The State of College Basketball

[rjsuperfly66]

Part of the beauty of the college game is that it's different from the pro game. It's more of a team game, played at a different pace, with slightly different rules and intricacies. Do I wish certain aspects were better? Of course, but I don't want it to become the NBA. What I do wish is that player development at a young age was better so players were better prepared. Where I do agree with Cuban is that the "offense to nowhere" occurs too much throughout the country, sets that are run that don't seem to have a clear purpose and end up in some sort of dribble isolation after 30 seconds. Is that so much a coaching thing, or a player limitation thing? The best coaches in the NCAA are still there, but the game has still evolved around them.

[bigappleram]

The part being glossed over in all of this criticism is the role AAU and One-and-Dones have had on the college game. But that would require the NBA, Sneaker Companies and others to take some blame. Instead its easier to say shorten the shot clock, call less fouls and blame college coaches for the sets they run. I agree with the comment that I do not want to see college games turn into NBA games.

[Running Ram]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... 08391.html

[bressler3south]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... 08391.html

Yeah, another blithering idiot. Take a look at your own basketball product.
Oh, that's right, it must be better, because he was fined less this year for his outbursts about the "in-time/on-time" state of his NBA………
Oh, I forgot: Cuban was on the Committee for Efficiency. Never mind.

[ElmCityRhody]

The shot clock should be lowered to 30 seconds at least

[Seawrightspostgame]

The NBA allows players to often take 4 steps and to actually place their hand beneath the basketball. It isn't fun to me to watch people clearly break basic rules.

This year I noticed SEC basketball often allows players to switch their pivot foot and these things. Its small but I don't like it.

[bressler3south]

The NBA allows players to often take 4 steps and to actually place their hand beneath the basketball. It isn't fun to me to watch people clearly break basic rules.

This year I noticed SEC basketball often allows players to switch their pivot foot and these things. Its small but I don't like it.

No, it's not small. It just reinforces the perception of ineptitude of those hired to enforce the rules.

[ElmCityRhody]

The NBA is a brutal game to watch

No team play whatsoever

That's why I am a huge hockey fan and I play hockey

It's a shame most of America doesn't appreciate a great team sport in hockey

Their loss

[Rhode_Island_Red]

The real culprit is the AAU system, where skills development consists of slam-dunk contests.

[Da_Process_Survivor]

The NBA is a brutal game to watch

No team play whatsoever

That's why I am a huge hockey fan and I play hockey

It's a shame most of America doesn't appreciate a great team sport in hockey

Their loss

honestly, thats one of the things that makes this years Celtics so much fun to watch.

They really are a throw back to 80s basketball. No stars, constant motion, constant passing, quick and quality shots. Its been fun to watch

[rodfromcranston]

Agree with those who fault the AAU system.
Watch any game, and there's very little passing, all one on one
play, and it's not very pretty.
Back when the LI Panthers were linked with URI, I never saw a book
on their trips here during the school year.
It all seems to function as a way for kids to get noticed by a wider
group of coaches.

ECR, I've always loved hockey. I think the main reason it's never gotten as
popular as it is in Canada is, on TV, it's very hard to follow the puck.
TV tried their arrow following the puck, but it didn't work,
Nothing more exciting than NHL playoff hockey.

[SGreenwell]

The NBA is a brutal game to watch

No team play whatsoever

That's why I am a huge hockey fan and I play hockey

It's a shame most of America doesn't appreciate a great team sport in hockey

Their loss

The Spurs won the title last year based on an offense that swung it around between five players for open looks. The best team so far this year has been Golden State, which works in a similar fashion. The Hawks are also near the top of the East, and they're staffed by San Antonio disciples. Boston's recent title was built upon Rondo creating good shots for teammates and Ray Allen getting off screens for open looks, which is a different sort of teamwork. The Shaq-Kobe Lakers ran the triangle, and tons of pick and roll. Even the LeBron Heat teams and Jordan Bulls weren't solely iso teams, and part of the reason those superstars could take their guys to the hole was because they had teammates on the floor that drew attention, and they'd pass to them.

I realize "there's no team ball in the NBA!" is a popular meme, but most of the good teams of the past 10 years haven't run heavy-iso stuff. Some teams manage to win 40 to 55 games doing it and make the playoffs, but they don't win titles. It would be akin to looking at this URI team and going, "Well, winning basketball teams just give it to their leading scorer in the last 20 seconds of a close game, and if he makes a shot, they win." It's technically true (because URI did win 20+ games), but not really an accurate assessment overall (because the elite teams didn't and don't usually win that way).

[rodfromcranston]

Well, the Heat sure used isolation with Wade and James.

[SGreenwell]

Well, the Heat sure used isolation with Wade and James.

Sure, but LeBron also averaged between 6.2 and 7.3 assists per game in his Miami years, and he also had to take a slight pay cut, as did Bosh and Wade, to be on that team, which all three of them were also criticized for. Part of the reason that LeBron can be a devastating one-on-one player is because teams have to respect his passing. (And probably part of the reason he couldn't win a championship in Cleveland is that his teammates weren't good enough, despite him being able to find them for 8.2 assists per game, to prevent defenses from just loading up on him.)

[Seawrightspostgame]

Heat were 2/4 with that and they did pass a lot. More of a hybrid. Still lost 2/4 against franchises that played a team style. Could have been 1/4 if not for that Ray allen game 6 shot.

Ball movement is key along with a team/guy that can score in the crunch.

[Rhody74]

What Hurley and Cooley think of the rules changes:

http://www.providencejournal.com/articl ... aking_ajax

[eli#10]

I am afraid we will have to back off a little in our "in your face" defense in our on ball defense. Hopefully we don't have any growing pains in the early season games as the players adjust to the rule change.

I really like the 10 second rule change. The way I understand it if you call time out or if the ball is deflected out of bounds after 9 seconds you only have 1 second to get the ball over mid court and not another 10 second under the old rule. This probably also applies to a held ball situation.

[Da_Process_Survivor]

I am afraid we will have to back off a little in our "in your face" defense in our on ball defense. Hopefully we don't have any growing pains in the early season games as the players adjust to the rule change.

I really like the 10 second rule change. The way I understand it if you call time out or if the ball is deflected out of bounds after 9 seconds you only have 1 second to get the ball over mid court and not another 10 second under the old rule. This probably also applies to a held ball situation.

i see the opposite. with teams having less time, it amplifies the effectiveness of our aggressive in your face defense.

[Billyboy78]

Do you agree or disagree with this? If so, does this change Dan's defensive philosophy a bit?

@JonRothstein
Common thought among college coaches: teams that rely on zone defense will thrive with 30-sec shot clock. Harder to probe zone w less time.
8:31am - 1 Jun 15

[rodfromcranston]

The zone does take more time to probe for openings.
Dan would rather coach hockey before he uses a zone defense.
I still think using a zone in certain situations is wise.
See Ed Cooley, who used it with great success with two
NCAA worthy teams.

[RhowdyRam02]

OFFICIAL! 30-sec shot clock, 4-foot arc, reduction in time outs among changes coming to men's basketball next season.

[adam914]

Good, I think this will be a positive overall.

[ramfan85]

I'd like to see a 5 second shot clock for those cold, snowy nights. Fans can keep their cars running for warmth.