Some Additions to the NCAA's Proposed Rule Changes

It will be interesting to see how the NCAA community at large reacts to the recently proposed rule changes.

First there is the no charges under the basket if a secondary defender is present rule.

This is pretty close to the NBA's no charge semi-circle and seems to make sense, however, why not just go all out and put a semi-circle on the court to give all the one-and-done players practice for what it is really like in the league.

The other rule change would involved injured players and foul shots.

As the rule currently states, the coach of the team with the injured player who is fouled gets to choose who shoots the foul shots.

Under the proposed rule change the opposing coach would get to choose a player that is currently on the court to shoot the foul shots. Seems fair on both ends.

The opposing coach can't select the walk-on player at the end of the bench, so who ever shoots will have been in the game. Also the team that was fouled can't choose its best foul shooter. Seems to even out in the end.

But then again it isn't something you see all that often.

The NCAA's latest set of proposed rule changes got me to thinking about other things that could be changed in College Basketball.

Make goal tending more cut and dry

Currently you almost need to be a physicist to understand when goal tending should be called and when it shouldn't.

I would propose only calling goal tending if the ball is on or in the rim, or if it is on the backboard. No more of this downward trajectory business.

If a player can get to the ball in the air then why punish him for his athletic ability. This would eliminate the need for the referee to make a judgment call. It is clear and concise and you can't argue if the ball is on or in the cylinder.

No more backcourt screens

This is a tough rule to sell but one that could avoid numerous injuries. As it currently stands a player playing defense and solely fixated on the person they are guarding can be screened in the back court.

One could argue that is just the way the game is played, but why not protect these players and force the offensive player to use their ball handling skills to get the ball into the front court.

Too many players have suffered or come close to suffering serious injuries as the result of these sometimes head rattling screens.

Of course their teammate could have called it out but if their backs are turned while transitioning on defense they could easily be missed as quickly as the ball sometimes is moved.

Lost Contacts should be treated as an injury

This may be a little nit-picky but if a player's contact lenses are knocked out and they have to be found, cleaned and put back in then the player should be forced to check out of the game.

It is most annoying to see a game have to pause because a player is putting in a contact lens. Get them off the court and resume play.

Keep it in the box

Is it me or are coaches given a lot of leeway to walk all over the court.

It is one thing to see a coach take a step or two on the court to bark out directions while their team is on the other end, but now-a-days the coaches are sometimes two or three steps on the court while their team is on their end.

I thought that was why they had a coaches box to keep coaches off the court. Maybe the NCAA could enforce that rule for a change.

Technical fouls assessed to crowds

I'm pretty sure this could happend now, but it is usually reserved for throwing things on the court.

Some fans are beginning to cross the lines of decency with their chants. Many will immediately think Duke and Cameron, but the crazies aren't really the target of this rule.

This rule is more for certain fans who feel it is acceptable to liberally drop the f-bomb or other vulgar phrases directed at schools, players, and coaches. It is classless and with the popularity of college basketball, and the exposure it gets it shouldn't be allowed.

One would hope that the schools whose fans conduct themselves in such ways would be the first to quell these chants but unfortunately it is becoming more prevalent.

Some fans have even made t-shirts with the f-word prominately plastered across the chest. The NCAA needs to act fast on this unless they want college basketball to turn into a Samuel L. Jackson film.

So much for the days of rah rah ree.