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Former Wisconsin forward Jarrod Uthoff is transferring to Iowa. Because all Big Ten schools were on the restricted list for his transfer, he will not be able to receive an athletic scholarship next season. He will also have to sit out for the second straight year, but he would have had to do that anyways with a transfer to any Division I school in the country. Jim Polzin of the WSJ does a good job of clearing up any other Uthoff misconceptions that are out there.
There's a small amount of vitriol towards Uthoff out there from Badger fans, and I would encourage anyone with a grudge against the kid to move on and wish him well. It's not worth getting angry over possible tampering from Iowa- it's only cheating if you get caught, right? Jarrod may be able to shed some insight to Iowa about Wisconsin's program, but the Badgers aren't exactly the hardest team to figure out in college basketball without an inside scoop.
Uthoff's decision to take two straight years off from college basketball is risky, and no one would go that far just to screw over a program or coach. He wanted out of Madison- maybe the grass looked greener in Iowa City after they beat the Badgers twice last season. It happens. Life's too short to get mad over some 20 year old switching schools. If Frank Kaminsky isn't holding a grudge, neither should we.
Congrats to my good friend and fellow BG Cracka @mr_uthoff for pickin Iowa. Good luck my friend.
— Frank Kaminsky (@FSKPart3) June 7, 2012
Weekend Links:
Incoming Badger bball recruit Sam Dekker is one step closer to representing his country at the FIBA championship in Brazil. With 14 players remaining, the USA men's basketball U18 national team will make two final cuts before heading to Brazil on June 12. Good luck Sam, hope you survive the final cut.
Adam Mertz and Benjamin Worgull take an early look at Wisconsin's 2014 recruiting class, including offensive line recruit George Panos.
Wisconsin's season opener against FCS Northern Iowa will kickoff at 2:30 PM CT. I'd say that not having to play this game at 11 AM is a win for Badger fans.
Wideout Nick Toon couldn't stay inbounds as he made a nice one-handed grab at a Saints practice, but he is doing a good job so far in New Orleans. Nick also advocates that kids try a variety of sports when growing up.
Recent success has the UW athletic department rolling in the dough from a reworked media rights deal with Learfield Communications.
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