chris Collins. Never. That is not a comparable situation.
 

CentralGopher said:
Nope and it makes me think Ben doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in his locker room. Obviously if he was expecting everyone back and now 4 guys are leaving they are jumping ship without him having a clue. That’s concerning no matter if they would have been contributors next year or not.
Click to expand...
When did Ben say he expected everyone back? I didn’t see that. What I read is that the Cooper and Battle news was expected for a while from the staff.
 

bga1 said:
This is the fact we should get adjusted to. As a Gopher fan, I am all in on pulling for him to have a great offseason, an excellent fall signing and a surprising 23-24 season. In March of 2024 we will deal with a new set of facts.
Click to expand...
The new set of facts is unfolding now, and will continue through portal signings. That may tell the story.
 

this one is very much a yikes. Going pro would've been one thing but transferring is another. Clearly he wants to win and doesn't think it's going to happen here next year. Ain't like Ben would've pushed him out.
Again, I expected him likely to jump, just not this way. Don't think it changes much for next year but it's sending a bad message. Regardless, still the same calculus for next year. It's minimum of a NCAA bubble or he's gone imo. Problem is, right now the roster looks easily slotted for 14th again.
 

60's Guy said:
Nobody will agree with me...so there is no need to read this until some time in the future.
We had two conference wins, 3 starters and our top recruit have chosen not to be part of the program. That means we need to recruit 4 guys at least as good as the departed to be in the win two games range.
But we got Fox Ihnen and Christie so they could help us...but we truly don't know if they will....but okay...recruit just 4 guys as good as three starters and we are somewhat optimistic it could be a little better.
Recruit 3 more for a total of 7 new guys better than we had and we should be 500 good, right?
I hope it happens
Click to expand...
We can still be much better than last year- much.
60's Guy said:
I don't agree with anybody here about Battle. He was our best player. I do believe some coach some where will see that and put him in positions to succeed and hide his weaknesses. Battle was really poorly coached this past season. 100% he should leave. Tell me as an opponent game planning who you were worried about from the Gopher team offensively this year? Top 2:
1. For me is Battle. Clearly best shooter. Never got looks he excels at...floundered and embarrassed himself. That's coaching....the positions he was put in to and the mistakes he was allowed to repeat over and over...that's coaching. Did we pay any attention to what he excelled at last year? Bet somebody else did.
2. Payne on the block. But just like I don't have to worry about Battle...I don't have to worry about Payne either because he is at top of the circle.
The chances Ben can start over three years in a row and do better the third time? Be nice but success leaves clues.
Click to expand...
Battle's biggest problem is that Garcia is a better player and is at the position that Battle also plays.
So, yes, some coach is going to put Battle at the 4 with 3 quick guards and Battle will be fine. He is the type of player who doesn't make his own shots and when he does- he misses too often. But if you can get him open because of the play of others- Battle is tough. Ben put Battle out there with Garcia because he had to.

Payne spent a lot more time on the block in his last 10 games. I think the coach learned a little there and Payne himself got better.
 

bga1 said:
This is the fact we should get adjusted to. As a Gopher fan, I am all in on pulling for him to have a great offseason, an excellent fall signing and a surprising 23-24 season. In March of 2024 we will deal with a new set of facts.
Click to expand...
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
scools12 said:
After that it will be well beyond time to end the giving a job to someone who didn’t deserve it experiment.
Click to expand...
 

I wonder how much of it is Payne is our best player has to start next yr and has to play the 5, Garcia 2nd best has to play the 4.

Battle isn’t good playing the 3 on offense or defense. Could go mid major and play the 4. With his Ego he will go to another power 5 school thinking he will get major minutes while he becomes an 8th man 3pt shooter off the bench. Would have loved him off the bench here as a scorer.
 


bga1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Come on...you can't possibly think this is good. I get you want to believe he will bring in decent portal players but this is not going to be even an NIT team next year and if you look at it objectively you would see that.

I defended the hire, but this is a disaster and no amount of lipstick helps.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom