Brust's Path To The Badgers Looks Clear

A Big Ten faculty committee sided with Wisconsin Friday morning and will grant a waiver to former Iowa recruit Ben Brust to allow him to receive an athletic scholarship at another school within the conference.

Based on the fact that Wisconsin formally went to bat for Brust in a second appeal, the Badgers are the odds-on favorite to sign the 6'2" guard from Mundelein (Ill.) High School before the spring signing period concludes May 19. Brust appears to be the most viable option to replace Ian Markolf on the roster, which would alleviate some of the depth concerns at guard next year caused by graduation and dismissals.

Iowa released Brust from his Letter of Intent without restriction back on April 12, after hiring new head coach Fran McCaffery to replace the ousted Todd Lickliter. Scholarship offers poured in from California to Boston College, but Big Ten programs like Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern continued to show varied amounts of interest in Brust, pending the interpretation the existing rule against transferring within the conference.

Brust was originally denied in the matter by the Big Ten's Academics and Eligibility Subcommittee.