NCAA rules committee OKs shot clock to 30, wider arc

IOWA CITY - With eyes on increasing pace and reducing physical play, the NCAA men's basketball rules committee agreed on several proposals and officiating directives designed to ramp up scoring and shorten games.

Points per game dipped this year to 67.6, the second-lowest since 1952. In an effort to increase scoring, the committee recommended to reduce the shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds per possession. In order to quicken the pace of play, other measures also were recommended. They include:

n removing one second-half timeout

n quicker resumption of play following a timeout

n allowing timeouts called within 30 seconds of a scheduled break to serve as the media timeout

n preventing a coach from calling timeout when the call is live

n allowing a total of only 10 seconds to advance the ball to the frontcourt

'I think the areas of concern in our game have been about pace of play, they've been about scoring, they've been about increased physicality offensively,” said Belmont Coach Rick Byrd, chair of the NCAA men's basketball rules committee. 'There are concerns about how long it takes to play our game sometimes, particularly as we've introduced review in the last two minutes. I think we've addressed all of these areas as best we can.”

Reducing physical play again became a concern for the committee, which approved expanding the arc around the basket from three feet to four. That begins this season for Division I schools and in two years for Division II and III. Secondary defenders are not allowed to take charges inside the arc, and the rule is designed to prevent collisions around the rim.

Officials also will refocus on perimeter defense, screens and watch more closely at allowing more freedom of movement for players without the ball.

'Obviously we play fast so (the 30-second shot clock) is fine,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'I like the bigger arc, less collisions at the rim. We're a driving team, we're an attack team, I don't want to see a whole lot of charges for guys who got there late. So I think that will be a good thing, and I think it will help the officials.”

Other proposals include allowing officials to review shot clock violations on made baskets throughout the game, make Class B technicals (hanging on the rim) one-shot fouls, eliminating the five-second closely guarded rule while dribbling and allow dunking in pregame warm-ups.

The NCAA's playing rules oversight panel meets on June 8 to give final approval on the proposals. which is expected.

'I think the committee is hopeful that this can be implemented at the Division I level for this upcoming season,” said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's vice president for men's basketball.

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