Iowa HC Fran McCaffery believes 19YO forward will have "even more dominant" sophomore season
It's safe to say that coach Fran McCaffery believes in Owen Freeman's potential. The Iowa Hawkeyes head coach sat down with the media on Monday to talk about his team in the build-up to their 2024-25 season, and when asked about Freeman, he had a lot of promising thoughts.
"I have been encouraging him since he’s been 15 years old. You’ll see a guy with a more complete game this year and be even more dominant.”
Addressing media inside the Carver-Hawkeye arena, McCaffery was asked about Freeman's mindset going into his sophomore year after averaging 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on 61.4% shooting in his Freshman year:
“The thing about Owen is he’s a special young guy in so many different ways, and he is incredibly talented. He also recognizes that there’s room for growth and wants to get better."
You can hear Fran McCaffery's thoughts on the 19-year-old forward in full below:
Fran McCaffery believes in his players
As the Iowa HC waxed lyrical about his players, you could tell that he genuinely knows these players and wants them to succeed. During the press conference, McCaffery was asked about multiple players, and he didn't hesitate to answer one bit.
Elaborating on his comments on Owen Freeman and explaining why he expects the young forward to keep growing in his game, McCaffery continued:
“So for him, it started in the weight room, but then it also morphed into doing more off the bounce, doing more from the perimeter as a shooter. I used to tell him even when he was in high school to look for his shot more. Flash to the high post, turn and face and shoot it, shoot the foul line jumper. That sets up your shot fake drive. Because he is a shot fake drive, one-dribble dunk guy from there."
McCaffery continued to hype Freeman up:
“He really worked hard on his shot on his own time. He worked very closely with Kirk Speraw just on their own and then, of course, with our coaches as well. He got it in this summer. You are seeing a dramatic difference because a lot of times it’s not necessarily form or technique. It’s confidence and knowing that your coach has the confidence in you to shoot the ball."
McCaffery and his team will spend the next few weeks preparing for an exhibition game against Minnesota-Duluth, before opening the 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 against Texas A&M Commerce.