Veteran official John Higgins took some time to address Creighton’s basketball team after practice Tuesday about a major rule change and some other points of emphasis.
No longer this season will a secondary defender be allowed to slide under the basket and draw a charging foul against an opponent who is taking the ball to the rim. Any contact that occurs in the under-basket area will automatically be ruled a blocking foul and the man driving to the basket will be awarded two free throws.
The National Basketball Association has used the rule for years, which is why you see a semicircle painted under each basket to define the "no-charge’’ area. The NCAA rule defines the area as a 24-inches-by-18-inches rectangle. But you will not see it marked on the court.
"The imaginary box,’’ Bradley coach Jim Les said at last week’s Missouri Valley Conference media days, "was created when everybody realized how expensive it was to put a line on everybody’s floor.’’
Les’ remark drew laughter, but most of the coaches said imaginary area could create additional pressures on officials.
After talking to the players, Higgins said in an interview that the not having the area marked will create "an easier out for us.’’
"It’s going to be up to the judgment of each official,’’ Higgins said. "It’s going to be difficult.’’
Asked he if would have preferred the area being clearly marked, Higgins said, "Yes, it would probably be better for the game. But if I’m the lead official and I’m making the call, I’m going to use my judgement. If it’s going to be close, you can’t run out on the court to see where the defender was. You can’t split hairs. I think you’ll have to call it a block.’’
Higgins said the rule change was made to cut down on some of the "excessive contact’’ underneath the basket. Higgins said he also believes it will eliminate officials passing on making the call.
Higgins said there were too many instances of non-calls on under-basket plays when there was either contact or the defender flopped without contact.
"They don’t want officials passing on those calls,’’ he said.
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