Big Ten, MAC to Experiment with Instant Replay on Block/Charge Calls

Expanded instant replay is coming to college basketball on an experimental basis in 2016-17.

According to Greg Johnson of NCAA.com, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the use of replay to review block/charge calls in the restricted area.   

The rule is limited to only the Big Ten and Mid-American Conference in league games.

Like the NFL, coaches can challenge a specific call but will lose a timeout if they are wrong and the call on the court stands.

Of course, there are limitations to the challenges, as described by Johnson:

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Instant replay can be used only in the last two minutes of the second half or the last two minutes of any overtime period.

Instant replay may be used only when an official has made a block/charge call in or around the restricted area arc, and the decision is based on whether the defensive player was in or outside the arc. Instant replay may not be used on no-calls.

Any review, whether by the officials or a coach’s appeal, must be recognized and corrected before the ball next becomes live. 

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Blocks and charges are often among the most heavily debated calls in the sport. With the ruling usually being a judgement call based on which player initiated contact and whether the defender's feet were set, many instances are 50-50 calls that could go in either direction.

The NCAA officially implemented the restricted area arc in 2011, limiting where defenders could stand while attempting to draw a charge. This latest ruling will give officials an extra chance to see which players are inside or outside that arc.

Instant replay has previously only been allowed for reviews of the clock, three-point attempts and, in the final two minutes of the game, out-of-bounds rulings.