Does Anyone Want to See Rule Changes

[gunny]

After seeing another poorly played Final Four, I believe the college game is in need of some rule changes. College basketball is becoming so defensively intense that it is allowing teams with average talent to beat teams with superior talent. I believe we are going to continue to see teams like Butler with less talent use the rules against teams with superior talent. I do not want to see the college game turn into the NBA, but a few minor corrections should be made. The changes I would like to see are:

1. Move the 3 point line back. The NCAA started the process a few years back when it moved it from 19’9” to 20’9”. Now it should be moved back to the international line. The international line (at 22’2”) is about the half way point between the current college line (20’9”) and the current NBA line (23’9”). I would hope that moving the 3 point line would open up low post play and cause teams to focus more on low post play. Low post play is almost non-existent in today’s college game. Low post play normally leads to higher field percentages with more scoring. It would also prevent marginally players, such as Butler’s Matt Howard, from chucking up junk from the 22 feet. Also hopefully teams would focus on a higher percentage of 2 point shots instead of chucking up 3’s. In the championship game last night, Butler shot more 3 point shots than 2 point shots (33 3 point shots vs. 31 2 point shots).

2. Lower the shot clock to 30 seconds. This does not sound like much, but it is 5 fewer seconds for less talented teams to stall and slow down the game. If I wanted to see defensive battles, I would turn on the TV and watch my Steelers play the Ravens. Lowering the shot clock would increase the number of possessions in a game which would result in higher scoring/more enjoying games to watch. The women’s game uses a 30 second clock and those games seem to have a better feel to them than the men’s game.

3. Arc under the hoop. I am SO tired of guys planting themselves a foot or two from the hoop and getting the charge call. Referees seem to love to make the charge call. This really helps when you have floppers, like Matt Howard, who use this rule a couple of times a game. I know this is an NBA rule, but I really think it would allow guards to penetrate more without the worry of the big man sliding under him and getting the call.

I love the college game, but in the past few years it just seems like the games are becoming a more grinding style of game instead of allowing the natural talent of players decide games.

Does anyone have thoughts on these or other changes?

[Boz]

I think #1 and #3 are perfectly reasonable changes (and, in the case of #3, long past due).

I'm not sure I see a great benefit to #2, I think it could just as easily lead to sloppy play (of which there is a great deal in the women's game), but I'd be open to seeing it maybe on an experimental basis to start.

[BubbleVisionBiff]

I would like to see enforcement of current rules and a consistent approach towards punishment for recruiting violations.

Call me crazy.

[lichoya68]

rule number four cahill NEVER ALLOWED TO CALL A PHANTOM TECH AGAIN ADN NEVER BE REWARDED FOR HIS WORK WITH AN NCAA FINAL thats a rule ID LOVE .
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[HoyaSinceBirth]

I agree with these rule changes.

I would also like to see some rule changes in the women's game. Most notably they need to install at ten second count for crossing the half court line. It would definitely make our press more effective.

[chep3]

#3 will happen soon. #1 should happen, but probably won't for a few years. Not only would it probably open things up inside, it would also separate good shooting teams from mediocre shooting teams.

[rosslynhoya]

#3. We could also reduce the number of bogus charges by simply changing the hand signal that the officials use. The ref will now face the scorer's table and firmly clasp his hands behind his back for a three count to signal that an offensive player has committed a charge.

If this doesn't work, then perhaps after next year we require the refs to call all fouls from a crosslegged seated position.

[nathanhm]

I'm all for #3, and #1 is fine with me, or even the NBA line I don't care, but it does need to move back.

Finally I'd like to see the NCAA add some rules around referees being limited to a certain number of games a week or certain amount of travel or something.

[bronxhoya87]

Biggest rule change needs to be a mandatory 3 years in college if you go to school. Otherwise go straight to the NBA.

[gunny]

Bronx,
I agree with you on that point, but that is something more that is going to have to be dictated by the NBA and not the NCAA. It will interesting to see how the NBA deals with this issue in their collective bargaining. I would even take 2 years out of high school as a minimium.

[hoyabinx]

Apr 5, 2011 9:24:45 GMT -5 BubbleVisionBiff said:

I would like to see enforcement of current rules and a consistent approach towards punishment for recruiting violations.

Call me crazy.

This.

[EasyEd]

Outlaw calling timeout while on the floor or when trapped on the sideline.
Give three foul shots for all fouls in the last two minutes.
Treat off-the-leg just like off-the-anyplace else.

[skyhoya]

Football and baseball don't have one and done, why does basketball?

[JB5]

Yes on 1 and 3. The 3 point shot is too easy with the current line. 50% more points for a shot that's not 50% more difficult.

The other change I'd like to see is better enforcement of the rules for defense. I'm tired of seeing offensive players getting held away from the ball and bumped and pushed when they try to get open. It slows down the game and reduces the effectiveness of skilled players. The Hoya teams of the 80s didn't need to grab and push to play good D (although they knew how to foul when necessary).

And some more consistent penalties for recruiting violations would be good.

[Boz]

Apr 5, 2011 9:54:32 GMT -5 rosslynhoya said:

#3. We could also reduce the number of bogus charges by simply changing the hand signal that the officials use. The ref will now face the scorer's table and firmly clasp his hands behind his back for a three count to signal that an offensive player has committed a charge.

If this doesn't work, then perhaps after next year we require the refs to call all fouls from a crosslegged seated position.

Winner, absolutely!

You really have to wonder how often certain refs would make certain calls if they didn't get to gesticulate wildly and call attention to themselves.

[ScreamingHoya]

Apr 5, 2011 10:58:21 GMT -5 Boz said:

Apr 5, 2011 9:54:32 GMT -5 rosslynhoya said:

#3. We could also reduce the number of bogus charges by simply changing the hand signal that the officials use. The ref will now face the scorer's table and firmly clasp his hands behind his back for a three count to signal that an offensive player has committed a charge.

If this doesn't work, then perhaps after next year we require the refs to call all fouls from a crosslegged seated position.

Winner, absolutely!

You really have to wonder how often certain refs would make certain calls if they didn't get to gesticulate wildly and call attention to themselves.

The gentleman in my profile picture being the most heinous of those offenders, IMO.

[NCHoya]

#3 must be put in place as soon as possible. I am so tired of the bogus charges.

That leads to a bigger point, just enforce the rules as they are written. That would clean up the game tremendously. All the NBA really did to increase its scoring was enforce the rule of no hand checking, grabbing, pulling, bumping of offensive players on or off the ball. Simple enforcement would help so much.

I would also move to a 8 second backcourt violation clock like the NBA. This would force teams to either push the ball a little out of their comfort zone or allow superior defenses to force TOs and speed up the game.

The final change I would make is move toward the baseball/football rules of 3 years or nothing. No more one and dones, this results in so many teams that have no idea how to play team basketball.

[1227]

When refs have an "official review" at the end of (close) games which seemed to have happened a lot this year, the players on the court at the time should not be able to go to the bench and confer with the coach. There were multiple times I saw teams with no time outs getting opportunities to essentially have time out discussions with their coaches. I know that under current rules each team gets to confer with the coach and take advantage of the free time out, but I think it is a huge advantage for a team that is losing and out of time outs to confer with the coaches. Also, to be more draconian, maybe sequester all players who were on the bench from the coaches. This rule change will never happen, but it still annoys me.

[Boz]

That's actually a very good one, 1227. I hadn't thought of that, but I think I am remembering some of the same games you are.

[ScreamingHoya]

How about every time there is an issue with the clock, the person running the clock has to go to center court and do 50 push-ups. Is it just me or was there like a 500% increase in clock issues this year- it seemed like every game, especially in the big east, the game had to stop for 5 minutes while the officials went to the tv to see how much time should be left.