The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel has agreed to sweeping in-game rules changes for the upcoming men’s college basketball season to “to help enhance the flow of the game,” according to a report by Alex Byington of On3.
One of the more extensive changes we’ll see this season relates to replay. Coaches will now be allowed to challenge out-of-bounds calls, goaltending, and basket interference. And as it is in football, a coach must have a timeout available in order to request a replay review.
A successful coach’s challenge earns the team an additional video review for the rest of that game, including overtime. A failed challenge results in the loss of all remaining challenges during the game.
Also, per the report, “challenges will not impact an officials’ use of instant replay for timing mistakes, scoring errors, shot clock violations, 2-point vs. 3-point field goal attempts, flagrant fouls, etc.”
Other points of emphasis this season will include “directives to address delay-of-game tactics, limit time spent at the monitor, improve game administration efficiency and reduce physicality.”
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
The NCAA is also adopting a continuation rule for the upcoming season. In a move to more closely resemble the NBA game “an offensive player who ends his dribble going toward the basket and takes contact from a defensive player is now permitted to pivot or complete the step and finish the field goal attempt.”
But perhaps the most seismic procedural change is one that won’t take affect this season.
In an effort to improve pacing the NCAA is considering a move from two 20-minute halves to four 10-minute quarters — a change that was approved for women’s basketball by the same Rules Oversight Panel in 2015.
The rules committee recommended Division I conferences form a focus group to discuss the potential change and provide feedback ahead of the next rule-change year. The panel did note that there was “positive momentum” towards reformatting.
You can check out the full release from the NCAA here.