On Iowa Daily Briefing 4.19.12 -- Uthoff edition

HAWKEYE STUFF

This is only tangentially Hawkeye, but the Wisconsin-Jarrod Uthoff will quake through the Big Ten for quite some time.

The Gazette's Scott Dochterman has gone hound dog on this story. He reported last night that Florida was banned as a destination for the 6-foot-8 forward.

This morning, Ryan went on the ESPN radio program "Mike and Mike" (click the link to listen to the interview) and basically meandered. He went on the defensive and played the "you've never played the game" card -- the last act of the desperate -- on host Mike Greenberg. He came off as a man who was barricading himself in his apartment and yelling at everyone to stay off his lawn.

Here's another post from Scott Dochterman that runs through the byzantine options for a transfer. I think I would rather take on Estonian tax code.

"If Uthoff was granted a full release, he could attend any Big Ten school on scholarship, according to league rule change that went into effect this year. But he has to sit out one year if he wants a Division I scholarship. He also could attend any college denied by Wisconsin, but he would be ineligible for a scholarship for one year and would lose a year of eligibility."

You could make a wonderful case for a Uthoff transfer to Iowa State. I know, I know, insert Iowa State transfer snark-asm here. This is a serious notion.

Roughly 35 years ago, Uthoff's cousing, Dean Uthoff, set Iowa State's career rebounding record and had a successful pro career in Australia.

Jarrod Uthoff is from Marengo. He open enrolled to Cedar Rapids Jefferson and, as a sophomore, he moved up to varsity after fulfilling the IHSAA's 90 school-day sit-out policy for transfers and has made an immediate impact.

Marengo is maybe two hours east of Ames. So, Iowa State, which recruited Uthoff, would be a logical landing.

But No Ryan says no. It seems punitive. It is cowardly. Just let the kid go and compete against him if the opportunity arises. That's what a self-actualized, healthy ego would do. This is craven, this is petty.

You say you're protecting your team and your fans and the interest of coaches, but that's a flat tire. You're selling them short. Wisconsin basketball will live and thrive without Jarrod Uthoff and you know it.

LINKED IN

-- No Ryan's first public comments only made it worse for No Ryan and Wisconsin, writes Yahoo!'s Jeff Eisenberg.

-- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus, one of my favorite Big Ten beat writers (he's really good), explains Uthoff's transfer appeal and the time warp that is Justin Doherty's mailbox.

-- Gazette sports columnist Mike Hlas points out the scrutiny Uthoff will likely face wherever he ends up.

Here's another picture from that open gym that happened about two years ago. This is about the time the Big Ten changed its transfer rules to accommodate Wisconsin guard Ben Brust, who signed with Iowa but wanted out after coach Todd Lickliter was fired.

Such a tangled web.