In the midst of the hoopla that are the NBA Playoffs and #DeflateGate, the NCAA took what I thought was a good, bold first step in improving men’s college basketball: reducing the shot clock from 35 seconds to 30.
A lot of fans and media members bemoaned the flow of an average game. The last two minutes of a game could take up to 20 minutes. The offense generally leaves a lot to be desired – especially if you are watching a Virginia Cavaliers or Big Ten (14) game.
I will say that while reducing the shot clock would not fix all what ails men’s college basketball, it will go a long way in fixing the flow of the game. More offensive possessions will typically lead to more points – again, unless you are watching Cavalier and Big Ten (14) basketball.
Plus, who wouldn’t like a more up-tempo, up and down game? That’s the way basketball was meant to be played.
Since I mentioned that a 30-second shot clock is a good first step in making men’s college ball more easy on the eyes, here are some of my other suggested fixes:
Eliminate the number of timeouts each team has in a game. In a men’s college basketball game that is broadcasted (television, radio, or the internet), each team has one 60-second timeout and four 30-second timeouts – in addition to the media timeouts (at the first dead ball under 16, 12, 8 and 4 minutes remaining in each half).
I don’t know about you, but that’s too many damn timeouts. Since there are the media timeouts (which is to help broadcast partners pay for the rights for those games), half the number of 30-second timeouts.
After all, the viewing public should not have to suffer through coaches calling timeouts because their teams suck. That’s what PRACTICE is for. Otherwise, a coach should suck it up and take his ass-whupping like a man.
Push back the three-point line. The move would force players to become more well-rounded and encourage more movement on offense. If the 3-point line gets moved in a bit further, there would be power forwards and centers looking to jack up threes. Let the shooters shoot and leave the big uglies down low.
Speaking of shooters, a deeper 3-point line would allow those young men to improve their mid-range games and learn to create their own shots. How would that be so bad for the college game?
By the way, the three-point line does not have to be as far back as the NBA game, just a bit further from what it is now.
Categories: college basketball
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