Tucker Pleads to Public Intoxication
By Scott Dochterman
Drake's Ryan Wedel tries to stop Anthony Tucker of Iowa during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Saturday, December 19, 2009. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
Dec 29, 2009 at 12:08 PM CST
Story Updated:
Dec 29, 2009 at 12:34 PM CST
IOWA CITY — Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter said suspended sophomore guard Anthony Tucker likely will return to the team, and the timetable will be determined by the school and the coach.
“We’ve talked,” Lickliter said today. “I’ve talked to his family, and he’s not back at this point. We’re still working through and evaluating, making sure we make the right moves. I anticipate (having) him back, but I just don’t have the timeline right now.”
Tucker was arrested Dec. 20 for public intoxication about six hours after he played in a game against Drake. He spent the night in the Johnson County Jail and initially pleaded not guilty. Monday, he pleaded guilty and was assessed fines and fees totaling $195.
Tucker, 20, pleaded guilty to the same charge in December 2008. Athletics department guidelines mandate an automatic suspension for a second alcohol-related offense pending a full alcoholism assessment and 30 hours of community service. A third arrest results in a dismissal.
Lickliter said he’s still not sure when Tucker would be allowed to play again per department policy.
“I’m still waiting on all the particulars of that,” Lickliter said. “Because of when it happened and what’s going on and everything, I’m going to make sure that I cover everything according to the institution, the department and all. Then basically what you would do as a coach is decide what you are going to add on to that. You obviously have to follow the protocol of your institution, and that’s what we’re going to do initially.”
Rumors swirled before Tucker’s arrest that he was looking to transfer. Tucker refuted those, and Lickliter said Tucker hasn’t said anything to him about transferring.
“He hasn’t. He really hasn’t,” Lickliter said.
Tucker’s absence does cause some problems for an already depleted and inexperienced team entering Big Ten play tonight. Iowa will start three freshman against No. 4 Purdue and it’s likely guards Cully Payne and Matt Gatens will receive little time off the court.
“It hurts a little bit,” Payne said. “He was kind of our two-guard for sure, and he kind of gave me a blow here and there. That will affect that a little bit.”
Payne played 34 minutes against South Carolina State and was replaced for five minutes by red-shirt freshman John Lickliter. When asked how Tucker’s absence affects him, John Lickliter deadpanned, “I’ve got to play.”
Senior Devan Bawinkel played 22 minutes against S.C. State, a significant increase from previous games. Bawinkel said Tucker’s absence affects practice as well.
“You don’t get that many breaks,” Bawinkel said. “In the game you don’t get to come out because it’s another guy down. You’ve just got to be ready to play.”
More Good Stuff
Conversation Guidelines
Be Kind
Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.
Share Knowledge
Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.
Stay focused
Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.
Report Trouble
Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.
read the full guidelines here »
Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.
Most Popular >>