Building Behind Battle

When Turner Battle stepped foot on campus for the first time, he had admittedly never heard of Buffalo or its basketball team. In fact, when he came on a recruiting visit, he asked the coaches whether it was a Division II or III program.

There was a reason the 18-year-old kid from North Carolina had no knowledge of the Western New York program – the Bulls were 4-24, and had little to no impact on the college basketball landscape.

Battle was the man who changed that. He led the team to the top tier of the Mid-American Conference.

At the time Battle arrived, head coach Reggie Witherspoon was told that the university was constantly evaluating the benefits of having intercollegiate athletic programs.

Battle and his freshman classmates were the ones who turned heads, and that '05 class is one of the reasons Bulls basketball is still around.

"When they came in after the first semester, they had the second-highest GPA of any freshman class in the country," Witherspoon said. "They demonstrated themselves as people and they ended up having great careers, and I think it demonstrated to the campus community that intercollegiate athletics could be something that galvanized the campus as well as the community. I just think in terms of significance it's way up there."

Buffalo athletics were struggling across the board when Battle arrived, and the men's basketball team was no exception. Battle bulldozed the path toward greatness for the basketball program.

"I think that if Turner is not the most important student athlete, he's one of them in terms of credibility and viability of the Division-I athletic program," Witherspoon said. "At the time that he decided to come here, we weren't at that point that we could say we've established ourselves."

That was certainly not the case when Battle took off his jersey for the last time.

From when he took over as starting point guard – game one of his career – to his senior season, the Bulls climbed from 4-24 to 23-10, and were kept from advancing to the NCAA tournament by an overtime Ohio tip-in.

That 2004-05 season, widely considered to be the best Buffalo team of all time, was the school's first team to make it to the National Invitational Tournament. But that wasn't enough for Battle. He was so close to making it to the peak of his sport, only to be denied at the last second.

It's part of the reason that Battle returned to Buffalo and took a job as an assistant coach under Witherspoon.

"I tell these [current Buffalo players] all the time that I have unfinished business," Battle said. "I felt like we deserved to make the tournament and we were close and I think that we're building a program to try to get there and that's one of the main reasons that keeps me motivated."

Battle always thought of coaching someday, but he had no idea how soon that day would come.

Following his impressive senior season where he was named an Associated Press All-American, Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, and ESPN Academic All-American, Battle went overseas to continue his playing career.

He spent his first season out of college playing across Europe, a season that Battle himself would describe as "up and down." But he was determined to make it back.

He returned stateside and spent the offseason working on his game. That's when it all came crashing down.

"I was about to sign a contract in second division Italy and went up for a blocked shot and tore my elbow up," Battle said. "I dislocated it and tore all the ligaments, and that put everything in perspective."

The injury signaled an end to his playing career, but it also opened a door. He was given the chance to spend the 2006-07 campaign close to his beloved Bulls.

He was less than a mile from campus, working at Witherspoon's alma matter, Sweet Home High School, as an assistant coach.

Battle made his coaching debut in solid fashion, helping the Sweet Home Panthers to a sectional title with a stunning upset of a Niagara Falls powerhouse team that featured Houston Rockets point guard Jonny Flynn.

That was all Witherspoon needed to see to bring Battle back to his bench immediately.

"I always wanted to be a coach, but didn't think I'd be doing it at the age of 23," Battle said. "But [coaching] was something I wanted to do and I'm happy. [The injury] was kind of a blessing in disguise – that's what I'd call it."

Battle now gets to bring his expertise to the bench where he coaches the Bulls' young point guard, sophomore Jarod Oldham. Oldham is in the midst of his first year at the helm, and credits Battle's tutelage as a big reason for his success.

"He's kind of a big brother to me," Oldham said. "He recruited me in here and he's helped me out a lot with my progress. It's great to have someone who played the same position as you and who has had a lot of success here."

Having the respect of his players is something that has always comes easy for Battle. It's something that started as a player when he came to Buffalo just a decade ago.

"As a post-player, the coaches sold me on UB with the idea that I would be able to play four years with the same point guard and develop a special relationship," said Mark Bortz, one of Battle's former teammates. "That was an understatement. Turner is a great leader in every sense of the word. Most importantly, he is a great man and a person. I am honored to call my friend and my brother."

Battle's legacy as a player speaks for itself, but his impact as a coach is what now separates himself from the rest of the players in the program. He's fully embraced his new role.

"I'm settled in," Battle said. "Playing is over. It doesn't even cross my mind anymore. I get my fix in on scout team and working these guys and watching [the team] improve everyday."

It certainly doesn't mean the former star of the Bulls has lost his competitive spirit, though. Battle has turned his attention to building the program as a coach on the foundation that he built as a player.

The goal is to get the team to an NCAA tournament, and to do so multiple times. And Witherspoon believes having a guy like Battle on the pine for the Bulls is the way they are going to get there.

"When you can have [someone like Battle] in your program it's great not only for us as coaches but for players as well," Witherspoon said. "I think it's great for recruiting because when guys come into your program and they see that one of your former players, and one of the great players in your program, is living close to your program I think it just gives it a meaning and a perspective for your recruits."

The Bulls have now established themselves as a perennial contender in the MAC and much of the credit goes to Battle. He's the man who put this program on the map, despite falling just short in his playing days. Battle is a man on a mission; teaming up with Witherspoon to capture what was once snatched away from him.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com