The Halfcourt Trap Vol. I, No. 19

The Trap is settling into the South Florida home office for the holiday. In that spirit, here are six hoops changes I’d love to receive as Christmas gifts.

1. College basketball adopting the NBA rule disallowing any basket scored when an offensive foul takes place. Too often, referees use the option of having it both ways to appease the respective benches. Changing the rule will force them to make an actual decision.

2. Further, college basketball adding the “no charge” arc under the basket the Association has employed for a number of years. If you don’t play defense for the first 89 feet of the playing surface, you shouldn’t be able to try to bail yourself out in the last 5.

3. The Sun Belt and the MVC receiving some ESPN time. Those conferences play a brand of basketball far more entertaining than the bottom half of the BCS leagues.

4. The three point line moved back to 22 feet. The shot is ridiculously close. The line should be placed at a distance where only elite shooters can hit with consistency.

5. No more Len Elmore on television. I don’t care that he’s a lawyer. I don’t care that he played in the epic Maryland-NC State ACC Tournament final in ‘74. He’s the worst. Ever.

6. The held ball rule eliminated. Either go back to jump balls or award the ball to the defensive team. Both of those options are preferable to awarding the ball to a team that has botched possession of the ball 50% of the time.

Merry Christmas and stay classy, VolNation.