The first domino has fallen after Head Coach Fran McCaffery was fired on March 14. Coach McCaffery was let go after the Iowa Hawkeyes Men's Basketball team lost 106-94 to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament.
Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz made the announcement the day after Iowa was bounced from the tournament.
Coach McCaffery fell out of favor with the fans and the media, but was extremely popular with his players. After the decision to fire McCaffery, the first big transfer has happened.
Thank you Iowa❤️ pic.twitter.com/BM7H4e695n
— Owen Freeman (@_OwenFreeman) March 15, 2025
Iowa Men's Basketball star forward Owen Freeman decided to enter the transfer portal Saturday morning after McCaffery was let go. Freeman cited the recent coaching change as the primary reason he was leaving Iowa City.
Freeman shared his love for the program and thanked Hawkeye Nation and his teammates for their support. He also thanked Coach McCaffery for taking a chance on him and allowing him to play in the black and gold.
After winning a state championship in Moline, Illinois, with fellow Hawkeye Brock Harding, Freeman committed to the Hawkeyes. He had a stellar freshman campaign, averaging 10.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
He was named as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the media, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, and All-Big Ten Freshman First Team in his first year on campus.
In his sophomore season, Freeman led the Hawkeyes in points per game (16.7) and rebounds per game (6.7) before having season-ending surgery in February.
Freeman is the first domino to fall in what could be a mass exodus from Iowa City following Coach McCaffery's departure.