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Message: [QUOTE="Cowtown, post: 1391561, member: 2350"] I agree in principle with everything you've said, however something that needs to be considered is the Big East was the leader of the "thugball" movement at the college level. And after more college coaches began to focus more on strength, power and size, it didn't take long for that to bump down to high schools. And it was done at the expense of skill and teamwork. I don't miss the BE. I suspect the AAU programs in which winning games takes precedent over skill development have a largely negative effect. This is felt in the recruitment of the type of player can prosper there, but not in the schools. Mandating a second year after HS "graduation" will eliminate many of the one & done players who never had any intention of going to classes after the first semester. Almost anyone can fake it through three or four classes during a single semester, but getting through a year and a half's worth of academic progress might be something else altogether. Perhaps that will have an impact on player recruitment, meaning more scholarship offered to students who would seriously consider remaining in school and learning, and applying, better skills. The time-out situation is a double-edged sword. Yes, they drag the games out forever, but that's what advertisers pay for. If you cut down the TO length, you'll cut back revenues. And the NCAA is ALL about revenue. Changing the focus of officiating to benefit the offensive player will be a longer and more painful process than most fans will be happy with. Face it, referees earn their pay checks on knowing what they won't call. Anyone can just blow his whistle upon seeing any contact, and that will quickly kill the goose that lays the golden egg. You don't need refs to have a free throw contest, and any time gained through more judicious administration of TO's will be more than lost at the foul line. Most fans favor up-tempo games with flow over whistle-fests, and without fans, advertisers have no one to whom they can market their wares. [/QUOTE]

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