Scandal and controversy at Memphis might be taking college
basketball by storm these early summer days, but the NCAA is doing
its best to improve the sport in every which way possible as of
late.
Less than two months after it was agreed upon to move the
deadline up to May 8 for underclassmen declaring for the NBA Draft,
three other rules were modified for the upcoming 2009-10 season on
Monday.
And while it may have taken longer than it should have to see
such changes put in place, each is a step in the right direction
for college basketball.
For one, the rule change involving block-charge calls has
been long overdue.
The NBA, for quite some time now, has incorporated a
restricted area inside the key, something that college basketball
still does not have and still won't have next year.
But the NCAA has at least clarified that starting in the
fall, secondary defenders cannot establish position underneath the
basket, or in their words, "between the backboard and the front of
the rim."
Because it's way too often — particularly during the
conference tournaments and in the NCAA tournament — that a
controversial charging call in the closing minutes influences the
outcome of a game and sometimes a team's season.
All it takes is a dotted half-circle four feet from the
center of the hoop, and we wouldn't have a lot of the bad calls
that help decide games in late February and March.
The second rule change approved by the NCAA involves free
throws following an injury and is suspect at best.
Unlike in previous years where the shooting team's coach
would get to choose any player on his roster to take the shots, the
opposing coach will now be allowed to select one of the team's four
remaining players on the floor.
This rule adjustment certainly gives the opposing team a much
bigger advantage than in the past. Instead of allowing the shooting
team to at least pick one of its four remaining players, the rule
gives all the power to the opposing team in such a situation.
Not only would the shooting team be losing a player, but it
also could lose out on two points should the opposing coach pick a
weak free-throw shooter on the floor.
Therefore, coaches must be much more wary of who they have on
the floor late in a game, because an injury could cost them a
player, two points and possibly a win.
The final rule change passed by the committee has to do with
officials expanding instant replay to help determine flagrant
fouls, specifically ones resulting in ejection.
Similar to the NBA's foul system, college basketball referees
can now still call an intentional foul or technical foul for
contact without also ejecting the player.
This alteration allows for further investigation of hard
fouls, giving officials more time and resources to make the correct
call.
So though it might take a little bit longer for the zebras to
get the call right with such a rule change, it's worth the extra
two or three minutes for everyone involved — the players, the
coaches and even the fans — to get the fairest and most
honest officiating in each and every game starting next season.
