Better or worse?
Among the questions that Todd Lickliter wasn’t touching Monday during his 35-minute teleconference with Hawkeye beat reporters was whether the Iowa program would be better or worse without Tony Freeman on the team next season.
It’s an interesting question.
On one hand, Freeman’s transfer takes an experienced guard out of the program and removes one of the team’s most poised 3-point shooters from the roster.
On the other, it eliminates Freeman’s freelancing ways. Tony had a tendancy to play his own game at times whether or not that is what Iowa coaches wanted. There were moments when inside opportunities were there to be exploited that Freeman, at the helm of the Iowa offense, opted to dribble, then drive or simply lauch an unnecessarily-hurried 3-point shot.
Freeman had the potential to be a distraction next season, and because of his competitive nature, it is unlikely that he would have quietly sat on the bench if he wasn’t getting the minutes he felt he deserved.
So, parting ways may be the best thing for both parties in this instance.
As for Freeman, he’s juggling a variety of options right now. More than two dozen schools have requested information on him from Iowa’s athletics department. That’s not surprising. Freeman has skills that can be a good fit in the right situation. He’s talked with folks from Illinois, Iowa State, DePaul, Illinois-Chicago and even with former Hawkeye coach Steve Alford at New Mexico.
Freeman will land on his feet — but the gut feeling here is that he won’t be alone. The chance to work and teach a team that will largely consist of players who have played for no other coach that Lickliter – 9 of Iowa’s 12 players next season will be in that situation — should benefit the Hawkeyes as well.
Your thoughts?
