New rules in hoops

[Sbee]

am i the only one who's sick of the new hand check and bumping rules? Izzo said the other night that he's going to tell his guys to just drive and they will get fouled, i don't think it's good for the game. we're starting to see more foul shots that field goals and games that take 30 minutes longer than they should.

if you're going to call it like this, you should change disqualification to 6 fouls too.

one other thing i've seen is that since they are calling every hand check, refs are letting a lot more push offs and over the backs go.

hopefully they relax the whistles as the season goes on

 

[MSUMatt28]

I don't have a problem with it. The game has become largely unwatchable in recent years. Hand checking has never been allowed in the NCAA's rulebook. So this emphasis is just renewed enforcement of a rule that's always been in the books. The reasons lots of fouls are being called is that players haven't adjusted yet. If you put your hand on someone and they whistle you, then you adjust by backing off a little and moving your feet on defense. I would have been happy with them fixing the block-charge, which has become too skewed toward the defense in it's interpretation, but won't complain if other attempts are made to open the game up more.

Going to 6 fouls isn't the answer. The Big East tried that back in the early 90s and it was disastrous. Games became even bigger hackfests. The way coaches manage foul trouble nowadays is different too. Years ago, when MORE fouls were actually called even though the game was less physical, a player would likely keep playing until he got his third foul in the first half. Nowadays players sit once they get 2, even if that means sitting 10 minutes in the first half.

I suspect by the time conference play rolls around they'll either have eased up a little or the players will have adjusted. It's also possible teams could switch to more zone to protect themselves, which would slow the games down more, and I wouldn't care for that. I haven't observed this happening too much yet.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I haven't watched OSU even once this year, but has Aaron Craft fouled out every game? If not, the refs aren't doing their job.

I personally don't mind the rule too much. I just don't like the inconsistency in the foul calling. The first half of the OU game the refs let them play and it was beautiful to watch. Once they started calling all the fouls we couldn't run because there wasn't any rhythm to the game and that's why Oklahoma got back into it.
I think the way the refs are calling games now really work against teams that are looking to run. And it especially hurts teams who don't have depth. If all you play is 7 players you're going to be in a world of trouble. Luckily we have pretty good depth in the back-court, but the front-court is another story.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Just to add one more thing, I do really like the fact that the offensive foul calls are pretty much done. The sliding under the player crap was getting really irritating and 9 times out of 10 they called it on the offense. That's the one good thing that has come out of all of this.

 

[Sbee]

Just to add one more thing, I do really like the fact that the offensive foul calls are pretty much done. The sliding under the player crap was getting really irritating and 9 times out of 10 they called it on the offense. That's the one good thing that has come out of all of this.

that's the best thing i've seen from this, i'm sick of aaron craft not defending and sliding under a player. michigan big men were notorious for this, guys like mcgary or morgan just fall down when touched, like a 270lb guy would take such a hard fall from a love tap, what a joke.

 

[Sbee]

I don't have a problem with it. The game has become largely unwatchable in recent years. Hand checking has never been allowed in the NCAA's rulebook. So this emphasis is just renewed enforcement of a rule that's always been in the books. The reasons lots of fouls are being called is that players haven't adjusted yet. If you put your hand on someone and they whistle you, then you adjust by backing off a little and moving your feet on defense. I would have been happy with them fixing the block-charge, which has become too skewed toward the defense in it's interpretation, but won't complain if other attempts are made to open the game up more.

Going to 6 fouls isn't the answer. The Big East tried that back in the early 90s and it was disastrous. Games became even bigger hackfests. The way coaches manage foul trouble nowadays is different too. Years ago, when MORE fouls were actually called even though the game was less physical, a player would likely keep playing until he got his third foul in the first half. Nowadays players sit once they get 2, even if that means sitting 10 minutes in the first half.

I suspect by the time conference play rolls around they'll either have eased up a little or the players will have adjusted. It's also possible teams could switch to more zone to protect themselves, which would slow the games down more, and I wouldn't care for that. I haven't observed this happening too much yet.

I think we need to find the balance point, right now they're overdoing it. Izzo told appling late in the Oklahoma game that under no circumstances was he to shoot a jump shot, he was going to take it to the basket and get fouled or make the basket. he said that he's going to start coaching to that now, i don't think that's how the game should be played

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I think the enforcement of the hand check rules is a good idea. The fewer differences between NCAA and NBA, the better. Further, scoring is more fun than not scoring. If it's a good game between teams that ends up 50-48, so be it, it can still be a good game. However, if it's just teams playing slow and gumming up poor offenses by playing grind it out defense, that's boring.

That all said, the Oklahoma game really put the emphasis on the refs being too whistle-happy. They say every NBA possession could end in a foul if the refs played exactly to the rules. I imagine the same is true in the NCAA. But calling the number of phantom or expected calls that they do is ridiculous. As Izzo pointed out, anytime someone drove to the basket, the refs were calling a foul. It didn't matter that no other league in the world would have called a foul on many of those plays, the NCAA refs are calling ANY contact rather than illegal contact. There IS a difference, and the refs just don't get it yet. Has it increased scoring? Maybe, I don't have the total nation numbers, but is it worth the slowing of the game and destruction of normal offense? Fans don't want to see free throws, they want to see dunks and big threes. Calling all these fouls that shouldn't be fouls even when enforcing hand check rules is counterproductive. It theoretically increases scoring but decreases excitement.

Side note, in the second half of the Oklahoma game, when Oklahoma was already in the double bonus with like 12 minutes left in the half, I remember calling my buddy and asking what the hell was going on. We came to the same conclusion as Izzo, that we should just drive the ball every possession regardless of positioning and get ourselves into the double bonus as well. And then the team did exactly that. It was impressive that Izzo made the call and implemented it so quickly, and sad that it worked so easily.

 

[Sbee]

I think the enforcement of the hand check rules is a good idea. The fewer differences between NCAA and NBA, the better. Further, scoring is more fun than not scoring. If it's a good game between teams that ends up 50-48, so be it, it can still be a good game. However, if it's just teams playing slow and gumming up poor offenses by playing grind it out defense, that's boring.

That all said, the Oklahoma game really put the emphasis on the refs being too whistle-happy. They say every NBA possession could end in a foul if the refs played exactly to the rules. I imagine the same is true in the NCAA. But calling the number of phantom or expected calls that they do is ridiculous. As Izzo pointed out, anytime someone drove to the basket, the refs were calling a foul. It didn't matter that no other league in the world would have called a foul on many of those plays, the NCAA refs are calling ANY contact rather than illegal contact. There IS a difference, and the refs just don't get it yet. Has it increased scoring? Maybe, I don't have the total nation numbers, but is it worth the slowing of the game and destruction of normal offense? Fans don't want to see free throws, they want to see dunks and big threes. Calling all these fouls that shouldn't be fouls even when enforcing hand check rules is counterproductive. It theoretically increases scoring but decreases excitement.

Side note, in the second half of the Oklahoma game, when Oklahoma was already in the double bonus with like 12 minutes left in the half, I remember calling my buddy and asking what the hell was going on. We came to the same conclusion as Izzo, that we should just drive the ball every possession regardless of positioning and get ourselves into the double bonus as well. And then the team did exactly that. It was impressive that Izzo made the call and implemented it so quickly, and sad that it worked so easily.

when it's called like that, it's an equalizer between the bad and good teams. anyone can drive and draw a foul, make free throws. there are less separation when rebounding, outside shooting, defense, etc all matter less.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

when it's called like that, it's an equalizer between the bad and good teams. anyone can drive and draw a foul, make free throws. there are less separation when rebounding, outside shooting, defense, etc all matter less.

I agree, though the team with better rebounding, outside shooting, and defense should eventually win anyway. I'm glad the NCAA is trying to take away some of the goonish play that they shouldn't have allowed in the first place; I'm not glad that the NCAA's solution is to call fouls that don't exist, or fouls that serve to negate defense altogether.

 

[SpartyNash]

I too flat out hate these new rules. I do not pay to watch a free throw shooting contest, I could probably shoot just as well as some of these guys. I agree that when guys are getting mugged and nothing is called that is equally bad, but unless you have your hands all over a guy then a handcheck should never be called.

 

[Sbee]

Defense should be half of the game, it may not be as exciting for viewers on tv. People don't get pumped to watch missed fgs and defensive rebounds but that's how you win. If a foul is called on 40% of possessions it makes players scared to defend because they don't want to foul out.

 

[Sbee]

Also, someone mentioned the 50-48 games, those are mainly the result of tempo. Wisconsin plays low scoring games because they walk it up and wait for thr best shot, even if it takes 30 seconds. If you want more scoring and better d, just take time off the shot clock.

 

[MSUMatt28]

I saw some stats last season that cited the biggest reason for the drop in scoring over the years has been the decrease in offensive rebounding, mostly due to the number of teams who send 3 back when a shot goes up rather than sending 4 to the boards. This is a double whammy to scoring with the result being fewer second chance points and also fewer fast breaks.

Also fewer teams consistently press full court anymore to increase the tempo like back in late 80s and early 90s with Oklahoma, Loyola, UNLV, Arkansas, etc. So there are a number of factors at play regarding teams playing slower than they have in the past resulting in decreased scoring. It isn't just from the refs allowing too much rough play.

Still with all that being said the game has gotten too physical. Watching a college game compared to an NBA game or a college game compared to a college game 15-20 years ago is no comparison with how much more physical it is. I believe something needed to be done, but I'm with everyone else in hoping the refs don't take it too far to the other extreme.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Also, someone mentioned the 50-48 games, those are mainly the result of tempo. Wisconsin plays low scoring games because they walk it up and wait for thr best shot, even if it takes 30 seconds. If you want more scoring and better d, just take time off the shot clock.

It was me who mentioned the 50-48 games, and even said they could still be good games. Pace is certainly a factor in those, and I don't mind slow paced games that have great execution from both teams. What I mind are normally paced games that end up still finishing in the 30s. I don't like the differences between NCAA and NBA anyway, so don't even get me started on the 35 second shot clock. That's borderline ridiculous. No team needs 35 seconds to set up a single shot. It also tends to ruin end-game situations because teams have to start fouling with over a minute left to get back into the game. If a coach doesn't just concede the game, the last minute can take a lot longer than the NBA.

 

[Spartanmack]

It was me who mentioned the 50-48 games, and even said they could still be good games. Pace is certainly a factor in those, and I don't mind slow paced games that have great execution from both teams. What I mind are normally paced games that end up still finishing in the 30s. I don't like the differences between NCAA and NBA anyway, so don't even get me started on the 35 second shot clock. That's borderline ridiculous. No team needs 35 seconds to set up a single shot. It also tends to ruin end-game situations because teams have to start fouling with over a minute left to get back into the game. If a coach doesn't just concede the game, the last minute can take a lot longer than the NBA.

I hate the last 2 minutes of basketball games. The way to fix basketball is to make every foul in the last 1 or 2 minutes or whatever makes sense, one shot and the ball. It's ridiculous that fouling late, which is intentionally breaking the rules to improve your team's chance to win the game is a universal strategy. Surreptitiously breaking rules is part of every game but basketball is the only game I'm aware of that has rules that create the perverse incentive of overtly breaking the rules to help your team win.