Owen Freeman Understands ISU Rivalry

By John Bohnenkamp 

Owen Freeman’s welcome to the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry was a lonely elevator ride.

The Iowa sophomore was going to his room at the team hotel for last season’s game in Ames when the elevator door opened.

“I remember we’re in the hotel and I'm the only one on the elevator, and some guy wearing a Cyclone shirt refuses to get on the elevator because I'm on there,” Freeman said on Tuesday. “So it's just stuff like that.”

He didn’t even get on the elevator?

“He did not,” Freeman said, smiling. “No, he didn't. He didn't even … he wanted no part.”

Thursday night will be Freeman’s second game in the rivalry, the first at home, when the Hawkeyes play the No. 3 Cyclones at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I didn't realize how big of a rivalry it was coming in, but once you get here, I mean, that's kind of all people talk about,” said Freeman, who grew up in Illinois. “So obviously I know the meaning of this game for people on the team, behind the scenes and in the stands.”

Freeman had 11 points and eight rebounds in the 90-65 loss to the Cyclones last season. He came off the bench and played 19 minutes in that game before he would become a fixture in Iowa’s starting lineup later in the season.

Playing time was something that was a problem for Freeman in last Saturday’s 85-83 loss at Michigan. He picked up two fouls in the span of a second early in the first half of the game, and spent the rest of the half on the bench.

“Obviously, I think it's a different story if I don't get those two fouls,” Freeman said. “But I tried to come in the second half with the same energy I did in the first half, and just tried to stay ready and cheer my guys on as much as I could.”

Foul trouble was a problem for Freeman last season, and while he hasn’t fouled out a game this season, he is second on the team with 20 fouls.

Asked if getting the two quick fouls on Saturday was frustrating, Freeman said, “Very, but I kind of had to control that frustration. I can't let the first one dictate the second one. So that's something that I'm still improving on, and I want to get better at.”

Freeman is Iowa’s leading scorer this season at 16.8 points per game, but he knows he’ll be challenged by Iowa State’s defense on Thursday.

He’ll get some help in the frontcourt as Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said forward Seydou Traore is expected back after missing two games with an injured ankle.

“He adds another level of defense and rebounding, and obviously he's super talented on the offensive end as well, so it's going to be a huge add, and I just can't wait for him to get back on the floor,” Freeman said.

The Hawkeyes, at 7-1 this season, could use a signature win, and beating the Cyclones would certainly qualify as that.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Freeman said.