Video: Lickliter says Tucker on 'leave of absence'

IOWA CITY - Iowa sophomore Anthony Tucker was sent home on an indefinite leave of absence, Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter said last night after the team's 82-69 win against South Carolina State.

Tucker, 20, was suspended indefinitely following a public intoxication arrest early Sunday morning. It was Tucker's second arrest for the same charge, and he was not at the game last night. Lickliter was non-committal on Tucker's future within the program.

“I wasn't there, and I'm not going to discuss what he and I talked about personally,” Lickliter said. “We know that there was an arrest. We know that he was involved. We know that he's got to go through this process and get it cleared up. I'm going to do my part is to evaluate it and to determine options for him and try to be supportive whatever that may be.

“Right now the only thing I expect is that he's on a leave of absence. He needs to get settled the things as far as his situation with the arrest. He needs to get that settled. Then we can talk about the rest of it after that.”

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 and a bench trial is set for Jan. 28.

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's roommate, sophomore Matt Gatens, said he's spoken with Tucker since the incident. Gatens said he thinks Tucker wants to return to the team.

“I've talked to him a lot,” Gatens said. “It's a tough deal, we're a family here. We're all brothers and when one goes down, someone's got to step up. He knows he's made a mistake and he's feeling sorry for it. I'm sure he's watching tonight, and he's feeling a little better that we've won. We're going to need him back, we're thinking about him and I hope everything ends up all right.”

Tucker has started every game and is Iowa's second-leading scorer at 11.9 points. Six hours before the arrest he scored 17 points in a win against Drake.