Iowa's Tucker denies transfer rumors

Iowa sophomore guard Anthony Tucker said Thursday there is no truth to Internet rumors he plans to leave Iowa for another school.

"No, none," Tucker said. "I think it's someone that they thought they'd throw it out there and see what happens and see what people would say, maybe hopefully get me to say something about it. It's nothing that I've talked to Coach about."

Tucker was among several players rumored to leave the program. All of the players, including Tucker, participated fully during Thursday's practice.

Tucker ranks second in scoring at 11.4 points a game. He missed the second semester last year after he was ruled academically ineligible. Thursday, he blamed last year's academic issues partly on taking advanced-level courses that conflicted on his time constraints.

Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter also was asked about the rumors.

"You're asking me to comment on a message board post?" Lickliter said. "If they had, I don't know that it would be acceptable for me to announce it. But ... this is the first I've heard of it. I usually don't comment unless somebody signs their name to something."

Iowa had four players with eligibility transfer at the end of last season, including starting guards Jake Kelly (Indiana State) and Jeff Peterson (Arkansas). Nine players with eligibility have left Iowa since Licklier was hired in April 2007.