Longhorns' Rodney Terry Irritated with Iowa's Treatment of Tyrese Hunter: 'It's Not Fair!'

DES MOINES, IOWA - Ever since the Texas Longhorns touched down in Des Moines, Iowa to begin their March Madness journey, sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter hasn't exactly been feeling the love from the state he used to call home.

Hunter played with the Iowa State Cyclones last season up in Ames, which is about 40-minute drive north of Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. He then transferred within the Big 12 to Austin, a move that made many Cyclones fans feel betrayed especially since he won the conference's Freshman of the Year last season with Iowa State.

And after letting him hear it when Texas traveled to Ames during the regular season, the Iowa State faithful made sure to come out in full force for the March Madness festivities in Des Moines knowing that Hunter would be in attendance.

Whether it was the open practice that Texas held on Wednesday or during their 81-61 first-round win over Colgate on Thursday, Hunter has been bombarded with insults, boos, and name-calling seemingly every time he's touched the ball.

While Hunter hasn't batted an eye, Texas coach Rodney Terry didn't hold back how irritated hearing all of this has made him.

"You shouldn't punish those kids and you shouldn't treat those kids that way," Terry said. " ... Adapt and adjust. Guys are going to come and go all the time. Leave it alone. That's not fair."

LonghornsCountry.com has been in attendance for March Madness here in Des Moines to hear the insults up close.

"Tyrese you walked away, you're scared!" one "fan" shouted from the front row as Hunter approached the sideline during Wednesday's practice.

This was hardly the first thing that was said and certainly won't be the last.

When Hunter was introduced as a starter for Texas' game against Colgate, he was greeted with thunderous boos from the crowd.

He clearly didn't let all the noise get to him, as he turned in a solid performance with 10 points and four rebounds in Texas' tournament-opening win.

Terry praised Hunter, who has remained stoic and stone-faced throughout it all, calling him "a true professional."

"Tyrese Hunter was incredible at Ames, Iowa, when we went there," Terry said. "He never paid attention to the awful things that were said to him when he played that game. He didn't get caught up in the nonsense. I was so proud and I told the guys I was so proud of how he carried himself like a true professional and a respectful young man."

With the Longhorns taking on the 10th-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, fans in Des Moines likely won't stop the heckling, especially with nothing to cheer for now that Iowa State and Iowa have both been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.

But just don't expect a peep from Hunter about it all.

You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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