College basketball could start looking more like the NBA next season.
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball rules committees said Wednesday they are recommending the use of a restricted area arc three feet from the basket and changing the terminology of intentional and flagrant fouls.
The women’s committee also wants to extend the 3-point line by one foot, to 20 feet, 9 inches, the same distance the men have used since 2008-09. The women’s committee also wants to experiment with a 10-second halfcourt rule in closed scrimmages and exhibition games.
The changes must still be approved by the playing rules oversight panel, perhaps as early as next month, before taking effect next season.
“Change is always tough, but we think this will open up some things offensively in the women’s game,” said women’s committee chair Leslie Claybrook, senior associate athletic director at Rice. “The committee had great conversations prior to and during this meeting about the 3-point line. We think this can be a game-changer for women’s basketball and open up the inside play as well.”
Committee members have studied the 3-point line for years. They said last year’s data showed more shots were being taken from longer distances and being made at a higher rate.
It’s the other changes that will give college basketball that professional look.
If approved, the arc would be placed three from the basket and would specify where a secondary defender would have to stand to take a charge.
The idea is to eliminate some of the contact in the lane.
“The arc at this distance fits the dimensions of our court,” Notre Dame men’s coach Mike Brey said. “We feel this is a rule that can help offensive players get to the basket and limit physical play.”
Brey said the committee vote to add the restricted arc area, something the men have experimented with in past seasons, was unanimous.
Recommendations also include allowing men’s coaches to request replay reviews, and clarifying how double fouls are assessed. If both teams are in the bonus when a double foul is called, the team with the lesser infraction would shoot free throws first. The second team would then shoot its free throws and retain possession of the ball.
The committee also rejected a proposal that would have barred men’s coaches from calling timeouts while the ball was still live.
Intentional fouls would now be called Flagrant 1 and flagrant fouls would be called Flagrant 2, the same terms used by the NBA.
