Open Mike

Mike Rosario officially gets his release from Rutgers, becoming the latest domino to fall for Scarlet Knights, who are still dealing with fallout surrounding head coach Fred Hill. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)

It's been said that "April showers bring May flowers." So far, the Rutgers basketball program is in the midst of an April it would like to forget.

After the incident surrounding head coach Fred Hill's obscenity-laced tirade at an umpire during a Scarlet Knights baseball game; not to mention defying an order by athletic director Tim Pernetti to stay away from the field, another black eye has formed in Piscataway, as star guard Mike Rosario has officially been granted his release from the program, thereby allowing the sophomore to transfer to another school; where he will have two years of eligibility after sitting out the 2010-11 season no matter where he ends up.

Rosario, who made history as the first McDonald's All-American to sign with the Scarlet Knights after being recruited out of St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City, led Rutgers in scoring during both of his seasons in the Garden State. However, home cooking couldn't keep Rosario from leaving, as Bobby Hurley Sr., who coached Rosario in high school, told the Newark Star-Ledger's Brendan Prunty that "the losing was something that was hard on him."

A story written by SNY's Adam Zagoria sheds some light on where Rosario could end up. Zagoria was told that Rosario would not be permitted to transfer to another Big East school, nor to a program that plays Rutgers next season. Rosario is still looking at North Carolina, Southern California, Kansas and Florida as possible destinations, and reports have also indicated Michigan State and Arizona as being in the mix for his services.

Rutgers has still yet to officially separate themselves from Hill, as the disgraced head coach has yet to accept the well-documented $600,000 buyout offered to him shortly after the baseball incident. Hill is expected to appeal any decision to fire him, and could sue the university if the appeal is denied.