Wisconsin Coach Upset Over Transfer Rule

Wisconsin State Journal, Jim Polzin

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120123/WIS020102/120123156/Ryan-slams-transfer-rule?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|GPG-Sports

MADISON, Wis.–If University of Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan had his way, star quarterback Russell Wilson never would have ended up playing for the school’s football team.

Ryan made it clear on Monday he’s very much against an NCAA rule that allows student-athletes who have earned their undergraduate degrees to transfer to another school and play immediately if they have eligibility remaining.

That’s what Wilson did, joining UW for his senior season after leaving North Carolina State. He had a record-setting season for the Badgers, who won the Big Ten Conference title and finished the season with an 11-3 record after losing to Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Wilson’s name was brought up during a question Ryan was asked about the rule at his weekly news conference at the Kohl Center.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea at all, said Ryan, who is on the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ board of directors. Have never liked the idea of people leaving a program after four years of development at that institution with teammates, with the school and to all of a sudden change and be eligible to play right away. If you make a move, you sit.

“It’s creating free agency and it’s creating conversations behind the backs of the institutions and the coaches and his teammates.

“So, it’s a terrible rule. It’s one of the worst rules I’ve ever seen.”

This isn’t the first time Ryan has spoken publicly against the rule. He brought it up in his postgame news conference after UW’s 74-68 loss to UNLV in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers were a No. 2 seed in that tournament, but they lost to the seventh-seeded Runnin’ Rebels in part because UNLV senior guard Kevin Kruger scored 16 points and hit three clutch three-pointers during a decisive run in the second half.

Kruger had transferred to UNLV for his senior season to play for his father, Lon, after graduating from Arizona State.

Ryan said after the game he was among the coaches who had tried to stop the rule that allowed Kevin Kruger to end up with the Rebels.

The rule has been in the headlines in the Big Ten again this year because of Wilson and two basketball transfers.

Northwestern coach Bill Carmody called the rule “a joke” during the Big Ten coaches’ teleconference on Monday. Illinois’ Bruce Weber and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo said they were against the rule, though their comments seem hypocritical because both coaches allowed graduate student transfers to join their rosters this season.

Shooting guard Brandon Wood transferred from Valparaiso to Michigan State for his senior season and is a big reason the Spartans are tied for first place in the Big Ten. He’s started all 20 games this season and is third on the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game.

Point guard Sam Maniscalco transferred from Bradley to Illinois for his senior season. He’s started 13 games this season for the Fighting Illini and is fourth on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game.

Ryan said he wouldn’t allow a graduate student to join his program.

“We’ve been contacted about players, Ryan said. I tell my assistants I’ve got absolutely no interest. But that’s just me, that’s not making a judgment on anybody else. In some cases, I’m sure it’s done for all the right reasons. But I just think because it’s out there, now people are going to abuse it in other ways.”

Coach Upset Over NCAA Transfer Rules

Wisconsin State Journal, Jim Polzin

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120123/WIS020102/120123156/Ryan-slams-transfer-rule?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|GPG-Sports

MADISON, Wis.–If University of Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan had his way, star quarterback Russell Wilson never would have ended up playing for the school’s football team.

Ryan made it clear on Monday he’s very much against an NCAA rule that allows student-athletes who have earned their undergraduate degrees to transfer to another school and play immediately if they have eligibility remaining.

That’s what Wilson did, joining UW for his senior season after leaving North Carolina State. He had a record-setting season for the Badgers, who won the Big Ten Conference title and finished the season with an 11-3 record after losing to Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Wilson’s name was brought up during a question Ryan was asked about the rule at his weekly news conference at the Kohl Center.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea at all, said Ryan, who is on the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ board of directors. Have never liked the idea of people leaving a program after four years of development at that institution with teammates, with the school and to all of a sudden change and be eligible to play right away. If you make a move, you sit.

“It’s creating free agency and it’s creating conversations behind the backs of the institutions and the coaches and his teammates.

“So, it’s a terrible rule. It’s one of the worst rules I’ve ever seen.”

This isn’t the first time Ryan has spoken publicly against the rule. He brought it up in his postgame news conference after UW’s 74-68 loss to UNLV in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers were a No. 2 seed in that tournament, but they lost to the seventh-seeded Runnin’ Rebels in part because UNLV senior guard Kevin Kruger scored 16 points and hit three clutch three-pointers during a decisive run in the second half.

Kruger had transferred to UNLV for his senior season to play for his father, Lon, after graduating from Arizona State.

Ryan said after the game he was among the coaches who had tried to stop the rule that allowed Kevin Kruger to end up with the Rebels.

The rule has been in the headlines in the Big Ten again this year because of Wilson and two basketball transfers.

Northwestern coach Bill Carmody called the rule “a joke” during the Big Ten coaches’ teleconference on Monday. Illinois’ Bruce Weber and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo said they were against the rule, though their comments seem hypocritical because both coaches allowed graduate student transfers to join their rosters this season.

Shooting guard Brandon Wood transferred from Valparaiso to Michigan State for his senior season and is a big reason the Spartans are tied for first place in the Big Ten. He’s started all 20 games this season and is third on the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game.

Point guard Sam Maniscalco transferred from Bradley to Illinois for his senior season. He’s started 13 games this season for the Fighting Illini and is fourth on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game.

Ryan said he wouldn’t allow a graduate student to join his program.

“We’ve been contacted about players, Ryan said. I tell my assistants I’ve got absolutely no interest. But that’s just me, that’s not making a judgment on anybody else. In some cases, I’m sure it’s done for all the right reasons. But I just think because it’s out there, now people are going to abuse it in other ways.”