National Defense

(St. Louis, MO) – Success in college basketball has been tied to defense and tempo and the those that run the game have decided to try to bring a change to that equation. With the sweeping pen of the rules committee hand checks, redirecting a player through the paint have now gone the way of the dodo bird.

Will that improve the game, make it a free throw shooting contest or turn defensive gurus like Tom Izzo and Bob Huggins into zone defense czars. No matter where you fall in this conversation, you know the game will be different when it tips this weekend.

The early results have been uneven.  In some exhibitions there have more free throws taken than denials in the Nixon White House. Some coaches are bringing officials to practices to show their players how the games will be officiated only to find out they are still confused at the end of practice. Some say the rules committee has legislated the ‘charge’ out of the game.

The keepers of the game feel the scoring efficiencies, shooting percentages and point totals and other aspects of the game are suffering and that James A. Naismith’s game needs a tune up. Purdue Coach Matt Painter told me that no rules needed to be changed, but officials should simply call what is already in the rule book.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo told me that his Spartan team will still be physical and go get rebounds, and they’ll learn how the game will be called while it is being called.

Painter and some Missouri Valley Conference coaches express their concern over the new rules.

For the so-called ‘mid-major’ programs that may play a more physical game to compete with more talented teams from the ‘power conferences’ these rule changes could be significant.

Many coaches expressed the concern that the game will be officiated one way in November and December, but when “March Madness” rolls around the game will change again.

The season begins November 8th. Let the whistle blow!

Do Good