Bo Ryan: Wisconsin Coach Defends Blocking Jarrod Uthoff from Transferring to Big Ten or ACC School

Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan has finally chosen to speak publicly on why he won't let Jarrod Uthoff transfer to any school of his choosing.

The redshirt freshman told Wisconsin officials on Wednesday that he wanted to transfer after just one year in Madison. Uthoff gave the school a list of about 25 potential schools he would like to go to, but was told he wouldn't be allowed to attend more than half of the programs on his list.

According to Uthoff, Ryan would not allow him to contact any Big Ten or ACC School. He also wouldn't let him speak with Marquette or Iowa State.

Ryan has the right to prevent any player who's trying to transfer from speaking to a specific school. According to the guidelines of Uthoff's scholarship, a student can appeal a denial made by a coach.

There are rules of a scholarship, Ryan told ESPN's Andy Katz on Wednesday. I didn't make them up.

Ryan then appeared on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning to explain his decision.

The coach defended himself by saying he's following standard protocol.

This is how everyone handles transfers...all I'm asking for is fairness.

Ryan's behavior can be construed as somewhat hypocritical. The coach was in a similar sitation a decade ago, when he left the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to coach Wisconsin. Ryan left before his contract was up, and was not limited to which school he could coach next.

Ryan claims he's doing what every head coach in the country has done, but that has done little to quiet his critics.