Wisconsin rival, upcoming opponent losses top scorer for the remainder of the season

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Wisconsin basketball’s upcoming game against Iowa will look much different than the first matchup between the two teams.

That is because Iowa announced on Monday that starting center Owen Freeman, the team’s leader in both scoring and rebounding, will undergo season-ending finger surgery.

“After discussions with Owen, his family and our medical staff, surgery is the best course of treatment in terms of proper healing and rehabilitation,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said in Monday’s news release. “We expect Owen to make a full recovery. He has the full support of his teammates and coaches during this entire process.”

The news is a significant blow for Iowa’s rest-of-season chances. The Moline, Illinois, native averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 2024-25, a strong follow-up to his Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year campaign in 2023-24.

The 6-foot-10 playmaker scored in double figures in every game this season, including in the Hawkeyes’ 116-85 loss to the Badgers back on Jan. 3. Freeman logged 14 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 2-3 from the charity stripe in the matchup, one that also saw Wisconsin register a program-best 21 three-point makes.

HC Fran McCaffery announced today that Owen Freeman will miss the remainder of the season with a finger injury.

Here’s to a speedy recovery, 32! 🖤 pic.twitter.com/xxXrrPSkpb

— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) February 3, 2025

Freeman has easily emerged as the most consistent player on Fran McCaffery’s platoon this season. Without a steady backup presence, Iowa’s likelihood of sneaking into the 2025 NCAA Tournament drops to its lowest point of the season. Iowa is 13-8 on the year and 4-6 in Big Ten play, currently sitting No. 63 in the NCAA NET Rankings.

While unfortunate for fans of the Big Ten, Wisconsin’s Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter should benefit from Freeman’s absence on Feb. 8. The two combined for 32 points and 15 rebounds in Wisconsin’s Jan. 3 win. Those totals could balloon without…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-rival-upcoming-opponent-losses-110411631.html

Author : Badgers Wire

Publish date : 2025-02-04 11:04:00

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