All Things, How Do We Fix College Basketball?

[SelectionSunday]

Still love college basketball, but it needs some major repairs. It's become borderline unwatchable at times, especially the last couple minutes of a 6-7-point game when it becomes a procession to the free-throw line and/or the review table for silly & minor clock adjustments. Quite often it completely ruins what had been great & entertaining games.

Here are a few of my suggestions. Others that you'd like to see?

(1) TV timeouts are 3 minutes each. That's too long. Because TV won't let them cut ad time, negotiate to make it 3 TV timeouts per half and make it four timeouts per team, per game (with one of them being a use it or lose it in the first half). That means a max of three timeouts per team in the second half. It's ludicrous for teams to have 4/5 timeouts remaining with less than 4 minutes to go in a game. And that happens all the time.

(2) Determine what a foul is and stick with it. Hand checking? Yes or no? Make a decision. Two hands on a offensive player has to be an automatic foul.

(3) Reset the team foul (bonus) count midway through each half. No more teams marching to the foul line 7 and 8 minutes into a half. It's no longer basketball. More like the Elks Club free throw shoot. When the clock reaches 10:00, the bonus clock automatically resets.

(4) Coaches should only be allowed to make dead-ball timeouts/make the players think for themselves. If the ball is live and the coach wants a timeout, he either has to get that message conveyed to one of his players, or the players (heaven forbid) should have to think for themselves and call the timeout on their own. Isn't that part of college life on & off the court, learning how to think independently? I am so sick of coaches being allowed to bail out their team by running & screaming toward the official like a madman and then getting rewarded with a timeout.

(5) Adopt an NHL-like embellishment technical and enforce it. Stop the flopping (Duke the masters) and snapping the neck back (OSU's DeAngelo Russell a good example) on the slightest of contact (for Example A flop, see Tyus Jones vs. Duje Dukan). Duke started & has mastered the art of the flop (see Wojo, Shane Battier, Greg Paulus video, etc.), and unfortunately a lot of college basketball programs have followed. There has to be a deterrent for overzealous embellishing.

 

[BleedGopher]

I definitely agree with cutting down on the number of timeouts. It's crazy how many there are right now.

I'd also really like to the shot clock moved down to 30 seconds as a starting point, maybe consider going lower.

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

I would also really like the "one-and-done" rule changed to go pro out of HS or commit to three years in college. I realize three years is probably pushing it, but two at a minimum. The fact that the narrative a day after the Final Four surrounds which players are leaving early is unfortunate.

Go Gophers!!

 

[Bad Gopher]

(1) TV timeouts are 3 minutes each. That's too long. Because TV won't let them cut ad time, negotiate to make it 3 TV timeouts per half and make it four timeouts per team, per game (with one of them being a use it or lose it in the first half). That means a max of three timeouts per team in the second half. It's ludicrous for teams to have 4/5 timeouts remaining with less than 4 minutes to go in a game. And that happens all the time.

Regardless of how you slice it, you're still cutting ad time. As long as greed is still one of the 7 deadly sins, we're going to have this problem. I think the trick is just to make sure it doesn't get any worse from here.

Stop the flopping and snapping the neck back on the slightest of contact.

Andre Hollins was the worst at this - both in the frequency he tried it as well as his poor acting skills. It annoyed the shat out of me as long as he was here.


I'm going to go back to one thing I've written about before: eliminate the double bonus. Make people prove it at the line under demanding circumstances. That'll actually reduce the number of free throws shot overall. This is the way the game was for many years.

I don't know what to do about basketball having become more like rugby, especially in the lane. There's now more contact in basketball than there is in the defensive backfield of football, which is weird. When I was taught the game, I swear they told us that it was not a contact sport; now everyone says it is. That's a fundamental change. It affects the beauty of the game.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I'm absolutely with you on the embellishment technical, that needs to be fixed quick. Also on the foul consistency.

The dead ball timeout is something I agree with you on, but I'd like to see it go farther. I would advocate for eliminating live ball timeouts entirely (I would allow a "dead" ball timeout after a made field goal, I don't know if that is technically considered live or dead right now since the ball goes out of bounds but the play doesn't stop). Alternatively, only allow a player to make a live ball timeout when they are not under defensive pressure. Basketball is the only sport I can think of where you are allowed to call a timeout during play to bail yourself out of a bad situation.

 

[SelectionSunday]

In the Mark Cuban thread, Ruppert mentioned another one I'd be totally on board with. 6 fouls before you foul out, especially considering the number of fouls that are called. I want to see the best players play. It's pretty much automatic a key player gets 2 fouls in the first half and his coach sends him to the bench for the rest of the half. Bah, humbug.

 

[scools12]

Agree with a 30 second shot clock.

Like to see at the end of game situation being able to advance the ball to mid-court after a timeout.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Here's Mine:

Shorten the shot clock to 30 seconds with resets to 20 (or no reset whichever is higher) on fouls & kicks.

Widen the lane to 16 feet.

Move the charge circle out a foot.

All team called time outs are 30 seconds. Lower the number to 4, with only 3 being available in the 2nd half. Or use a hybrid of the NBA with their mandatory team time outs Basketball Time Out Rules. Only make all non-mandatory time outs 30 seconds.

I agree with the people who say that only players should be able to call live ball time outs.

Those are a few off the top of my head.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

Regardless of how you slice it, you're still cutting ad time. As long as greed is still one of the 7 deadly sins, we're going to have this problem. I think the trick is just to make sure it doesn't get any worse from here.



Andre Hollins was the worst at this - both in the frequency he tried it as well as his poor acting skills. It annoyed the shat out of me as long as he was here.


I'm going to go back to one thing I've written about before: eliminate the double bonus. Make people prove it at the line under demanding circumstances. That'll actually reduce the number of free throws shot overall. This is the way the game was for many years.

I don't know what to do about basketball having become more like rugby, especially in the lane. There's now more contact in basketball than there is in the defensive backfield of football, which is weird. When I was taught the game, I swear they told us that it was not a contact sport; now everyone says it is. That's a fundamental change. It affects the beauty of the game.

I think the bolded would make it worse. The process of getting to the free throw line and shooting the first free throw is the longest part of it. You eliminate the automatic 2nd shot and the "hack a <insert under 70% FT shooter here> would be the ultimate comeback mode strategy.


I always wonder when this subject comes back. Other than the timeouts/stoppages which is plaguing every sport, what's wrong with college basketball? Why are we trying to make it something it's not?

I don't like Tennis, so lets add some contact, perhaps a defensive player on the other side of the net... that would spice it up.

Golf, you should be able to psych your opponent out, add some personality to the game kind of like what Bowling has tried to do with that Weber character (obviously worked since I know a bowler).

 

[DarrenTheGreek]

I also favor getting rid of the double-bonus. I never liked it and it rewards teams that are awful foul shooters.

Keep the shot clock at 35 seconds. Anything less and it is too close to becoming the NBA.

Remove the charge circle. Why does it matter where a defensive player is? If he's standing there and you charge him, it's a charge. Stop going to the hole OOC.

Only live players can call timeout. I also like the idea of not calling a timeout unless it's a dead ball (or after a made basket).

Remove the physicality as others have mentioned.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

3:30 left in the first half. Coach calls a full timeout. Under 4 minute TV timeout is NOT taken at that time, but instead made to wait until the next whistle when play resumes.

This is absolutely insane. The NBA will use their TV timeouts when a coach signals for one. For college ball not to do so is the biggest crock of **** out there.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

*Eliminate the charge circle. Only adds another layer of confusion to a call that is routinely botched anyways.

*Reduce the number of timeouts teams are allotted.

*Do something about the 1&Done rule. I'd be fine with either the MLB style rule (HS jump/3 yrs if not) OR just adding another year and making it a 2 yrs out of high school mandate.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

3:30 left in the first half. Coach calls a full timeout. Under 4 minute TV timeout is NOT taken at that time, but instead made to wait until the next whistle when play resumes.

This is absolutely insane. The NBA will use their TV timeouts when a coach signals for one. For college ball not to do so is the biggest crock of **** out there.

Thats a good one. And drives me bonkers.. Especially if the in-bounds gets tipped or something similar to cause 2 3 minute delays in the game within 5 seconds.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

My main issue with the proposals regarding the 1 and dones is that it is not the NBA's job to "fix" college basketball. They have their own product, and should make the decision that they believe creates the best fan experience for pro basketball.

 

[gopher7]

I like a lot of these, especially calling technicals for flops.

I have come to the conclusion that I despise replays. I could be talked into an NFL-like challenge system where the number of reviews is very limited, but in the interest of flow, I am ok with officiating mistakes being part of the game.

 

[Bad Gopher]

*Eliminate the charge circle. Only adds another layer of confusion to a call that is routinely botched anyways.

*Reduce the number of timeouts teams are allotted.

*Do something about the 1&Done rule. I'd be fine with either the MLB style rule (HS jump/3 yrs if not) OR just adding another year and making it a 2 yrs out of high school mandate.

I would, too.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

1. Shot clock to 30.
2. Timeout reform, especially not allowing coaches to call a live ball TO. Basketball is a players game. College BB coaches already have big enough of egos. The current TO structure allows them to dictate the game too much.
3. Abolish charges. Well not all offensive fouls. But if an offensive player is making a basketball move, how about the defender try and stop him rather than just stand their and hope for the best. Half the time, the defender is either falling backwards before being touched, or is barely touched. Now offensive players shouldn't be able to just run anyone over. But how about defensive players actually playing defense.

 

[scher215]

My biggest ones would be resetting the shot clock to 35 after fouls. Stop that now.

Shot clock at 30 seconds.

I'd also do like the NBA and allow the advancement of the ball to half court with time outs, makes ends of games way more fun.

Lastly, I'd go the other way on free throws and eliminate 1 and 1. 2 shots every time in the bonus. Sure you are "rewarding bad FT shooting teams" but who cares? FT shooting shouldn't be one of the top factors that determines who wins a game. I also kind of like some of the previously suggested Cuban comment of making it so if you make the first, you get 2 points. Miss the first, you get a second shot to try for 1.

Plus, all 1 and 1 does is reward your ability to make your first free throw. If an 80% free throw shooter misses his first, but by all likelihood would have made his second, he shouldn't lose all points there. Your just rewarding teams for playing a foul heavy defense. As opposed to rewarding theoretically bad free throw shooters. I'd argue they SHOULD get the reward, after all, their the ones who got fouled. IMO, fouling should never be an acceptable defensive strategy.

 

[scher215]

Would also add to eliminate zone defenses, again, you're rewarding teams who can't defend so they have to play a zone.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I go back and forth on the free throws. On the one hand, I agree with Scher in that (in any sport), that you should not reward the team doing the fouling. On the flipside though, I feel like making a free throw is something that should be so automatic for basketball players at this level, I do like seeing people get punished if they cannot accomplish that simple task.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Would also add to eliminate zone defenses, again, you're rewarding teams who can't defend so they have to play a zone.

I must disagree. Don't take strategy out of the game; leave strategy in. Allow coaches to change up defenses just like they can change up offense and keep teams off balance. Besides, these refs have enough to keep track of - often unsuccessfully - without making them have to regulate defensive alignment, too.

 

[Nokomis]

I don't mind the longer shot clock. Allows for different styles of play & strategy, IMO.

 

[station19]

1. Tell Mark Cuban to shut up.

2. Stop all talk of shortening the shot clock...THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM!

3. Don't ban zone D's. It's the difference of styles of play by teams that make college bb so much better than nba.

Many good ideas from others. It's a flow of the game issue.....it's not a hurry up and shoot issue.

As others stated. Call fouls on a consistent basis to clean up the physical play and bs clutching and grabbing. Too many time-outs.
MLB trying to speed up game. Saw somewhere where time between innings was 1.5 minutes in the 80's(?). Now it is 4.5. That's an extra 34 minutes(17 half innings) per game. Good luck lowering advertising minutes. But at least admit that is a problem.

Last minutes of game: Yes, can take forever. How about this? When the trailing team is on defense and fouling to send opponent to foul line....give the fouled team the option of shooting the FT's or keeping possession with a pass in? This could be with X amount of minutes left in the game. Just a thought.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I must disagree. Don't take strategy out of the game; leave strategy in. Allow coaches to change up defenses just like they can change up offense and keep teams off balance. Besides, these refs have enough to keep track of - often unsuccessfully - without making them have to regulate defensive alignment, too.

Agreed. When of my favorite things in any sport is to watch teams throw different things at you (both offensively and defensively) and then watch teams have to react and change up their response. It rewards versatility, diverse skill sets, and players/coaches who can think.

 

[GoodasGold]

Stop compensating the officials on a "per whistle" basis. It only encourages phantom fouls.

 

[gopherhoopsguy]

1. Tell Mark Cuban to shut up.

2. Stop all talk of shortening the shot clock...THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM!

3. Don't ban zone D's. It's the difference of styles of play by teams that make college bb so much better than nba.

Many good ideas from others. It's a flow of the game issue.....it's not a hurry up and shoot issue.

As others stated. Call fouls on a consistent basis to clean up the physical play and bs clutching and grabbing. Too many time-outs.
MLB trying to speed up game. Saw somewhere where time between innings was 1.5 minutes in the 80's(?). Now it is 4.5. That's an extra 34 minutes(17 half innings) per game. Good luck lowering advertising minutes. But at least admit that is a problem.

Last minutes of game: Yes, can take forever. How about this? When the trailing team is on defense and fouling to send opponent to foul line....give the fouled team the option of shooting the FT's or keeping possession with a pass in? This could be with X amount of minutes left in the game. Just a thought.

Timeouts are a problem..
I agree no need to switch shot clock.. Not the problem the way the game reffed is call the fouls when they happen grabbing holding. That is a foul. I watch every game in tournament this I thought other than the last two I thought this was the best in years.

Joe derosa was fired from NBA 3 years ago for fan incident.. He is ACCguy had duke 6 times this year. I was told by a source he called less than 10 fouls on duke all year. He had one on duke in wis game. There are stats for refs how many they each call a game and on teams I need to find his stats.
It might be called phillyref.com
Keep the zone nobody watches the NBA so why would we want to pattern game after there's yuck.

go pro after high school or have to stay 2 or 3 years in college. Now we know there committed to college they will have to go to school.

The senior transfer rule is stupid.

 

[GopherRock]

Stop compensating the officials on a "per whistle" basis. It only encourages phantom fouls.

Refs are not being paid on a per-whistle basis.

I'll echo some of the thoughts already stated in the thread.

-Get rid of the damn charge circle! Any leads worth their salt aren't looking at the defender's feet to see if they're on or inside the circle. They're watching for the contact from the waist up, and using that to determine which way to go on a potential foul. There's a reason why we often pregame for the top refs (C and trail) to call travels in the post. The only time lead looks down is to see if someone steps out of bounds.

-Limit reviews to endgame situations (shot got away in time, 2 or 3 at the horn).

-Use a coach-called TO as the TV timeout if it qualifies.

-Make flopping (and the subsequent T for unsportsmanlike conduct) a point of emphasis next year. Sure it's already in the books, but get it front and center.

-A metro area HS conference does not use double bonus in their sub-varsity games. I've worked in that league for many years, and the lack of double bonus does NOT affect the number of free throws shot.

 

[gopherhoopsguy]

My biggest ones would be resetting the shot clock to 35 after fouls. Stop that now.

Shot clock at 30 seconds.

I'd also do like the NBA and allow the advancement of the ball to half court with time outs, makes ends of games way more fun.

Lastly, I'd go the other way on free throws and eliminate 1 and 1. 2 shots every time in the bonus. Sure you are "rewarding bad FT shooting teams" but who cares? FT shooting shouldn't be one of the top factors that determines who wins a game. I also kind of like some of the previously suggested Cuban comment of making it so if you make the first, you get 2 points. Miss the first, you get a second shot to try for 1.

Plus, all 1 and 1 does is reward your ability to make your first free throw. If an 80% free throw shooter misses his first, but by all likelihood would have made his second, he shouldn't lose all points there. Your just rewarding teams for playing a foul heavy defense. As opposed to rewarding theoretically bad free throw shooters. I'd argue they SHOULD get the reward, after all, their the ones who got fouled. IMO, fouling should never be an acceptable defensive strategy.

First time I saw this great idea after fouls setting shot clock to 30 I might go a little lower. Teams would stop fouling so soon and try to get a stop at the end of games.

There is very little wrong with college basketball

 

[fryguy22]

I like a lot of these, especially calling technicals for flops.

I have come to the conclusion that I despise replays. I could be talked into an NFL-like challenge system where the number of reviews is very limited, but in the interest of flow, I am ok with officiating mistakes being part of the game.

Couldn't agree more. Plus a replay makes the ref's job harder. A prime example was the WI / Duke out of bounds call that everyone is whining about. Now, on replay that ball was obviously off Duke as all of America saw. But, practically speaking the ref ALWAYS gives that ball to Duke. Why? because Koenig was all over Winslow. You either call a foul in that scenario or give the ball to Duke, since it's illegal to go through someone to get the rebound.

So the ref makes the call that keeps the flow of the game going and makes practical sense (don't need to send Winslow to the line there, give Duke the ball since it wasn't an egregious foul). Suddenly, there is replay and the whole world is up in arms over a call that would ONLY EVER have 2 outcomes in real time - foul on WI, or Duke ball.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Shorter shot clocks. Passing around the perimeter for a few seconds before the offense is initiated is stupid. College women play with a 30 second clock. The men can as well.

Go to a quarter system. It creates natural tv timeouts and you can make those timeouts 4 minutes long. This can eliminate tv timeouts, at least to a degree.

Eliminate some team timeouts.

Widen the lane and institute the international three.

Hire better refs.

Make the game less physical. It is obnoxious right now.
Don't reset the ten second half-court time upon a timeout or when a ball is knocked out of play.