DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — If Iowa coach Todd Lickliter is upset with Tony Freeman’s parting shots, he isn’t saying.

Lickliter dodged numerous questions on Monday about Freeman’s decision to transfer, telling reporters in a conference call that he wouldn’t discuss private conversations between the two.

Freeman, the team’s leading scorer last season, announced last week that he’ll play his final season elsewhere. Freeman averaged 13.8 points per game as a junior in 2007-08. But he told reporters last week that he was led to believe he wasn’t compatible with Lickliter’s system.

Lickliter refused to respond to Freeman’s comments, saying he isn’t comfortable trying to critique or analyze his statements.

“I think there are some things you should be respectful of, and this is one of them,” Lickliter said. “There are some things that I think, respectfully, should remain between individuals.”

Freeman says the final straw came when he heard that Jarryd Cole and Cyrus Tate were named captains for next season. Lickliter wouldn’t address why Freeman was passed over as a captain, which came as a surprise since Freeman and Tate would be the only senior starters returning in 2008-09.

“I don’t think you really pick your captains. Everybody on the team should lead, and it should be difficult to figure out who gets that added responsibility,” Lickliter said.

Lickliter was willing to talk about was the program’s immediate future, however. The Hawkeyes have turned over much of their roster as they try to bounce back from a disappointing 2007-08 season, when they set a school record with 19 losses.

Iowa will be without Freeman, outgoing seniors Justin Johnson, Seth Gorney and Kurt Looby and guard Dan Bohall, who said last month that he’s leaving the program. To fill those spots, the Hawkeyes have signed six new players, including junior transfers Jermain Davis and Devan Bawinkel and freshmen Andrew Brommer, Aaron Fuller, Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker.

Lickliter also expects center David Palmer and J.R. Angle — both of whom played sparingly down the stretch — to return next season.

Freeman’s playing time will likely be split between Jeff Peterson, who struggled with turnovers as a freshman, and whomever else emerges out of a crowded and inexperienced backcourt.

Lickliter had some positive news to share about Cole, saying the forward’s rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament is going well. Cole had begun to emerge as one of Iowa’s best players when he tore his ACL in late December.

Lickliter is hoping Cole will be ready by October, just before the start of the season.

“He’s doing wonderful. He’s not ready to play yet, but he sure looks good,” Lickliter said. “He seems right on track. He’s attacked his rehab the way I knew he would.”