this week's obsession

The NCAA has 13 new men’s basketball rules proposals. Let’s discuss.

Ace: Before we run down the more intriguing proposals, a number of these are unlikely to be recommended. They include:

• Widening the lane to 16 feet (currently 12 feet)
• Award possession to defense after a held-ball
• Eliminate 10-second backcourt rule
• Allow offensive team to decline free throws in final two minutes and overtime(s); opt for inbound instead
• Eliminate five-second closely guarded rule
• Allow instant replay on shot-clock violation in final two minutes/overtime on a missed shot
• Allow instant replay on basket interference/goaltending calls -- but only if/after an official calls the violation

Are any of these worth discussion?

Brian: I think they're all bad ideas that are rightfully headed for the trash bin of history, except... uh... they eliminated the closely-guarded rule four or so years ago?

BiSB: One of my pet rules is that the ball should go to the defense on a wedgie.

Brian: For one when a ten second call happens it rules. Ten second calls are always awesome, fact.

Ace: The closely guarded rule came up for elimination but stayed in the book. I can’t remember the last time I saw one called, though.

Brian: They don't even count it anymore?

BiSB: It's like the "you have 10 seconds to shoot a free throw" rule. The ref counts, but he counts like a parent threatening a 5-year-old.

Seth: It's definitely been in that realm calls that are made so infrequently the coach loses it when they do.

BiSB: "Four and a haaaaaaaaaaaaaaalf..."

Seth: This always bothered me as a kid: When you're counting down, if you add a half you're going in the wrong direction.

Anyway.

Brian: I have absolutely seen a player dribble with his back to the basket closely guarded for 10 seconds in late half situations.

Ace: NCAA refs, Brian.

Brian: I may be having a Mandela effect moment.

Ace: Regardless, I don’t feel strongly about it either way. As we’ve covered, they don’t enforce it, and there’s not enough slow post play to make me worried about its impact. The three-second rule in the paint is still there, too.

Brian: Closely guarded and three second calls should be dropped. Anyway, onto things that might actually happen...

Seth: Make the whole court out of lane?

Ace: Before we do, I just have to say that as someone who used to play a lot of pickup ball, I’d be on board with the “defense gets held balls” change even though it won’t happen.

[After THE JUMP: We find a way to embed The Shot]

I GUESS WE SHOULD ADDRESS THIS:

NBA storylines we'll be monitoring in the NCAA tournament: Juwan Howard, No. 1 pick candidates, mid-major prospects, upperclassmen vying for first round consideration and more (with @Mike_Schmitz)https://t.co/b5aP8xn8Wu

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 17, 2021

Seth: Hope Howard buys Jim a steak and milk with the money that used to be his.

BiSB: /Homer into the bushes and re-emerging meme/

Harbaugh NFL rumors
Howard NBA rumors

For those who don't know NBA Media... is this the same insular "The Shield is life" attitude, or would there be some meat behind it?

Brian: I have a hard time believing he'd leave before Jace and Jett are done.

Ace: Same here. NBA media aren’t as militant as NFL because, aside from basketball drawing better journalists than football in general, they’re more willing to acknowledge that they are two different games with different draws.

They will also acknowledge job security in a way NFL guys did not. The nba is ruthless, meanwhile Howard could be here forever.

BiSB: For immediate purposes, it feels like "Howard might leave for the NBA" rumors are less damaging for recruiting purposes in basketball than football, at least for top-flight guys.

Ace: I don’t think anyone is taking them too seriously.

BiSB: True, but even if they persist.

Alex: Also important to draw a distinction between “NBA wants Juwan” (which... of course. I can’t believe Minnesota hired Flip’s failson instead of him.) and “Howard interested in NBA.” I don’t know if anyone would offer him Full Control like SVG had with the Pistons or whatever but I’m sure there will be interest from pretty much every team that may have an opening.

Ace: FWIW the NBA as a whole has been pretty bad about promoting longtime black assistants and that may sour Howard on the league a bit. Seeing Steve Nash get a head coaching job with zero experience after he got passed up multiple times has to stick. They’re talking about maybe needing an NBA version of the Rooney Rule.

[After THE JUMP: Who’s worried not worried]

The Big Ten has released their all-conference teams and awards, and as usual we are baffled and opinionated.

WHAT THE HELL?

Ace: Sorry, sorry, I realize that isn’t a specific question.

Seth: No it is the appropriate response. "Lol" is the only other conceivable one.

Brian: I think we have to start having basketball coaches watch basketball. This thing where they don't do that isn't working out.

Seth: Here are their selections, fwiw:

COACHES

Player of the year/DPoY in bold, *means he wasn’t a media selection.

Freshman of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
6th Man: Andre Curbelo, Illinois
Coach of the Year: Juwan Howard, Michigan

MEDIA

Freshman of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Coach of the Year: Juwan Howard, Michigan

[We’ll talk about all of this at the jump. Spoiler: no, we can’t be bought off by giving Dickinson 1st team if that 1st team has four true centers]