2024-2025 Men’s Basketball Season General Discussion

KenPom, channeling his inner Dylan, on the increasing length of games:


"The single easiest fix to fight the increase in game length is to adopt the NBA system where out of bounds reviews can only be initiated by a coach’s challenge. Currently, coaches and players effectively have unlimited challenges. Any of them can twirl their finger in the last two minutes and officials are obligated to go to the monitor. Even the most obvious calls can trigger a lengthy viewing party for the officials.

Unfortunately, there’s a custom among the college hoops’ vanguard that adopting an idea from the NBA is a sign of weakness. Therefore, we must wait years (three-point line, charge circle) or decades (shot clock) or possibly generations (quarters) to implement useful ideas. Not all NBA innovations are great but a coach’s challenge system for out of bounds calls would make the end-game quite a bit more watchable. If you think a call is obviously wrong, then risk a timeout to challenge it. Otherwise, keep playing."
In addition to this I'd like to see a time limit put on reviews. If you can't tell in 30 seconds stick with what was called and move on.
 
I'm speculating, but I think it was mostly written that way as a notification to refs that they shouldn't let a player slide on it because they weren't 100% sure that the nut-punching player meant to do it. In short, it's a direction that basically says, "If it's close, call it, even though it leads it an ejection. We want to stop this." But as often happens when you're writing to send a message, they made it overly inclusive, and the phrasing is essentially "guilty until proven innocent" rather than "if you're not sure, call it".

In short, I agree that, as written, it's a dumb rule. And I further agree that, even as written, I don't think this incident should be captured by it. To me, it was clearly accidental. But it's a judgment call, so there's no recourse (except for the coach to get himself thrown out in protest, which he did).
You have to break eggs to make an omelette. I think the present rule will quickly clean up the problem. I have no desire to burden the refs with another imponderable decision that will result in 3 or 4 more minutes of discussion to come to a decision on intent on a play they, in many instances, barely saw. We don't need to make the game longer. Ther are too many reviews already.
 
Here's John Fanta interviewing Rick Pitino after last night's big W against Marquette. I thought Pitino's answer to Fanta's, "How much are you enjoying coaching this group?" was classic.


By the way, if you aren't on the Fanta bandwagon, climb aboard. The kid is a rising star in college hoops broadcasting. His enthusiasm is infectious!
 
KenPom, channeling his inner Dylan, on the increasing length of games:


"The single easiest fix to fight the increase in game length is to adopt the NBA system where out of bounds reviews can only be initiated by a coach’s challenge. Currently, coaches and players effectively have unlimited challenges. Any of them can twirl their finger in the last two minutes and officials are obligated to go to the monitor. Even the most obvious calls can trigger a lengthy viewing party for the officials.

Unfortunately, there’s a custom among the college hoops’ vanguard that adopting an idea from the NBA is a sign of weakness. Therefore, we must wait years (three-point line, charge circle) or decades (shot clock) or possibly generations (quarters) to implement useful ideas. Not all NBA innovations are great but a coach’s challenge system for out of bounds calls would make the end-game quite a bit more watchable. If you think a call is obviously wrong, then risk a timeout to challenge it. Otherwise, keep playing."
Two words: Elam ending.
 
games get longer, it takes 20 minutes to play the last ninety seconds, and still ESPN just allocates 2 hours/broadcast so we can watch 15 minutes of cranky over the hill linksters play a video game, instead of showing the start of a Duke game. Makes sense.
 
games get longer, it takes 20 minutes to play the last ninety seconds, and still ESPN just allocates 2 hours/broadcast so we can watch 15 minutes of cranky over the hill linksters play a video game, instead of showing the start of a Duke game. Makes sense.
Yea, this drives me crazy. Obviously, usually happens in close games, where the losing team will immediately foul the opposing player with the ball, in the hopes that that player will miss free throws and the losing team will get the ball back. Sometimes it works but usually is a futile effort. I'm not sure the best way to deal with this - maybe have a rule that any foul in the last two minutes means the fouled player automatically get 3 free throws?
 
Yea, this drives me crazy. Obviously, usually happens in close games, where the losing team will immediately foul the opposing player with the ball, in the hopes that that player will miss free throws and the losing team will get the ball back. Sometimes it works but usually is a futile effort. I'm not sure the best way to deal with this - maybe have a rule that any foul in the last two minutes means the fouled player automatically get 3 free throws?
Someone posted above. Elam ending
 
Yea, this drives me crazy. Obviously, usually happens in close games, where the losing team will immediately foul the opposing player with the ball, in the hopes that that player will miss free throws and the losing team will get the ball back. Sometimes it works but usually is a futile effort. I'm not sure the best way to deal with this - maybe have a rule that any foul in the last two minutes means the fouled player automatically get 3 free throws?
Years ago, some folks thought the team that was fouled should get the option to decline the free throws and get the ball back.
 
Somewhere in Charlotte, 2027 recruit Zeke Battier watched the Texas Tech-Houston game, and is now learning how to maneuver under a jumping opponent just to take this very special kind of charge.

Fast forward a few years...

Zeke Battier (on the floor in pain): "Gahhh!"

Dan Shulman: "Junior Zeke Battier just took a hit to the nether regions. Looks accidental, but that's gonna be a flagrant 2 on freshman King Bacot."

Zeke Battier (taking controlled breaths): "Ohhh."

Jay Bilas: "Toughness!"
Rafferty: “Onions!”
 
I like one of two options:
1) One or two free throws (depending on bonus situation) and the ball out of bounds.
2) Just start calling obvious intentional fouls … duh!
 
I like one of two options:
1) One or two free throws (depending on bonus situation) and the ball out of bounds.
2) Just start calling obvious intentional fouls … duh!
They tried that for a few weeks and rescinded it early. It led to a lot of intentional fouling of the worst shooter - even chasing one off the court into the stands.

-jk
 
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