Is the sky falling on the Iowa Basketball program? Cuz it feels like it.The official tally now stands at four, as in four who are leaving the Iowa basketball program. There's Jermain Davis and there's David Palmer. Not a big deal eh? Oh yeah, Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson are gone too. Uh oh is right.
This is not good for Iowa basketball, obviously. Jake Kelly had the potential to be the next Hawkeye star. With him, Iowa may have competed for an NCAA Tournament in 2010-11. So why did he leave?
Kelly's dad, Bob, told the Tribune-Star of Terre Haute, Ind., quite simply, "He wanted to be closer to home after the death of his mother this past year."
Fair enough. No one can fault Kelly for feeling troubled in a world that took away his mother. It calls to mind the situation with Tyler Smith two years ago. With his dad's condition worsening from cancer, Smith decided to go home to Tennessee.
"I fully support Jake Kelly, as I did Tyler Smith," coach Todd Lickliter said at Friday's press conference. "I think we all do."
The departures of Palmer and Davis are understandable as well. Neither had a very defined role under Lickliter. Each's playing time bounced around like eight year-olds high on caffeine.
But then there's the curious case regarding Peterson. Explaining his decision is tricky. Did he have a rough relationship with Lickliter and the coaching staff? Did he dislike the style of play? Did he get tired of waiting for this program to come around? Or did Jake Kelly's transfer compell him to leave?
It's hard to say for sure. Peterson didn't give a satisfactory answer in an interview with Hawkeyenation's Rob Howe. He had a starting spot basically assured next season playing for a team in the Big Ten Conference.
No matter the reason, Iowa sits in serious trouble. Kelly's transfer could prove a killer for the current coaching staff. For a staff that doesn't recruit exceptionally well, losing proven players who know the system won't be good.
(Photo courtesy of the AP; Lickliter at Friday's press conference).
Losing Kelly and Peterson really hurts. We have nobody at the point guard position anymore. The Hawkeyes already had a tough time with turnovers, think what will happen next year with no defined point guard. I feel really bad for Lickliter. He's a great coach and a great guy. He really took over a bad team. He had nobody when he got here and now he really only has Gatens and Tucker that will more than likely be the leading scorers every game. I am actually surprised that Tucker will stay around. Recruits should take some notice at all the open spots on the team and come to Iowa. They'll get some immediate playing time. Obviously Kelly had a reason to leave the team. But, I am not happy with Peterson basically quitting the team. I see why Davis and Palmer are leaving because they saw erratic playing time. The Hawkeyes could have been really good next year and the year after if they would have had everyone back besides Tate. You would think Peterson and those guys would have noticed that they were in most games this year and would be good for the next few years. But, looks like we will have to wait for awhile and start from scratch while we rebuild. I feel bad for Gatens.
ReplyDeleteIt's really crazy how they all just started dropping like flies. It seems like it's one thing after the next. I wonder if the thought of leaving himself, has ever gone through the mind of Lickliter?
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