Cully Payne: Iowa AD did not give players a 'timetable'

Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta met with the school's men's basketball players over the weekend but did not give them a set time for when the school will hire another coach.

"We had a little team meeting and got told what was going on and that we're looking for a new coach," freshman point guard Cully Payne said Monday. "We didn't get any timetable. He just said when we get a new coach, we'll be the first ones to know."

Coach Todd Lickliter was fired last Monday when most of the players were on spring break. It set off a frantic couple of days for the players, who were looking for details.

"It was definitely a worry that we went on spring break with," Payne said. "We heard it about, and it was hard for the first couple of days.  But we talked with Mr. Barta and Mr. (Fred) Mims, and they kind of helped us out and got us through it."

Iowa's players now are in off-season workouts, something they start in earnest on Tuesday. Assistant basketball coach Chad Walthall is guiding the players in workouts until the next coach is hired.

Payne and fellow freshman Brennan Cougill were working out individually at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Monday afternoon. Cougill declined to talk about the situation.

Payne was Lickliter's vocal supporter and said following the Big Ten Tournament he'd consider leaving the school if Lickliter was fired. Payne said he talked with Lickliter last week and said Iowa's former coach is "going to get back up on his feet." Monday, Payne said he was looking forward to meeting Iowa's next coach.

"I don't plan on going anywhere," Payne said. "I love it here. It's a good place to be. As of right now, I'm happy.

"Those last two games we struggled a little bit. (The freshmen) were fatigued and getting beat up. We were coach's first recruiting class so us freshmen, we're all going to stick together. The older guys are going to stick it out. We're excited. We're excited to press forward with this."

Payne averaged 8.7 points a game and led Iowa with 122 assists. He scored a career-best 25 points in the Hawkeyes' 59-52 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. After losing by 27 points to Wisconsin and 35 to Minnesota, Payne figured a change was on its way.

"We kind of saw it coming after the Michigan game, everything kind of came tumbling down," Payne said. "We trust Mr. Barta and everyone upstairs, the staff, Fred Mims, we trust those guys to make the right decision. So right now we're just working out and lifting and getting ready for whoever it is they bring in."