NCAA Conference Commissioners Reportedly Discussing Freshman Ineligibility

In an effort to prevent college basketball players from entering the NBA draft after just one season, the NCAA is considering restoring the freshman ineligibility rule.

Continue for updates.    

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SEC Commissioner Mike Slive Comments On Potential Freshman Ineligibility

Monday, Mar. 2

Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press provided a statement from Slive on the potential of freshman ineligibility:

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Big Ten Seeks More Feedback on Freshman Ineligibility Rule

Tuesday, Feb. 24

The Big Ten issued a statement on Tuesday emphasizing the desire to obtain more feedback on the discussion of freshman eligibility, h/t Kevin McGuire of NBC Sports' College Football Talk.

Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany stated:

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While we are comfortable generating multiple ideas about an ‘education first’ approach to intercollegiate athletics in the twenty-first century, we won’t go it alone on any of these matters. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the NCAA Division I governance structure, and to exploring a broad exchange of ideas from both inside and outside of intercollegiate athletics.

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Bleacher Report's Michael Felder discussed the potential rule in the following video:

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NCAA Considering Freshman Ineligibility Rule

Friday, Feb. 13

According to Jon Solomon of CBSSports.com, several conference commissioners have had discussions about reinstating a system that has been out of the picture since 1972.

Although it is assumed that the freshman ineligibility rule would focus largely on college basketball, Solomon points out that it is unclear if it will impact other sports as well. In addition to that, it isn't yet known if all freshmen would be ineligible to play or if only those who don't reach certain academic benchmarks would have to sit.

The Big Ten appears to be leading the charge, per a document obtained by Aaron Kasinitz and Ellie Silverman of The Diamondback on Feb. 19:

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The Big Ten is hoping for support from its member institutions to begin a 'national discussion' about ruling freshmen ineligible for football and men’s basketball, according to a document obtained by The Diamondback.

'What I like about the concept of the proposal is it puts right up front the basic issue: Are we basically a quasi-professional activity or primarily an educational activity?' university President Wallace Loh said. 'And if you support it, you are basically saying very clearly the No. 1 priority is the education of the students.'

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Stewart Mandel of FOX Sports offered more detail from the Big Ten's perspective:

It is an extremely divisive issue, but Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott believes it will be a major topic of discussion moving forward, per Solomon.

"I've had conversations with several commissioners about [freshman ineligibility]. We are pushing, and I think you will see much more serious conversations about it in the coming months and year."

Kyle Tucker of the Courier Journal had John Calipari's take on the discussion:

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"Well, that's pretty good. I say this: every decision that we make, which we hadn't for 40 years, should be about these kids. Now is that the best decision for these kids? Or are we worried about individual programs? Somebody came up with the baseball rule. So let me ask you this, 'So your son is 6-5, skinny and over the summer he grows seven inches and gains weight and becomes Shaq – but he had to go to college because at the time he was 6-5 and 120 – he should stay in school three years because of a baseball rule?'

"Now is that good for the program, the coaches or the players? If you want the baseball rule, let them go anytime they want: They can go as 11th graders, 12th graders, their first, second and third year in college. Or go to two years and then do what you're supposed to to take care of these kids when they're here. I think all the stuff – two years in college would give them almost three years of an education. Get them back here, now we have educated people. Our kids come back anyway, whether they leave one year.

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Jeff Greer of the Courier Journal added Rick Pitino's take as well:

Aside from the motivation to curb one-and-done basketball players, the argument in favor of freshman ineligibility is the notion that a year in school without athletic responsibilities will improve academics.

According to Solomon, however, Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher doesn't believe that such a link exists.

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It sounds really good. I don't think it addresses the academic issues people think it does. I think the literature and studies done show sitting as a freshman is not a predictor whether a person is successful academically by GPA or by graduation. Why are we making a group of kids ineligible for a year when for the vast majority of kids they're academically prepared to be there and to play?

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There is no doubt that most incoming players will be against this proposed rule change, especially if they are good enough to make the leap to the NBA after just one season.

Per David Ubben of Fox Sports Southwest, it could get messy if the NCAA decides to proceed down that road:

Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal is among those who see absolutely no value in making freshmen athletes ineligible:

Jay Bilas of ESPN echoed Tucker's sentiments:

It can be argued that one-and-done players have taken away from the excitement of college basketball to some degree, but whether it is such a big problem in need of significant rule changes is up for debate.

If the NCAA does ultimately reinstate freshman ineligibility, it promises to change the game of college basketball and the NBA draft process in an absolutely massive way.

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