This past Friday it was announced that Jared Uthoff, redshirt freshman small forward Badger basketball player, decided to leave the program and transfer to another school. It is a peculiar choice for Uthoff, who picked Wisconsin over several other D-1 schools, including his home state Iowa Hawkeyes. Because 5 star recruit and fellow small forward Sam Dekker figures to receive more playing time than Uthoff next season, it was anticipated that Uthoff would bulk up and move to the 4 (power forward). Speculation is that he may have soured on this position change.
Where jealousy, as the title indicates comes in, is from the fan base following this transfer. Uthoff hasn't even stepped on the court for Bo Ryan, but fans had high expectations for him and are pissed the team wasted a year developing him as a redshirt for him just to jump ship so suddenly. Most fans posted messages of "good riddance" and "he was a little b*^ch afraid of competing against Dekker". Some have wished him well regardless of where he ends up, while others have reserved judgment until he announces where he is transferring from.
Iowa fans were extremely jealous and posted nasty comments a year ago when he committed but not frequent the 13 page thread on the message board to gloat about how he made the wrong decision to not come to Iowa City. While the Badgers have the right to block certain schools from acquiring Uthoff, many feel as though he is headed back to Iowa to play for either the Hawkeyes for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Regardless, it is very interesting to watch the mudslinging go back and forth between Hawkeye fans and Badger fans, while level headed Badger fans try and make their case as well that it's an additional scholarship that can be used in this next recruiting class to sign a real power forward. Nevertheless, Uthoff formed himself many new enemies by transferring out, and Badger fans are known to hold quite the grudge. Should be interesting to watch play out over the next few years.
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