NCAA Basketball: Rule change is foul

The NCAA rules committee governing men's college basketball has been hard at work this off-season. When this group puts their heads together with the goal of improving one of the most exciting sports in the world, anything can happen.

Something did happen.

Three new rules will go into effect this fall for NCAA men's basketball.

Two of the three rules are clearly aimed at making it possible for referees to get calls right.

The lone rule that wasn't put in to place to help refs consistently make good calls is a bit obscure.

If a player is fouled and cannot take the free throws awarded to him due to injury, the opposing team's head coach can select a replacement from the remaining four already in the game. In the past, the opposing coach could select any other player on the team to take the free throws.

Not a big deal. Probably a good change.

Moving on to the other two changes, the next rule makes a lot of sense. Officials will now be able to review a flagrant foul call that results in the ejection of a player using instant replay.

This change should definitely assist refs making the right call.

When a player is ejected due to a flagrant foul, the game usually grinds to a halt anyway. It takes time for coaches to rant and fans to moan. During that delay, why not double check the call by reviewing a replay?

Again, probably a good change.

The third rule change isn't likely to do anything beyond providing fodder for media analysts to wax on with insights that offer little more than create white noise.

One of the toughest calls for any referee to make is determining the difference between an offensive player charging into a defender versus the defender blocking the path of an offensive player.

Recently the charge/block call has become even tougher to get right due to defenders trying to draw a foul by flopping to exaggerate contact.

This fall the charge/block foul will be governed by an additional factor. Defenders will have to establish their position before a player begins his path to the basket, and do so outside the area between the backboard and the rim. In other words, the rule change is similar to the NBA rule on this type of play.

One big difference.

NBA courts have the restricted area painted on the floor to assist refs making the appropriate call. The NCAA rule calls for an imaginary line. That's right. Rather than require schools to paint a line on the floor to mark the restricted area, refs are instructed to use their imagination.

Why in the world would the NCAA add imaginary lines into the rule book?

Glad you asked.

The NCAA felt that it wouldn't be feasible to have all courts painted properly by this coming fall. No kidding folks. That was the rationale.

There was a method behind this madness. The idea behind the rule change on determining a charge/blocking foul near the basket is to reduce contact under the glass.

Like that's going to happen.

Chances are, the two rules targeted at assisting officials making good calls that will improve play won't make the game any better for coaches, players or fans.

Truth be known, about all the NCAA has done with the half-baked charge/block rule change is create a new college drinking game. Now fans watching games on television can down a shot of their favorite adult beverage every time an announcer explains how this new charge/blocking rule has been applied.

Way to go NCAA!