NCAA Basketball Rules Committee Proposes Pre-Game Dunking and Video Review to Identify Flopping
Proposed NCAA rule changes could make pre-games more fun while removing in game dramatic entertainment.
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The NCAA Basketball Rules Committee is having a little difficulty deciding how much entertainment to allow at college basketball events.
On the one hand, the Committee proposed removing the ban on dunking before games. Bring back Herb White!
If Kenny Paul Geno can’t earn playing time, he will pay for his scholarship with pre-game entertainment.
On the other hand, the Committee proposed a penalty for foul faking when discovered during video review for possible flagrant fouls. Thespians take note – zero tolerance for in game drama. And will we see coaches lobbying against video review because they are afraid their own player flopped? “Ref, it’s just a scratch, let it go.”
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There is nothing wrong with either proposal, and lifting the eternal ban on pre-game dunking allows additional pre-game entertainment, including referees visiting with early arriving fans instead of watching lay-up drills. “Questions before we begin? I’m not stopping to explain anything.”
And while no foul faking is better than some foul faking, getting an early jump on traffic for the Committee is more worthy than spending meeting time on the issue. So what if a player fakes a foul? Besides, there are a number of players convinced they took fouls on every play going back to 12 and under ball.
If a player fakes a foul, what advantage does he gain? Does anyone really think the players are faking out the referees by flopping? You can bet your Jay Bilas autograph sneakers they are not.
Besides, there is already this from the rule book – Technical Foul, “. . . committing an unsportsmanlike act, including, but not limited to, the following: Attempting to influence an official’s decision.”
So tech up the flopping player and that’s that.
There is a simple solution to foul faking anyway. If a defender flops, the offensive player goes and scores. Problem solved. If the offensive player flops, the defender grabs the ball and goes and scores. Problem solved.
You’re welcome.
About pregame dunking, if such a rule is enacted, open tryouts for walk-ons become much more exciting. If a tryout candidate can dunk, he is valuable to the program as a pre-game crowd pleaser. With all but a dozen programs dealing with student attendance and season ticket no-show issues, a high-flying walk on soaring during pre-game will easily pay for himself – which is to say he will pay for a jersey and shoes and travel meals.
So score two for the NCAA Basketball Rules Committee for not completely messing up two rules and maybe even getting a few more folks in the seats before the game starts.