Class of 2023 C Owen Freeman (IL) Portal to Auburn

[bnoro]

Now this is an intriguing opportunity. Regardless of his injury history I think he's the best center we've been linked with by far.

 

[OmahaCuse]

I hear a lot of the critiques, I really do.

But I wanna make the NCAA tournament. To do so, you need Owen Freeman level talent. And we don’t have anybody currently who is proven to be that type of talent.

If bringing him in comes with risk, so be it.

Cost Creighton its season last year. He is a good hard working kid that’s not injured.

 

[OmahaCuse]

Cut short his really good sophomore season at Iowa. Last played 1/27/25 and then didn't play full time minutes at Creighton at all this past season, despite scoring 19 in 19 in the season opener.

Freeman had a whole lot of single digit minute games at Creighton and missed a few here and there as well. The exact pattern of a guy who's struggling with a lingering injury.

It also kind of explains why the worst kind of Creighton fans called him lazy. Which really stinks because it seems he could've mailed in the season pretty early and gotten a medical redshirt and made a whole lot more money by getting an extra year of eligibility.

CU fans did not call him lazy

 

[CuseMan4]

To be completely fair…. If you are a Creighton fan do blame them for being unhappy? Kid was a top 3 player in the portal last year, he got a BAGGGG, averaged 17 and 7 at Iowa and he virtually did nothing at Creighton. If we got a top 3 player in the portal this year and he went on to do nothing for us next year after we gave him a bag. I’m sure Cuse fans would be respectful and thrilled. I don’t blame Creighton fans lol

 

[Orangezoo]

This is his redemption year opportunity playing with a group of kids that want to get after it. It’s the kind of thing where yeah it’s a risk but might be a perfect match. We need this level of talent at the 5 and he needs a shot at redemption.

 

[whobut03]

To be completely fair….if you are a Creighton to blame them for being unhappy. Kid was a top 3 player in the portal last year, he got a BAGGGG, averaged 17 and 7 at Iowa and he virtually did nothing at Creighton. If we got a top 3 player in the portal this year and he went on to do nothing for us next year after we gave him a bag. I’m sure Cuse fans would be respectful and thrilled. I don’t blame Creighton fans lol

Nate George says hi.

He was terrible

 

[721Comstock]

To be completely fair….if you are a Creighton to blame them for being unhappy. Kid was a top 3 player in the portal last year, he got a BAGGGG, averaged 17 and 7 at Iowa and he virtually did nothing at Creighton. If we got a top 3 player in the portal this year and he went on to do nothing for us next year after we gave him a bag. I’m sure Cuse fans would be respectful and thrilled. I don’t blame Creighton fans lol

Nait George nods his head, knowingly.

 

[Orangefan1]

This kid should get more than 250k with his history

 

[Scotch]

This is his redemption year opportunity playing with a group of kids that want to get after it. It’s the kind of thing where yeah it’s a risk but might be a perfect match. We need this level of talent at the 5 and he needs a shot at redemption.

Totally agree. Risk worth taking. Distressed asset with proven high upside.

 

[granthath9]

This kid should get more than 250k with his history

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.25 million would be my guess.

 

[SDjohn]

CU fans did not call him lazy

They most certainly did. Read the replies on this and get back to me.

 

[orangemass]

Nate George says high.

He was terrible

Hi or high?

 

[tptcuse]

Cost Creighton its season last year. He is a good hard working kid that’s not injured.

Anything specific you feel comfortable sharing? Lots of hints, which is fine. Maybe some mental health issues? Or issues with the coach?

 

[whobut03]

Hi or high?

Haha auto correct from the phone. But the way he played, I’m going to stick with autocorrect as it’s seemingly accurate.

 

[OmahaCuse]

They most certainly did. Read the replies on this and get back to me.

I’m a season ticket holder, know the coaches and players not going to divulge anything other than to say he is a great kid and hard worker which everyone on the team knows. Not talking about random fans on the outside.

 

[Orangezoo]

They most certainly did. Read the replies on this and get back to me.

Now go look at our fans comments on this portal class so far. Trashing every single addition, Gerry, the whole works. Twitter sports engagement makes Yelp reviewers look positive.

 

[721Comstock]

Now go look at our fans comments on this portal class so far. Trashing every single addition, Gerry, the whole works. Twitter sports engagement makes Yelp reviewers look positive.

Twitter *anything* makes an overflowing toilet in a truck stop bathroom look positive.

 

[PeteCalvin]

He was not injured or lazy…

Are you saying he was Nait George?

 

[OmahaCuse]

Anything specific you feel comfortable sharing? Lots of hints, which is fine. Maybe some mental health issues? Or issues with the coach?

Now go look at our fans comments on this portal class so far. Trashing every single addition, Gerry, the whole works. Twitter sports engagement makes Yelp reviewers look positive.

For reference have liked every add so far from GMAC. Would like to see us add the other sienna forward Folefec, a 7’0” center who plays above the rim and defend, alter shots and score on dunks and rebounds.

 

[Orangezoo]

For reference have liked every add so far from GMAC. Would like to see us add the other sienna forward Folefec, a 7’0” center who plays above the rim and defend, alter shots and score on dunks and rebounds.

Ditto on what we add. I really wanted Mayes too.

 

[dasher]

Cost Creighton its season last year. He is a good hard working kid that’s not injured.

well, the hold up right now is his past injuries so...

 

[jdubs30]

If nothing else … McDermott is one of the best and most underrated coaches in America …. He choose freeman to replace Kalk .. arguably the best player in Creighton history

 

[Cusefan69]

well, the hold up right now is his past injuries so...

Dash if the guy is in town and past injury is the hold up, do they get an nda and have our doc look at him? Is that how that would work in this unregulated free agency world?

 

[General20]

Look at the comments…I’m just passing on info.

Lot of vitriol there. Most of it not particularly rational.

The caution I have is, we've seen a lot of productive big guys suffer major injuries like this guy has and fall off ... I cant think of any who eventually bounced back. Some do Im sure, and Im sure Gerry knows the whole medical history and has doctors checking on him before investing a million dollars or more. Still its a worry.

What I find most intriguing is that this kid while playing far fewer minutes and putting up far lower counting numbers. Has been putting up similar 'per 40' numbers to his dominant freshman year.

I get the feeling Gerry wants to go 2 deep at every position and do a bunch of rotating, so maybe Gerry feels he only needs 20 good minutes a game from this kid?

 

[bnoro]

He had offseason meniscus surgery before Creighton and it just sounds like he wasn't able to ramp up like he had hoped. It happens.

This is a risk, but one with a high percentage of working out.