Busting Brackets CBB Town Square meeting while sitting at a Roundtable

Thoughts on new hand-check, impeding to the basket rules?

Jan 18, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach John Beilein reacts to a referee

JN: I am fine with them. I was also fine with how they were calling them up until a few weeks ago. I was hoping the officials would be consistent with their calls until teams started to adjust to the fouls being called. However, we have different ref crews calling games different ways. Veteran officials gave-up and are calling games like they always have. That is while the younger ones are trying to enforce the rule. Not only is it making each viewing experience like playing a game like Russian Roulette but it is counterproductive. Plus the fact that they are calling ticky-tack fouls at the top of the key but allowing German-suplexes underneath the basket boggles my already boggled mind. The rule is needed to decrease contact and increase scoring. For those who say that the physical nature is part of the game and that teams “of the 80s” were physical, need to go back to watch some video of those physical teams. Guys played two-feet off the offensive player and the post guys all played with their arms straight up in the air. All of that physical talk is part of the myth of college hoops. Like, you know, not actually real. Putting your hands all over a player on offense was never a part of the game, but somehow snuck its way in like a kid going to see an NC-17 movie. Get it out of here before it stains our game — or are seats. Lastly, can we just be consistent.

BLW:  I will reserve judgement until I see it play out in the NCAA tournament.  So far, I like that grabbing and holding is being curtailed.  I think the increased freedom of movement for drives to the basket enjoyable.  I do not like the fact that it now seems impossible to draw a charge.  Out of control and reckless drives should not be rewarded they way they have been so far this season.

JM: Blah, just blah. I’m not the person who is isn’t in favor of baseball implementing instant replay rules for the fear that it’ll slow the game down, I’d rather them get it right and take extra time to do so, but for some reason I don’t totally feel that way here. I’m all for a game being called evenly, but I’ve gotten comfortable with the idea of “letting them play” on certain possessions and that’s completely out the window here. The most turned off I’ve ever been by basketball was the 2006 NBA Finals where it seemed to be a free throw competition between Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki, I like to watch guys play through contact, I was raised to play through contact, and ticky tack fouls scare defenders off from being aggressive and instill a mindset in offensive players to initiate contact every chance they can. It makes for a less strategic and more boring brand of basketball in my honest opinion as a fan of the game. With that said, I can understand coaches being in favor so I understand its purpose. But still, let the kids play.