Jamarion Batemon’s first night of the season was the kind of opener Iowa State can’t afford from a player expected to help carry the load.
The Cyclones dropped their first game of the hyped 2026-27 season to the Memphis Tigers as a sizable favorite, and the performance was rough on both ends. The offense never got rolling, and the defense didn’t hold up either.
Plenty of blame landed around the roster and the program, from T.J. Otzelberger’s preparation to Tamin Lipsey’s lack of leadership to Blake Buchanan’s inability to steady things defensively.
But Batemon took more heat than anyone.
That’s because the expectations around him had changed. After a strong true freshman year, he looked ready to become one of Iowa State’s main scoring options.
He averaged 6.6 points per game last season, knocked down 1.5 3-pointers a night, and shot 37% from deep. He also gave the Cyclones exactly what they needed on the defensive end, emerging as a reliable 3-and-D piece.
This season was supposed to be the jump. Through the offseason and preseason, Batemon looked like a player who could take on a much bigger scoring role and get more shots than he did as a freshman.
Instead, opening night brought a blank line in the scoring column. In 26 minutes, Batemon finished with no points, going 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.
The misses were one thing. The way he looked on the floor was another.
He didn’t seem as comfortable, didn’t have the usual room to operate, and didn’t show the confidence to rise up for the big shot. The pressure of being labeled a star may be weighing on him a little.
That’s what makes Batemon such a central figure for this team. Iowa State needs him to be the scorer people projected, the shooter who keeps defenses honest, the guy who can deliver in the biggest moments. He has to defend, connect with his teammates, and step into a leadership role, too.
And the thing is, he’s shown he can do all of that. The issue now is whether he can do it when everyone is watching.
The Cyclones get their home opener at Hilton Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 6, against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, and Batemon will have a chance to answer the questions hanging over him. The sophomore guard has an opportunity to show his teammates, the fanbase, and himself that he belongs among Iowa State’s stars this season.
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