We've seen this year a very different college basketball game.
Here is a brief article with stats up to Jan 10, I would surmise
that the stats are higher than this now, but reveal the same
changes in play.
When you have a head coach (Virginia) admit that physical play is dead, and
his players have to defend "without their hands", is that progress ?
Outside of the stats above, here's some changes I've noticed which to me,
make the game not only less enjoyable to watch, but riskier to bet:
1) The new rule against impeding forward progress of the ball carrier has
rendered half-court defense non-existent.
2) Free throw percentages are more important, with more fouls.
3) Officiating has more power to determine the outcome of the game.
4) Steals and blocks are nothing more than 50/50 foul propositions.
5) The game is rushed. There is no real playmaking. Offenses are constantly
running out of time. That's why they are settling for 3's more often.
6) Players are afraid of the clock. There is no more confident ball control
or patience for guys to get open. Most often there will be a shot made
with 10 seconds or more remaining because there is not enough time to
execute plays. By the time the ball is carried into the zone there is 20
seconds left, then they might take 10 seconds to look around and that's it.
There is a paranoid feeling that one more pass or look will hear the buzzer,
so they aren't taking the clock down anymore. Poor lanes are charged into
for a foul. Poor shots are like hey, at least i got a shot off.
Physical play is a liability now. Advanced offensive schemes are dead.
3 point shooters rule. Unders/Overs are crap shoots.
Is this a good game anymore ? I don't think so.
Here is a brief article with stats up to Jan 10, I would surmise
that the stats are higher than this now, but reveal the same
changes in play.
When you have a head coach (Virginia) admit that physical play is dead, and
his players have to defend "without their hands", is that progress ?
Outside of the stats above, here's some changes I've noticed which to me,
make the game not only less enjoyable to watch, but riskier to bet:
1) The new rule against impeding forward progress of the ball carrier has
rendered half-court defense non-existent.
2) Free throw percentages are more important, with more fouls.
3) Officiating has more power to determine the outcome of the game.
4) Steals and blocks are nothing more than 50/50 foul propositions.
5) The game is rushed. There is no real playmaking. Offenses are constantly
running out of time. That's why they are settling for 3's more often.
6) Players are afraid of the clock. There is no more confident ball control
or patience for guys to get open. Most often there will be a shot made
with 10 seconds or more remaining because there is not enough time to
execute plays. By the time the ball is carried into the zone there is 20
seconds left, then they might take 10 seconds to look around and that's it.
There is a paranoid feeling that one more pass or look will hear the buzzer,
so they aren't taking the clock down anymore. Poor lanes are charged into
for a foul. Poor shots are like hey, at least i got a shot off.
Physical play is a liability now. Advanced offensive schemes are dead.
3 point shooters rule. Unders/Overs are crap shoots.
Is this a good game anymore ? I don't think so.