Crazy idea

[DeltaV]

Well, since it's summer time and not much is happening, my mind was wandering and was thinking about ways to improve the game, particularly the part everyone hates about college basketball: the end of a somewhat close game march to the free-throw line over and over as the team down ~8 tries to extend the game and get lucky by fouling the 56% FT shooting center.

Why not go to a hockey style penalty box? Player who commits a common foul sits for the next possession in front of the scorers table at center court, or even just until until the ball touches the rim (offensive rebounds would become easier). No more marching down for two freethrows (and the inevitable substitution game), just a side out with a man advantage. Teams down have to concentrate on playing defense, not just trying to foul a poor shooter, and the team fouled still gets a nice advantage.

Things to keep in mind:

Free throws still exist for 'and-one' made shots after a foul, and for non-common (technical or flagrant) fouls.
End of a close game; need to make sure you can't just clobber a guy trying to make a buzzer beater. Maybe when the shot clock is off, if a foul occurs the clock is re-set to the time of the previous inbound or change of possession?
Foul when already down a man; does the offending team go to 3? Or stay at 4 and swap out position in the box?
Man down team gets a steal; does the box player get to go back in, or does he have to wait?

It'll never happen, I know, but it's a fun mind game to play, at least it was for me. Thoughts?

[DudeAnon]

That is a crazy idea lol.

For a slightly less crazy solution I suggest everyone checkout the Elam Ending

[MullinMayhem]

I don't know what the answer is, but the last 2-3 minutes of a close college hoops game can take 30 minutes and it's absurd IMO.

[Hall2012]

For another "crazy" possible solution to this - what about just shortening the shot clock in the last 2 minutes of a game - to maybe 15 or 20 seconds? Start the shorter shot clock the first time it resets under the 2 minute mark. This takes away from the leading team's ability to "take the air out of the ball" - which could lead to more exciting finishes - and increases the number of possessions remaining so the trailing team doesn't feel the need to start fouling as early. It also directly decreases the value of fouling by decreasing the potential amount of time saved.

I'm sure there's some downside too, but that would apply to any solution.

[NJRedman]

Well one idea is that the refs can call actual intentional fouls intentional fouls and award the team two shots and the ball. I know it would be a judgement call but it would stop LOTS of these "extend the game" BS fouls.

[Hall2012]

Well one idea is that the refs can call actual intentional fouls intentional fouls and award the team two shots and the ball. I know it would be a judgement call but it would stop LOTS of these "extend the game" BS fouls.

Hey, I remember the one time they actually did that! Sore spot...