SCORING RATE IS UP DURING FIRST MONTH OF REVISED RULES
One month into a pivotal college men’s basketball season — one marked by significant rule changes and an officiating directive to reduce physicality — early returns are in, and they’re good.
Scoring is up 6.26 points per team per game from last season, though points per possession have increased only slightly.
More important is improved pace of play in the first season featuring a 30-second shot clock, down from 35. Possessions per team are up 3.83 per game from this time a year ago; possessions are up 1.78 per team from this time in 2013-14.
That season included an effort to reduce physicality by increasing offensive players’ freedom of movement, but that largely resulted in an uptick in fouls. That season’s increase in scoring came, in significant part, from an in- crease in free throws.
This year, field goals account for more of the scoring increase than they did two years ago.
Even better for those seeking a quicker game, about 75% of the scoring increase can be attributed to pace of play. The other 25% is tied to increased offensive efficiency or points per possession.
One area that concerns J.D. Collins, the NCAA coordinator of officials, and Dan Gavitt, the NCAA vice president of championships, is fouls.
There hasn’t been a noticeable increase in the number called per game, which is either a really good sign or shows that officials still have significant work to do.
The glass half-full approach is coaches and players prepared for the rule changes and are defending with less physical contact.
The other side? Officials aren’t calling enough fouls to prevent physicality, especially in the post.
Collins and Gavitt will pay most attention to that area moving forward.