Tramel: New rules will make the game a beter product

[AdaSooner]

I'm surprised no one has posted Berry Tramel's column about the rule changes fans can expect to see this fall. Here's a link to the article with a couple of quotes to get a discussion started. It's worth the read.


http://newsok.com/college-basketballs-new-rules-will-make-the-game-a-better-product/article/3894712

Many college basketball critics say the game stinks. Many college basketball lovers agree.

That's why new rules have been implemented to unshackle a sport that in recent years has become more mosh pit than athletic artistry. More assault than skill.

Officials promise that the game is being cleaned up. No more hand-checking. No more forearms. No more sliding into the lane to draw a cheap charging foul.

Coaches have been warned. Whistles are going to blow, and they're not going to stop until behavior is changed

The article says that Curtis Shaw, the Big 12's director of officiating, met with the league's coaches to let them know what to expect this season. Shaw describes the rule changes this way:

1. On a perimeter ballhandler, defenders are not allowed to use a forearm or arm-bar, or two hands at a time, or keep a single hand on the opponent, or continually jab with an extended arm.

2. For a secondary defender to draw a charge, he must be in place when the ballhandler starts his upward motion. In the past, the secondary defender merely had to be in place before the ballhandler left his feet.

Shaw said the latter rule broadens the time referees have to make the charge/block judgment. Perhaps an extra second or more. Shaw estimates that that rule alone would move the block/charge ratio from 50-50 to 95-5 percent.

Shaw said the result of the rule changes will be an increased freedom of movement for the offense. “It allows teams to get the ball down the floor without being physically harassed,” Shaw said.

Shaw also said there will be a lot more fouls called as the players adjust to the new rules. He insists that this is not an emphasis on the rules, it's a dramatic change in the way the game will be called that will limit how physical a defender can be.

Assuming these new rules are changes and not one of the many "emphasis" on existing rules we have seen over the years, what kind of effect will this have on OU? If the game is called closer, eliminating hand-checks and allows more freedom of movement for the offensive player, will this benefit or hurt OU?

One thing I liked is the article said penetrating point guards will be more valuable and harder to stop. Woodard is at his best when he is taking the ball to the hole.

Thoughts?

 

[BCSooners]

Love the changes whether it hurts or helps OU right now because the game is getting out of hand with people sliding under people for charges, and grabbing, and 2 arm hand checks.

However, I do think this helps OU because our guards are the type of defenders who use their quickness instead of strength. Bennett can also be our rim protector the article speaks of.

 

[Sawyer]

Good move for college basketball.

 

[j2d2]

My only reservation is that the game is constantly and continuously interrupted with whistles now. Apparently going 10 seconds without a whistle is going to be rare even with teams attempting to play within the rules.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I like any rule change that moves the game back to the way it was intended to be played. But, we've heard things like this before. I'm just skeptical that the officials will actually make the calls.

 

[mardaddy51]

They need to implement where an offensive player shouldn't be able to bring up a fore-arm when dribbling either. That happens way too much in college b-ball and it is a foul!

 

[garyeb2]

I like any rule change that moves the game back to the way it was intended to be played. But, we've heard things like this before. I'm just skeptical that the officials will actually make the calls.

I'm with you on that. Non conference games could be called different than conference games. But, I'll say this. The officials were in last week to explain the rule changes to the players. Then they scrimmaged and called it the way they explained it.

Then thru the past week when they practiced, assistants were whistling fouls to the rule change. The refs were back yesterday to officiate the scrimmage and were calling fouls to the rule change.

I don't know how it will play out. But, we have the athletes and length to defend well under any type of rules.

 

[tycat947]

I like any rule change that moves the game back to the way it was intended to be played. But, we've heard things like this before. I'm just skeptical that the officials will actually make the calls.

:clap:clap:clap

 

[j2d2]

I would be happy if the refs would just not bow down to certain players and call 'em no matter who is involved.

 

[skyvue]

I would be happy if the refs would just not bow down to certain players and call 'em no matter who is involved.

Hear, hear.

 

[AdaSooner]

I like any rule change that moves the game back to the way it was intended to be played. But, we've heard things like this before. I'm just skeptical that the officials will actually make the calls.

My thoughts exactly! Time will tell if this is truly a rules change or an all-too-familiar (and usually temporary) emphasis on the rules officials talk about before the season begins.

I'm all for it if it means that basketball will go back to being a finesse game again, and if officials in every conference adopt and enforce the same rules. If that's what we see, I'm in the camp with those who believe the changes will help more than hurt OU. We not only have good defensive players this year. They also have a high basketball IQ.

 

[KBaden145]

Will be very interesting to see how these rules effect or change the habits of a particular super-hyped guard of a particular poorly coached program a few hours north of Norman. Wouldn't be surprised if a position change might not be in order since they will make defenders actually defend instead of flop.

 

[AdaSooner]

Will be very interesting to see how these rules effect or change the habits of a particular super-hyped guard of a particular poorly coached program a few hours north of Norman. Wouldn't be surprised if a position change might not be in order since they will make defenders actually defend instead of flop.

I have no idea who you're talking about? Can you give us some more clues?

 

[skyvue]

Will be very interesting to see how these rules effect or change the habits of a particular super-hyped guard of a particular poorly coached program a few hours north of Norman. Wouldn't be surprised if a position change might not be in order since they will make defenders actually defend instead of flop.

I'll believe these new rules will apply to him when I see it. He's been coddled by the officials since the day he set foot on a D-1 court, and I have little confidence that will change, alas.

 

[campbest]

Smart is going to live at the free throw line.

The ongoing change in the general population's opinion of the new rules will be interesting to watch over the course of the season.

 

[JBaker]

I am absolutely against the new rules.

You don't increase scoring by tying one hand behind the defense's back.
You decrease the shot clock and move the 3-point line back to open up the lane.
We will see A LOT of free throws and a much more boring game because of it if these rule changes are enforced as claimed.

As to the question in the original post, I think the rule changes hurt OU. Kruger emphasizes defense. We are going to be at an athletic disadvantage against most conference opponents. If we can't bang, it will be tougher to keep up with them.

 

[garyeb2]

I am absolutely against the new rules.

You don't increase scoring by tying one hand behind the defense's back.
You decrease the shot clock and move the 3-point line back to open up the lane.
We will see A LOT of free throws and a much more boring game because of it if these rule changes are enforced as claimed.

As to the question in the original post, I think the rule changes hurt OU. Kruger emphasizes defense. We are going to be at an athletic disadvantage against most conference opponents. If we can't bang, it will be tougher to keep up with them.

We won't be at an athletic disadvantage against anyone. Well, Kansas.

 

[sooner333]

I like the changes. The NBA changed and I think it's for the better. It's a happy medium between the run and gun 80s and the mosh pit era of the late 90s. I think we are going to see a lot more motion off the ball as the refs will call more. Early on it could get ugly with whistles but players will adjust.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I am absolutely against the new rules.

You don't increase scoring by tying one hand behind the defense's back.
You decrease the shot clock and move the 3-point line back to open up the lane.
We will see A LOT of free throws and a much more boring game because of it if these rule changes are enforced as claimed.

As to the question in the original post, I think the rule changes hurt OU. Kruger emphasizes defense. We are going to be at an athletic disadvantage against most conference opponents. If we can't bang, it will be tougher to keep up with them.

If the officials enforce the rules as written, the defenders will learn to defend without fouling.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I don't like them either. It's going to slow the game down