JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Scott Dochterman of The Gazette wrote an article on Sunday night where several Iowa players shared their thoughts on Anthony Hubbard's recent departure from the program.
Those interviewed said similar things, and nothing was negative.
Bryce Cartwright (Hubbard's roommate) told Dochterman that Hubbard got along with everybody. Melsahn Basabe said there was no animosity. Eric May was surprised, just like the Iowa fan base. Matt Gatens shared some comments in this story from Hawk Central.
But give the items a read and see how you come away feeling. Four days after the bombshell announcement that Hubbard was leaving the program, it's still confusing.
I have re-read Iowa's statement on Hubbard's departure about ten times.
“I truly appreciate the tremendous opportunity Coach McCaffery, the basketball staff and everyone at the University of Iowa provided me. The community and the school and the people were fantastic. However, at this time, I plan to work with my junior college coach and family to select another school perhaps closer to home." Those were Hubbard's words in the press release.
Then a couple days later, word begins to spread that Hubbard has been in contact with Nebraska about their program. "“At this point I’m just going to take it slow. I just wanted to go back home and talk it over with my family and figure out what my next move is going to be.” That's a quote the Press-Citizen cited from HuskerOnline.com, who interviewed Hubbard.
Nebraska was one of the schools in the final cut for Hubbard before he chose Iowa.
I have received a number of emails from people who are laying some claim to some degree of inside information with regards to why Hubbard actually left. A few of those claims have hinted at nefarious activity.
I just am not buying that at present, because of this line from Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta from the press release I linked above: “I am disappointed for Fran, our staff and the other staff on our campus that were involved from the start on what was clearly a very unique recruiting process. It’s unfortunate it hasn’t worked out as we had hoped. We, of course, wish Anthony the very best.”
If Hubbard had done anything shady, why would Barta wish him 'the very best'?
Here's the most logical answer to that hypothetical question: he wouldn't have said that.
So we're still left wondering what went down. Basabe seems to be in the know from some of the quotes in Dochterman's piece, including this line: "“I didn’t think there was anything planned. I can’t really speak on the situation because that’s a personal situation. I will have to let him speak on it. I wish him well. He still is a friend of mine."
Again, if something negative had transpired that forced Iowa's hand to push Hubbard out the door, you wouldn't have people wishing him well, right?
And then in the HawkCentral piece, Basabe said this: “I know what you know."
These comments lead me to draw a line through the 'Hubbard must have done something wrong' notes and thoughts, and come back around to taking things at face value.
Perhaps Iowa City was not to his liking? If that was the case, I don't think the answer is Lincoln, Nebraska.
Perhaps he was homesick? If that is the case, Lincoln's farther from home than is Iowa City, in more ways than one.
Right now, we just don't know but the tea leaves are not supporting the rumors of some sort of impropriety.
People want some answers to help stop their heads from spinning, and I'd like some to.
It's just that the answers are not easy to come by right now. I am assuming they will come at some point.
As for Hubbard's interest in Nebraska, it will be interesting to see if that interest is mutual and if so, what the Big Ten offices will say about it. Hubbard enrolled at Iowa and was taking a class. Transferring within the conference has always been tough, and while Ben Brust was able to transfer from Iowa to Wisconsin without any sitting out penalty, he was an incoming freshman whose coach he had committed to had been fired.
This is altogether a different story, and were I Hubbard and Nebraska, I'd certainly not be counting those chickens at all.
Those interviewed said similar things, and nothing was negative.
Bryce Cartwright (Hubbard's roommate) told Dochterman that Hubbard got along with everybody. Melsahn Basabe said there was no animosity. Eric May was surprised, just like the Iowa fan base. Matt Gatens shared some comments in this story from Hawk Central.
But give the items a read and see how you come away feeling. Four days after the bombshell announcement that Hubbard was leaving the program, it's still confusing.
I have re-read Iowa's statement on Hubbard's departure about ten times.
“I truly appreciate the tremendous opportunity Coach McCaffery, the basketball staff and everyone at the University of Iowa provided me. The community and the school and the people were fantastic. However, at this time, I plan to work with my junior college coach and family to select another school perhaps closer to home." Those were Hubbard's words in the press release.
Then a couple days later, word begins to spread that Hubbard has been in contact with Nebraska about their program. "“At this point I’m just going to take it slow. I just wanted to go back home and talk it over with my family and figure out what my next move is going to be.” That's a quote the Press-Citizen cited from HuskerOnline.com, who interviewed Hubbard.
Nebraska was one of the schools in the final cut for Hubbard before he chose Iowa.
I have received a number of emails from people who are laying some claim to some degree of inside information with regards to why Hubbard actually left. A few of those claims have hinted at nefarious activity.
I just am not buying that at present, because of this line from Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta from the press release I linked above: “I am disappointed for Fran, our staff and the other staff on our campus that were involved from the start on what was clearly a very unique recruiting process. It’s unfortunate it hasn’t worked out as we had hoped. We, of course, wish Anthony the very best.”
If Hubbard had done anything shady, why would Barta wish him 'the very best'?
Here's the most logical answer to that hypothetical question: he wouldn't have said that.
So we're still left wondering what went down. Basabe seems to be in the know from some of the quotes in Dochterman's piece, including this line: "“I didn’t think there was anything planned. I can’t really speak on the situation because that’s a personal situation. I will have to let him speak on it. I wish him well. He still is a friend of mine."
Again, if something negative had transpired that forced Iowa's hand to push Hubbard out the door, you wouldn't have people wishing him well, right?
And then in the HawkCentral piece, Basabe said this: “I know what you know."
These comments lead me to draw a line through the 'Hubbard must have done something wrong' notes and thoughts, and come back around to taking things at face value.
Perhaps Iowa City was not to his liking? If that was the case, I don't think the answer is Lincoln, Nebraska.
Perhaps he was homesick? If that is the case, Lincoln's farther from home than is Iowa City, in more ways than one.
Right now, we just don't know but the tea leaves are not supporting the rumors of some sort of impropriety.
People want some answers to help stop their heads from spinning, and I'd like some to.
It's just that the answers are not easy to come by right now. I am assuming they will come at some point.
As for Hubbard's interest in Nebraska, it will be interesting to see if that interest is mutual and if so, what the Big Ten offices will say about it. Hubbard enrolled at Iowa and was taking a class. Transferring within the conference has always been tough, and while Ben Brust was able to transfer from Iowa to Wisconsin without any sitting out penalty, he was an incoming freshman whose coach he had committed to had been fired.
This is altogether a different story, and were I Hubbard and Nebraska, I'd certainly not be counting those chickens at all.
