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Lickliter has little to say about Freeman transfer

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By Steve Batterson | Monday, May 12, 2008 12:15 PM CDT | () comments

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter shed little light today on the conversations he had with guard Tony Freeman that led to the all-Big Ten guard’s decision to transfer.

In a conference call with Hawkeye beat reporters, Lickliter declined to comment on Freeman’s assertion that he felt “unwanted’’ in the Iowa program following postseason meetings with Iowa coaches.

“I can only speak to my side of what was said in a conversation between two people and I’m not comfortable doing that,’’ Lickliter said. “I want people within the program, players or not, to be able to come into my office and talk freely.’’

The second-year Hawkeye coach said he meets frequently with players, both in and out of season.

“I like my office door to be open,’’ he said.

Lickliter would not say if he was surprised by comments Freeman made following the announcement of his departure, but did not dispute Freeman’s claim that his game did not fit the style of play that Iowa coaches prefer.

“Different players have differing skills, no question,’’ Lickliter said, adding that he supports the NCAA’s transfer policy.

“Student-athletes should have a choice and the NCAA provides a way to do so and Tony has chosen to take that route.’’

Iowa announced on May 2 that Freeman had asked for and been granted a release from his scholarship.

The 6-foot-1 junior averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds despite missing 10 games last season after suffering a broken bone his left foot.

Lickliter said he does not any additional departures from the program this year.

“The expectation is that we will have six returning players and six newcomers,’’ Lickliter said. “With the addition of two junior-college players, we have balanced our class a bit. I don’t like having more than four players in any given class.’’

Read more of Lickliter’s thoughts on Freeman’s departure and the state of Iowa’s basketball program in Tuesday’s edition of the Quad-City Times and at qctimes.com.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.