Tucker's future up in the air after arrest

Iowa sophomore Anthony Tucker was suspended indefinitely from the men's basketball team following a second public intoxication arrest early Sunday morning.

Iowa City Police officers arrested Tucker, 20, at 2:05 a.m. at 100 Hawk Ridge Drive after a dispute with a taxi cabdriver. According to the police complaint, Tucker accused the cabdriver of taking his cell phone and allegedly was beating on the side of the cab. The cabdriver locked his car doors and called police.

The police report described Tucker with bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and a strong smell of alcohol. Tucker swayed when he spoke and “had trouble forming logical, understandable sentences and repeated himself frequently.” Tucker was taken to the Johnson County Jail and was released around 10:30 a.m. Sunday after posting a $325 bond. He pleaded not guilty.

Tucker has started every game and is Iowa's second-leading scorer at 11.9 points. He scored 17 points Saturday nigth against Drake. Sunday afternoon, Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta confirmed Tucker's suspension.

“At this point, I do not have all the details of the incident,” Barta said. “I can tell you, we are able to confirm that Anthony Tucker was arrested. Based on that confirmation, Anthony will be suspended for an indefinite period of time.

“First and foremost, I wanted to make sure Anthony is okay from a physical safety standpoint, and he is. Certainly, I am disappointed because this is not the first legal incident involving alcohol.”

Athletics department guidelines mandate an automatic suspension for all athletes arrested on a second alcohol-related offense pending a full alcoholism assessment and 30 hours of community service. A third arrest results in a dismissal.

Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter will address the incident following tonight's game against South Carolina State, assistant sports information director Matt Weitzel said. It's undetermined if Tucker will attend the game.

Tucker recently has been rumored to transfer from the program, but denied those rumors in an interview with The Gazette last week. Sunday morning on his Facebook page Tucker posted “I am outta here” after he was released from jail.

Sunday's arrest was one of several incidents that has plagued Tucker's tenure at Iowa. Tucker, who hails from Burnsville, Minn., was found unconscious Dec. 7, 2008 in a downtown Iowa City alley after a night of excessive drinking. He pleaded guilty to public intoxication and was suspended for 12 days.

Tucker later was ruled academically ineligible for the remainder of his freshman year. He passed his classes and was eligible by NCAA standards, but a low grade-point-average cost him his season by Big Ten guidelines.