NCAA Makes Changes to Women’s College Basketball, but Were They Necessary?

Say goodbye to two 20-minute halves in women's college basketball. That's one of several announced changes that left me wondering why.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel decided to do away with the two halves in women's college basketball to go to a more NBA or high school format, where quarters are played. Beginning this fall, there will be four, 10-minute quarters to enhance the flow of the game. I went to an Iowa women's NCAA Tourney game last winter and I didn't see any problem at all with the flow of the game.

Another change... probably fewer free throws. Teams will reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul of each quarter. Currently, the one-and-one goes into effect on the seventh team foul and two shots (double bonus as it's known) happens beginning with the 10th foul of each half. So much for the pressure of the one-and-one.

Yes, there's one change I do like. I've always felt like the defense is punished when they do something that causes the 10-second backcourt count to be restarted. Sure, the shot clock has gone down however much, but why should the offense be "rewarded" with a fresh 10-seconds to get the ball over midcourt? That's been taken care of. Teams will no longer get a new 10-second backcourt count if the ball is deflected out of bounds by the defense, if there's a held ball with possession arrow favoring the offense, or if a technical foul is called on the offense. Good moves.

The women's game will be a bit more physical near the basket as defenders can now put their forearm or an open hand (with bent elbow) into the back of the offensive post player while they're facing away from the basket.

Finally, games could be louder. Until now, bands or music could only play, or be played, during timeouts. That will now be allowed during any dead-ball situation. The P.R.O.P. believes more music will help increase the fan experience. I can't disagree with that either. After all, I'm in the music business.