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Lowe: Basketball Rule Changes Coming in 2015-16

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Lowe: Basketball Rule Changes Coming in 2015-16

So the game of basketball is going to look different next season, right?

In some respects, yes. In others, maybe.

But as far as what you have come to expect in the up-tempo style of the Tiger teams of Head Coach Johnny Jones’ first three seasons, the numbers say you have nothing to worry about.

Oh, the game will have a different pace to it with a shot clock reduction to 30 seconds and time outs that are structured differently and other things established by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

But for a team that was 14th in the nation in adjusted tempo (Possessions per 40 minutes of play) at 69.7 and 32nd in the nation in tempo in 2014 at 69.9, the pace should go on nicely for the LSU men’s team in 2015-16.

Also the block-charge arc is going to expand and officials will be asked to pay more attention to the physicality in the post and illegal screens that seem to have become a natural part of the game.

“I think the Committee has done a tremendous job of taking their time and evaluating what’s going to be a more exciting brand of basketball for our fans,” said Coach Jones. “I’m glad they have come to a conclusion with a few of the rule changes that I think will allow for teams to play a little bit more up tempo and create more excitement for our game.

“I think over the years the scoring has dropped off considerably and I hope this is one way that would create more scoring opportunities and possessions for teams throughout our games. It will be something that will help the pace of play and we certainly support it because of our style of play (at LSU).”

The women’s game will also make some drastic changes, adapting some things that are a part of today’s pro game. The most noticeable change may be the change to four 10 minute quarters from two 20-minute halves. That will change some things when it comes to fouls allowed, etc.

The women’s committee is also maybe trying to move their game closer to a style of the NBA with another rule change that the NBA has, allowing teams to advance the ball to the front court after a timeout in the final 59.9 seconds of a game. I think this is one that will soon be coming to the men’s game if it proves successful.

Again, more excitement at the end of the game. More offense. That’s what the two committees are allowing. But in the same vein, the women’s committee will allow defenders to place a forearm or open hand with a bend in the elbow on an offensive post player with the ball whose back is to the basket. That may be something officials will watch against in men’s basketball on the opposite side.

“We are always looking for better ways to improve the game,” said LSU women’s basketball Nikki Caldwell. “I agree that the new changes will enhance the flow of the game, add more excitement, and also improve the overall fan experience.”

Yes, women’s basketball is thinking about fan experience. Bands or amplified music may be played during any dead-ball situation during a women’s basketball game. Previously, and still in men’s basketball, music may only be played during timeouts and intermission.

Really, let’s be honest here. Men’s basketball is also thinking about the fan experience as well because they want to get the game more up tempo, give teams the freedom to have the ball more often and hopefully cut out the physicality that had turned a lot of people off from the game.

What you’ve enjoyed about LSU men’s basketball should not change. The Tigers will play the up-tempo style that has seen them average in the 70s in Coach Jones’ first three-years here and five seconds off a shot clock will not be an issue. The game may seem even quicker and time outs are going to be reduced. How the game is called from a physical sense will have a lot to do whether people think the game is different.

The women’s game will certainly look different in quarters. I like the front court inbound in the last minute after timeouts. My opinion only – if it runs well and creates a lot of wild finishes look for some change toward it in the men’s game.

It’s a long way to November, but arena maintenance people are already thinking about remarking that block-charge circle as part of the summer court maintenance program.

Here’s a list of all the rule changes as released by the NCAA:

Men’s Basketball Changes:

  • Shot clock reduced from 35 to 30 seconds … The shot clock was last reduced from 45 to 35 for the 1993-94 season.
  • Teams will have one fewer team timeout (only 3 can carry to second half. Officials will be asked to resume play quicker after timeouts.
  • Team time outs called without 30 seconds of a timeout window will now become the media timeout (used in women’s basketball last year).
  • A coach may not call timeout when the ball is live.
  • With a few exceptions, 10 seconds only to advance the ball to front court.
  • Reducing time to replace disqualified player to 15 seconds.
  • Expansion of restricted-area arc from 3 to 4 feet. Continued focus on reducing collisions at the basket. Games in Postseason NIT were played with 4-foot arc.
  • During use of video to determine flagrant foul, rule will allow officials to penalize players who fake fouls.
  • Officials may use monitor to review potential shot clock violation throughout entire game.
  • Class B technical (hanging on rim, delaying game for example) now 1-shot technical.
  • Eliminating the five-second closely guarded rule while dribbling the ball.
  • Dunking allowed in pregame warmups and at halftime.
  • Experimental rule – six personal fouls in 2016 postseason tournaments other than NCAA (i.e., NIT, etc).

Women’s Basketball Changes:

  • Four 10-minute quarters replacing two 20-minute halves … Bonus is two free throws on the fifth foul of each quarter.
  • Teams may advance ball to frontcourt following a timeout immediately after a made basket, rebound or change of possession, in the final 59.9 seconds of the fourth quarter and any overtime.
  • Panel approved a new rule that allows defenders to place a forearm or open hand with a bend in the elbow on an offensive post player with the ball whose back is to the basket.
  • Bands or amplified music may be played during any dead-ball situation during a women’s basketball game. Previously, rules allowed music to be played only during timeouts and intermission.
  • There are some time out rules with the game now in quarters and a proposal that recommended that in the last two minutes of the game, officials can determine whether a shot-clock violation occurred by looking at when the clock runs down to zero in addition to listening for when the buzzer sounds. These will be discussed in a conference call on June 24.