Hands-off edict on defense runs counter to Hogs’ style
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks, whose calling card under Coach Mike Anderson is pressure defense to speed up opponents and create offense from turnovers, have some adjusting to do this season with officials mandated to crack down on hand-checking.
“We’re a tenacious team,” Arkansas sophomore forward Michael Qualls said. “We like to get after people, so with the referees saying we can’t really get after them, it kind of takes away how we play.”
Qualls said the Razorbacks, who open the season against Southern Illinois-Edwards at 7 tonight in Walton Arena, still plan to rattle opponents with their defensive intensity.
“The referees say we can’t touch them, so we’re not going to touch them,” Qualls said. “But we’re going to be there, all 40 minutes.”
The NCAA basketball rules committee decided to implement changes designed to create a more free-flowing game offensively after teams averaged 67.5 points last season, the lowest since the 19511952 season.
Officials are supposed to call a foul if a defender is:
Keeping a hand or forearm on an opponent.
Putting two hands on an opponent.
Continually jabbing an opponent by extending an arm or placing a hand or forearm on the opponent.
Using an arm to impede the progress of a dribbler.
“Last season was terrible,”
Louisville Coach Rick Pitino told ESPN.com. “It was an ugly season. We need to change the game. The one thing the coaches can’t do: They can’t gripe about it. The first six weeks will be a transition for the players as well as the coaches.”
Arkansas was called for a combined 32 fouls in its exhibition victories over Missouri Southern and Northeastern (Okla.) State, but those were Division II teams that couldn’t match the Razorbacks’ quickness and athleticism.
“Let’s see when the real game starts,” Anderson said. “But I don’t want us to lose our aggressiveness.”
The Razorbacks were called for 15 fouls while forcing 22 turnovers in their 8154 victory over Northeastern, and Anderson said they did a good job with rotations and traps to force a fast pace.
“When you’re trying to speed people up, it’s not necessarily trying to steal the basketball,” Anderson said. “That’s what I’m trying to make sure these guys understand.”
Officials have emphasized the new hand-checking rule to the Razorbacks during scrimmages in practice, the Red-White game and exhibitions.
“We’re going to have to be more disciplined,” Arkansas senior guard Mardracus Wade said. “We can’t reach as much. We’ve got to get more five-second calls instead of trying to steal the ball every time.
“We’re going to let the offense make a bad decision, and hopefully we can pick off some passes.”
Razorbacks senior guard Kikko Haydar was called for four fouls in 20 minutes against Missouri Southern, then had one foul in 19 minutes against Northeastern.
“It’s something I’m going to have to adjust to,” Haydar said. “But I see no reason why we can’t play the same brand of basketball we always have.”
Haydar said the handcheck rule will benefit Arkansas because of how the Razorbacks attack the basket.
“It’s all going to even itself out,” he said.
Anderson said the Razorbacks have to do a better job of moving their feet on defense.
“I think we’ve just got to be smart,” Anderson said.
Some teams, Anderson said, likely will play more zone defense.
“People will start packing in so they don’t put it on the officials to call some of the touch fouls,” he said. “But you can’t be so concerned about that that you don’t play basketball.”
Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings said at SEC media days that teams can adjust to the new hand-check rule, but he expressed concern with how it will be enforced throughout the season.
“There will be some games that look like train wrecks in November and December, for sure,” Stallings said. “But don’t call it one way in November and December — and I know the officials don’t want to do this — and then when league plays comes, allow us to knock the crap out of each other again.”
There are more than 800 Division I officials in 32 conferences with 20 officiating coordinators, which could impact how hand-checking calls are interpreted.
“As a coach, all you want is consistency so you’ll know going in what’s going to be called and how it’s going to be called,” Anderson said.
Kentucky Coach John Calipari said less physical play should open up the game.
“If you want to press and hold and bump, you’re going to foul out your whole team,” Calipari said. “You can trap quick and try to steal the ball, but if you don’t steal the ball you’ve got to run back because, if you bump that driver, it’s now a foul.
“I think it’s good for the game, but we’ll see.”
Anderson said there is another way to create more offense, and it has nothing to do with calling games tighter.
“If you want more scoring, get a 24-second shot clock,” he said. “That’ll speed it up.”