NCAA Announces 30-Second Shot Clock, Extended Restricted Area for NIT Games

In an effort to test potential permanent rule changes, the NCAA has decided to implement some experimental alterations during the 2015 NIT.

According to NCAA.com, the governing body will reduce the 35-second shot clock to 30 seconds and extend the three-foot restricted area an extra foot in all 31 NIT games.

Belmont head men's basketball coach and NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee chair Rick Byrd believes this is a big step toward possibly making season-wide rule changes down the line, per NCAA.com:

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The committee discussed both of these potential rule changes during its May 2014 meeting, knowing that the May 2015 meeting would be the committee's next opportunity to make a change to either of these rules. ... Although the committee will discuss a number of potential rules changes at the meeting, having specific data on these two rules should help the committee make a decision about whether such potential rule changes might further improve the flow and competitiveness of college basketball.

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Most have met the experiment with approval thus far, including ESPN.com's Andy Katz:

Nicole Auerbach of USA Today is in agreement that the trial run is a sensible idea:

Both experimental rule changes could aid in increased scoring both in the NIT and in college basketball in general should the NCAA officially adopt the alterations.

While the NIT is certainly an important tournament, it is a great guinea pig since it obviously plays second fiddle to the NCAA tournament.

Not only could this idea help increase the excitement surrounding the 2015 NIT, but it could ultimately improve college basketball as a whole.

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