Impact of rule changes

[MHettel]

I've been on the record about my opinion of the impact of 2 recent permanent rule changes. The immediate transfer rule and the NIL were going to change this game. Some people said it wouldnt. Maybe they meant that the change wouldnt necessarily be for the WORSE, which is a fair position to take.

In addition to the Transfer and NIL changes, this temporary "Covid year" change is horseshit as well. Most teams played 20+ games in 2020-21, and we had a full blown tourney. Why did any current player deserve an extra year because they played that year. It just deprives other kids later. What was the point of that? Every extra year played by someone that would have otherwise have exhausted their eligibility meant that some other kid didnt get to play.

But those that said the game wouldnt be changed by this....well I present the following:

San Diego State:

9 guys averaged 15 or more minutes this year.
3 of them, mostly off the bench were 5th year "Covid guys" that played 56 minutes a game (out of 200 total). they have played 426 games at SDSU
4 guys are transfers immediately eligible to play. These guys played a combined 93 minutes a game. They had 287 college games played BEFORE going to SDst. They played another 175 games at SD St. One of those guys was also a 5th year covid guy.
2 guys were original SDSU recruits and played a combined 46 minutes per game. They have played a total of 201 games for SDSU.

This team was built to compete THIS year. A keen understanding of the rules, a compelling sales pitch to transfers, and a deep rotation. FINAL 4.


Also, Texas:


9 guys playing 15+ minutes
1 4 year UT player that played 18 minutes a game.
2 freshman that played 29 minutes a game combined
6 total transfers, 3 of which are in their 5th "covid year".
the 3 guys in their "covid year" played a total of 288 games for other schools, and 176 games for UT.
Another one of the transfers played 2 years at Vandy (averaging around 29 min a game) and 2 at UT (averaging about 15 min a game).
The last transfer, Hunter, was the B12 Frehsman of the year before transferring to a different B12 team the next season.

Texas had the #8 ranked recruiting class in the country with 4 players ranked #4, #15, #74, and unranked per rivals. Against Xavier, those Freshmen played 12 minutes combined, and didnt score.



Not sure what they main takeaway is here, aside from the fact that the 2 teams that will likely meet in the finals were built the exact same way, utilizing the portal and the "covid year" rule to construct their teams.

Coincidentally, XU is in a real need to reshape its roster this upcoming year, and there is one year left of the covid rule. The next 10 days could decide the outcome of out 2023-24 season.

[xavierj]

I've been on the record about my opinion of the impact of 2 recent permanent rule changes. The immediate transfer rule and the NIL were going to change this game. Some people said it wouldnt. Maybe they meant that the change wouldnt necessarily be for the WORSE, which is a fair position to take.

In addition to the Transfer and NIL changes, this temporary "Covid year" change is horseshit as well. Most teams played 20+ games in 2020-21, and we had a full blown tourney. Why did any current player deserve an extra year because they played that year. It just deprives other kids later. What was the point of that? Every extra year played by someone that would have otherwise have exhausted their eligibility meant that some other kid didnt get to play.

But those that said the game wouldnt be changed by this....well I present the following:

San Diego State:

9 guys averaged 15 or more minutes this year.
3 of them, mostly off the bench were 5th year "Covid guys" that played 56 minutes a game (out of 200 total). they have played 426 games at SDSU
4 guys are transfers immediately eligible to play. These guys played a combined 93 minutes a game. They had 287 college games played BEFORE going to SDst. They played another 175 games at SD St. One of those guys was also a 5th year covid guy.
2 guys were original SDSU recruits and played a combined 46 minutes per game. They have played a total of 201 games for SDSU.

This team was built to compete THIS year. A keen understanding of the rules, a compelling sales pitch to transfers, and a deep rotation. FINAL 4.


Also, Texas:


9 guys playing 15+ minutes
1 4 year UT player that played 18 minutes a game.
2 freshman that played 29 minutes a game combined
6 total transfers, 3 of which are in their 5th "covid year".
the 3 guys in their "covid year" played a total of 288 games for other schools, and 176 games for UT.
Another one of the transfers played 2 years at Vandy (averaging around 29 min a game) and 2 at UT (averaging about 15 min a game).
The last transfer, Hunter, was the B12 Frehsman of the year before transferring to a different B12 team the next season.

Texas had the #8 ranked recruiting class in the country with 4 players ranked #4, #15, #74, and unranked per rivals. Against Xavier, those Freshmen played 12 minutes combined, and didnt score.



Not sure what they main takeaway is here, aside from the fact that the 2 teams that will likely meet in the finals were built the exact same way, utilizing the portal and the "covid year" rule to construct their teams.

Coincidentally, XU is in a real need to reshape its roster this upcoming year, and there is one year left of the covid rule. The next 10 days could decide the outcome of out 2023-24 season.

UConn was not built that way though and my guess is they win it all. They do have a couple of transfers but they are mostly UConn recruited guys.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Hett, it is interesting you posted this, because as I saw the final 4 field I thought of you and thought how you were sure NIL and immediate transfer was terrible for college basketball. I could be mistaken, but I believe you thought the best would only get better, however, the opposite has been true this year and this tournament. 3 teams who had never been to the Final 4 are in it.

It is obviously still to be seen how all these rules shake out and change college basketball, but I stand in my opinion that it will not change it in a negative way or in a way that will ruin college basketball.

I am for sure glad that the rules are what they are in an off season where Xavier is going to have a lot of turnover and be looking to replace a lot of guys. Excited we have Miller who will be steering that ship as well.

[STL_XUfan]

Hey, lots of people go to college for 7 year.

[nickgyp]

Hey, lots of people go to college for 7 year.

Blutarski?

[MHettel]

Hett, it is interesting you posted this, because as I saw the final 4 field I thought of you and thought how you were sure NIL and immediate transfer was terrible for college basketball. I could be mistaken, but I believe you thought the best would only get better, however, the opposite has been true this year and this tournament. 3 teams who had never been to the Final 4 are in it.

It is obviously still to be seen how all these rules shake out and change college basketball, but I stand in my opinion that it will not change it in a negative way or in a way that will ruin college basketball.

I am for sure glad that the rules are what they are in an off season where Xavier is going to have a lot of turnover and be looking to replace a lot of guys. Excited we have Miller who will be steering that ship as well.

My guess is that UT and SDSU are just a little ahead of the pack on this. The Covid year adds an extra quirk, but thats over after next year (right, or maybe the year after).

Heck XU had 4 transfers starting and made up most of the rotation.


I fully expect more and more teams to be built this way.

I always liked the 4 year type of players that I could watch grow and develop over their careers. Jason Love and BJ Raymond come to mind.

I have a lot less connection with a 1 year guy like Boum. He was great, but also gone before you know it.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I believe the year that basically didn't count was 2020-2021 season. So if you were a freshman that year, your normal senior year would be the 2023-2024 season (next season). So the following year those freshman could stay for one more. So I think the 2024-2025 season will be the last year we will have guys playing for a 5th year. So 2 more years of extra covid year.

[Muskie]

I've been on the record about my opinion of the impact of 2 recent permanent rule changes. The immediate transfer rule and the NIL were going to change this game. Some people said it wouldnt. Maybe they meant that the change wouldnt necessarily be for the WORSE, which is a fair position to take.

In addition to the Transfer and NIL changes, this temporary "Covid year" change is horseshit as well. Most teams played 20+ games in 2020-21, and we had a full blown tourney. Why did any current player deserve an extra year because they played that year. It just deprives other kids later. What was the point of that? Every extra year played by someone that would have otherwise have exhausted their eligibility meant that some other kid didnt get to play.

But those that said the game wouldnt be changed by this....well I present the following:

San Diego State:

9 guys averaged 15 or more minutes this year.
3 of them, mostly off the bench were 5th year "Covid guys" that played 56 minutes a game (out of 200 total). they have played 426 games at SDSU
4 guys are transfers immediately eligible to play. These guys played a combined 93 minutes a game. They had 287 college games played BEFORE going to SDst. They played another 175 games at SD St. One of those guys was also a 5th year covid guy.
2 guys were original SDSU recruits and played a combined 46 minutes per game. They have played a total of 201 games for SDSU.

This team was built to compete THIS year. A keen understanding of the rules, a compelling sales pitch to transfers, and a deep rotation. FINAL 4.


Also, Texas:


9 guys playing 15+ minutes
1 4 year UT player that played 18 minutes a game.
2 freshman that played 29 minutes a game combined
6 total transfers, 3 of which are in their 5th "covid year".
the 3 guys in their "covid year" played a total of 288 games for other schools, and 176 games for UT.
Another one of the transfers played 2 years at Vandy (averaging around 29 min a game) and 2 at UT (averaging about 15 min a game).
The last transfer, Hunter, was the B12 Frehsman of the year before transferring to a different B12 team the next season.

Texas had the #8 ranked recruiting class in the country with 4 players ranked #4, #15, #74, and unranked per rivals. Against Xavier, those Freshmen played 12 minutes combined, and didnt score.


Not sure what they main takeaway is here, aside from the fact that the 2 teams that will likely meet in the finals were built the exact same way, utilizing the portal and the "covid year" rule to construct their teams.

Coincidentally, XU is in a real need to reshape its roster this upcoming year, and there is one year left of the covid rule. The next 10 days could decide the outcome of out 2023-24 season.

Thank you for taking the time to post this. I had suspected something like this but hadn't put the time in to research it.

[94GRAD]

Hey, lots of people go to college for 7 year.

Yeah, they're called Doctors.

[Masterofreality]

Yeah, they're called Doctors.

What?? Isn’t there a 7 year program for Mixology????
Seems like Pierce is in that! :-)

[94GRAD]

What?? Isn’t there a 7 year program for Mixology????
Seems like Pierce is in that! :-)

*Dr. of Mixology!

[xubrew]

The NCAA wouldn't have made any changes to the rules had the issues not been forced in the courts. I think more changes are coming. The Alston Case ended with the Supreme Court voting 9-0 against the NCAA, and Brett Kavanaugh all but saying in his opinion that it is illegal for the NCAA to have rules that prohibit schools from paying players. So...in the very near future...schools will be paying players.

[xubrew]

OBSERVATION: I think this year more than ever it's become obvious to me that there are A LOT more people who are "NCAA Tournament Fans" than there are those who are college basketball fans. All this stuff about the new transfer rules, and the NIL, and the portal, and the soon-to-be rules that allow schools to pay players directly....they don't care. They probably don't even know. They start watching the tournament when it starts, they watch until it's over, and for the rest of the year they really don't know the difference between a basketball and a volleyball.

I'm not entirely sure what to do with this insight or information. I do wish more could be done to make the regular season more exciting to more people. I've been talking about that for decades (literally). But people who don't even know how many players are allowed on the floor for each team still love them some March Madness!


EDIT: A few years ago I was having a discussion with a college professor about something completely unrelated and The Tournament came up. She said "Oh, I love that! When do we get to be in that?" Like...there wasn't even an understanding that an entire regular season took place prior to the tournament and that's what determined who "got to be in that." But...she still loved the tournament!

[Strange Brew]

Yeah, they're called Doctors.

Shutup Richard… :)

[Xville]

OBSERVATION: I think this year more than ever it's become obvious to me that there are A LOT more people who are "NCAA Tournament Fans" than there are those who are college basketball fans. All this stuff about the new transfer rules, and the NIL, and the portal, and the soon-to-be rules that allow schools to pay players directly....they don't care. They probably don't even know. They start watching the tournament when it starts, they watch until it's over, and for the rest of the year they really don't know the difference between a basketball and a volleyball.

I'm not entirely sure what to do with this insight or information. I do wish more could be done to make the regular season more exciting to more people. I've been talking about that for decades (literally). But people who don't even know how many players are allowed on the floor for each team still love them some March Madness!


EDIT: A few years ago I was having a discussion with a college professor about something completely unrelated and The Tournament came up. She said "Oh, I love that! When do we get to be in that?" Like...there wasn't even an understanding that an entire regular season took place prior to the tournament and that's what determined who "got to be in that." But...she still loved the tournament!

Imo the only way to get people to care about the regular season is to contract the number of teams that make the tournament (which they are never going to do), and/or give the regular season champion an automatic bid instead of the ridiculousness of the conference tournaments.

One thing college football got right is that every game (for the big programs) really do matter because of the four team playoff, I think even though they are expanding, the reg season is going to be so important due to reg season conference championships and then a very small number of at large teams.

Sounds like basketball is going to go the opposite direction though and make the regular season even less relevant.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Nothing can be done to make the regular season as popular as the NCAA tournament. That is a losing battle. The tournament is an event that gets people who don't even care about or like sports involved.

As far as making the regular season more interesting or watched by people who do like sports, that is a good question. Possibly a later start date, to overlap less with football. Possibly less games.

I think football has an advantage over every other sport in that teams only play once a week. And usually on the same day every week. It is easy to know generally when your team is going to be playing and you are used to turning it on for a few hours the same time every day. That is a big advantage imo.

[BandAid]

Dusty May of FAU is staying his players are getting recruited to enter the portal while the tournament is ongoing. If true, this is clearly not-cool. Portal needs to be closed until the tournament concludes with anti-tampering rules. Other than that, I think the new transfer rule is nbd.

NIL is definitely a “Wild West” right now. I can’t imagine it not affecting the landscape to create greater disparity between large schools and small schools, but I’m also not convinced it’s the NCAA’s responsibility to protect parity.

[noteggs]

Shutup Richard… :)

I think I’ve seen this movie…

[MHettel]

Nothing can be done to make the regular season as popular as the NCAA tournament. That is a losing battle. The tournament is an event that gets people who don't even care about or like sports involved.

As far as making the regular season more interesting or watched by people who do like sports, that is a good question. Possibly a later start date, to overlap less with football. Possibly less games.

I think football has an advantage over every other sport in that teams only play once a week. And usually on the same day every week. It is easy to know generally when your team is going to be playing and you are used to turning it on for a few hours the same time every day. That is a big advantage imo.

The NCAA tournament is like a viewership "10." That and the superbowl set the bar. the World Cup compares as well and on abigger stage, but just every 4 years.

Anyway, comparing regular season BBall rating to the NCAA ratings and trying to figure out how to close the gap is pointless. You are aiming for the stars on that, and it will never happen.

College BBall does just fine. There are Millions of dedicated fans and many more millions that will have a saturday afternoon game on and casually watch it.

Why are we constantly trying to fix what isnt broken. NIL didnt fix anything. Immediate transfer rule didnt fix anything. An expanded tournament (96+ teams) wont fix anything.