Interesting that the game was mentioned on the Illini board.

Scrolling through there was a little inside info from the Big 12 officials on the hand check rule. redraiders.com/filed-online/2013-10-22/elimination-hand-checking-could-bring-about-more-scoring-longer-games#.UmglynDkt8E

Imagine how many fouls Louisville and Duke and etc. will give under this new rule.  Those programs are hand-check city.


[/QUOTE]

guess OSU played WVU in a closed scrimmage on the 26th and WVU shot 60 FTs...this is gonna be brutal to watch these new rules.

I am glad they are in place. I was getting kid of sick of rewarding strength over skill. A kid that works all summer on ball handling, drills footwork, shooting and off the ball movement has been moved, bumped, pushed and beaten by more physical stronger players that are not doing anything but living in the weight room for far too long.

It has long been time to clean up the game and get it closer to the no contact sport that rewards skilled basketball players over strong freaks of athletic prowess.

If it takes a year of parades to the free throw line till coaches return to teaching beating your man to the spot rather than guiding him to where you want him to be and disrupting him with bumps, hands on, body up then I am for strict enforcement. Let's get back to moving your own feet and taking away angles rather than shoving your opponent.

Even with 3 hour games I will be happy ....especially if my guy is hitting 15 of-16 free throws. That is a reward in itself for putting time in the gym,. Watching that physical freak clang 50 % on the FT line will hopefully change the way the game is being coached and played

Per the "3 Hour Game" potential - what really worries me is MAC refs - they might need spare whistles...............

I watched the ladies scrimmage Wilmington College the other day at the Convo. it was clear from the outset that the new hand check rule was being applied to the women too. The first 20 minutes was constant fouls. By the end, there were 3 OHIO players whom I swear each fouled out at least 2 times as there was obviously no foul quota being applied.

I did notice, however,  a difference in defensive play as the game progressed. Players were learning the new way the game is being called. OHIO continued to play a tight man-man defense but  the fouls decreased and the game became more exciting to watch.

As Borna mentioned, I think it will be a good thing for the game, as players will have to rely more on skill, speed and agility. 

Definitely going to see things evolve through the year, I'm sure, but I think this will be a positive long-term change for the game.