College Basketball Returns to Old Form? (Article)

[grunewar]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...form/24486735/

"Across the board, from what I've seen, we're back to where we were, which is probably what it needs to be," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.

Thoughts?

[crosscountry55]

Based on my observations, I agree completely with the article. Scoring isn't fun if it's all FTs. And considering how poorly some players shoot FTs, that makes it even worse.

If we want to keep freedom of movement intact while increasing scoring at the same time, we probably need to consider adjusting the 7/10 thresholds for team fouls and decreasing the shot clock. If I'm an official, then I can just call a foul and administer a throw-in, and then at most it will be another 24 or 30 seconds until something new happens.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Based on my observations, I agree completely with the article. Scoring isn't fun if it's all FTs. And considering how poorly some players shoot FTs, that makes it even worse.

If we want to keep freedom of movement intact while increasing scoring at the same time, we probably need to consider adjusting the 7/10 thresholds for team fouls and decreasing the shot clock. If I'm an official, then I can just call a foul and administer a throw-in, and then at most it will be another 24 or 30 seconds until something new happens.

They, and you, are missing the point of changes. If ALL officials will call it, the players will stop doing it (they want to keep playing) and the FTs will return to the number they were before. The problem comes when only some change and others refuse. They players don't know what to do and will pick up extra fouls.

Making the shot clock shorter will probably increase the number of fouls as there will naturally be more attempts to get to the basket (where many fouls happen) in a game.

[APG]

Officials call the game the way their assignors want it call...whom in turn have to answer to AD's who listen to their coaches whine.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by APG

Officials call the game the way their assignors want it call...whom in turn have to answer to AD's who listen to their coaches whine.

Yup. And therein lies the problem. Unless we become like federal judges with lifetime appointments, we will ultimately do what those who have the power to hire and fire us want us to do.

While it's noble to think that the game would become cleaner if all officials subscribed to the same philosophies, that's a pie-in-the-sky vision. The last two years have been a case in point.

All things move toward equilibrium. After this freedom-of-movement experiment I think we now know where college basketball equilibrium lies. The next thing we need to do is adjust some rules (stress the system) and see if we end up with a new and more favorable equilibrium.

[JRutledge]

I have not seen any major changes to the way the game is called. I have seen players adjust to the game and coaches still over managing the games which have affected scores. I think officials as usual are being scapegoated for what other issues are taking place in the game.

Peace