Ballin' is a Habit

RULE CHANGES FOR '09-'10: The NCAA has approved three rule changes for men's and women's basketball.

1. The block/charge rule has been changed. It now requires a player to be outside a "no-charge zone", that will be from the front of the rim to the front of the backboard. We wrote about this rule change previously here.
2. The refs will now be allowed to review flagrant fouls and intentional fouls. If the foul is considered flagrant, the player will be ejected. It can also be deemed an intentional foul or a technical foul for contact.
3. The rule regarding how injured players that were fouled can be replaced was also changed. Previously, the shooting team's coach could select any player on his roster to take the free throw. Under the new rules, the opposing team's coach can choose from one of the four players on the floor to go to the line.
   
   This rule was brought to the forefront during the NCAA tournament. In the second round game between Marquette and Missouri, JT Tiller drove to the basket late in the game with the score tied. He was fouled, but injured his wrist on the play. Tigers head coach brought in Kim English, who despite being a worse free throw shooter than Tiller, and the freshman calmly sank both free throws.
   
   But Tiller is an excellent defender, and was back at the scorer's table ready to check-in after the second free throw, much to the dismay of Buzz Williams.
   
   This happened to my team in college once. We had a center who was a pretty bad free throw shooter, and with about ten seconds left in regulation, he got fouled on a play at the rim. He had broken his nose earlier in the game, and after the play came up holding his face like he had gotten popped again. I still remember seeing him say to the trainer "I'm faking it" and watching her smile while she pretended to check his nose. Anyway, we put in our senior captain that shot about 85% from the line, he hit both free throws to tie the game, and we eventually won in overtime. Our center was right back in the game after the foul shots.