Blog Entry
NCAA announces 3 basketball rules changes for upcoming season
June 8, 2009 by Bret Nellor, under News.
The NCAA is tweaking a few rules for the 2009 basketball season. The rule changes affect blocking/charging fouls, who shoots free throws for an injured player, and expanded use of replay to determine flagrant fouls.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4241811&campaign=rss&source=NCBHeadlines
To me the most significant rule change is how a player is chosen to shoot free throws for a fouled player who gets injured. Rather than the shooting team’s coach choosing any player on his roster to sub in and shoot the free throws, now the opposing coach will get to choose the shooter from the remaining 4 players on the court. This will be interesting to watch once the season begins.
You can bet that Missouri coach Mike Anderson is glad this rule was not in effect this past season as the Tigers may not have won their game against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the NCAA tournament. Anderson was able to select freshman Kim English to sub for injured J. T. Tiller with 5.5 seconds remaining and the score tied at 79. English hit them both and Mizzou advanced to the Sweet 16.
The adjustment to the blocking/charging rules should have a similar effect as the “Restricted area” under the hoop in the NBA where secondary defensive players cannot attempt to take charges.
