Lickliter mum on Freeman
Charlie Kautz - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: Sports
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Nine days after senior-to-be Tony Freeman was released from his basketball scholarship, the first-year coach couldn't be swayed into speaking further on the departure of his leading scorer from last season.
Starting with an inquiry about his individual off-season meeting process and progressing into more direct, pointed interrogation - "Is this team better off with or without Tony?" - Lickliter stubbornly faced the Freeman-related questions over the phone, many of which became recycled or rephrased.
Pressed with everything short of "abbra cadabbra," Lickliter wouldn't budge on his stance of keeping private matters in-house, Freeman's decision to transfer included.
"I think there are some things that you need to be respectful of, and this is one of them," Lickliter said.
While Freeman's public criticism of the situation - as well as the way it was handled by Lickliter and his coaching staff - escalated interest in the decision last week, Lickliter offered little reaction to his former player's comments.
"I am just not comfortable trying to critique or analyze what Tony had to say," the coach said. "… I haven't seen all of [his comments], but again, I think what I can control are my comments and how I chose to handle a situation and not how someone else does."
If Freeman had elected to stay as one of two seniors, it wouldn't have been in a role as team captain - forwards Cyrus Tate and Jarryd Cole were assigned that task in late April.
And while Freeman admitted his displeasure with being left out of a leadership position, it was a combination of factors that led to his eventual breakup with the Hawkeye program.
"[The coaching staff] just kept saying, 'It has nothing to do with your talent, you just don't fit with what we're trying to do here,' " Freeman said.
After a season in which he averaged 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 22 games, the less direct but equally as important question for Lickliter becomes how Iowa will fill the void at point guard.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Dave
posted 5/13/08 @ 6:27 AM CST
Give Tony a Hayden Fry cry towel and send on his way! We no longer have student athletes, but whiners that want their way. Good bye Tony!
profit
posted 5/13/08 @ 8:10 AM CST
I liked Tony and his play for the Hawks. I wish him well.
Pore Richard
posted 5/13/08 @ 12:21 PM CST
"It's a poor workman who blames his tools."
So now--somehow--The Lickliter Management Group has managed to hose off the best tool in the Hawkbox and away goes the hope for a sooner rather than later brighter tomorrow. (Continued…)
bendhawkeye
AD
posted 5/13/08 @ 10:15 PM CST
Tony compared to Kobe? get real....let the new coach run his show for a few seasons...his team had success...and his recruits continued to have success after his departure. (Continued…)
JW Haga
posted 5/14/08 @ 9:13 AM CST
Ah, the B-Ball experts.
Butler isn't the Big Ten and the Big Ten isn't even the best conference in the NCAA.
While I wish Lickliter well, he's still a ways off of proving himself and his team a consistent Winner. (Continued…)
James
posted 5/23/08 @ 12:59 PM CST
Tony chose to take his ball and go home. He should show a little class and keep his mouth shut. This decision will help us in the future. Our great freshmen class will get even more experience and will learn from team players such as Tate and Cole. (Continued…)
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