posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 12:23 PM by mike.hlas

Speaking of Short-Handed, Tony Freeman Bolts the Hawkeyes

In the words of Ed Begley Jr. in the movie "Pittsburgh":  NG. Not Good.

The writing was clearly on the wall several days ago when Cyrus Tate and sophomore-to-be Jarryd Cole were named captains of the Iowa men's basketball team. When a senior-to-be starting guard was passed over for a soph, as Freeman was, he didn't fit into next season's plans.

It's unusual to see a player leave a program for another after three seasons. But this is life in major-college basketball, it seems. Don't get too attached to anyone (remember Tyler Smith?).  Programs are disposable. But so are players.

I've got to think this was Todd Lickliter's decision as much or more than it is Freeman's. Lickliter didn't seem too enthralled with the way Freeman played with the ball. It may have been Lickliter's agonized facial expressions or the repeated placing of his head in his hands that were tip-offs.You can't argue that Freeman did a lot of dribbling, maybe more dribbles per possession than any player in the Big Ten. So off he goes.

Three years. Poof. We all move on. We always do.
  |    Login or Join to Post Comments

Comments

# re: Speaking of Short-Handed, Tony Freeman Bolts the Hawkeyes

Saturday, May 03, 2008 5:59 PM by hawkeyerita
I think Lickliter has lost his mind. Only because of Tony's great indivual play and the great team play after his return from injury did Iowa has some semblance of a season last year and for Lickliter to suggest otherwise to
Tony is the otherside of ridiculous. Perhaps he is NOT The coach the Iowa so desparately needed after all. I hope that someone can wake up the polar-opposite somewhere hiding in the coaches office before it is to late or next year might be REAL scary with NO floor leader at all.