The conversation continues about how to fix college basketball. I already offered up my analysis on why offenses are so bogged down in today’s game. I’ve also got what amounts to a pet peeve that might not have anything to do with the on-court product we’re now seeing. Or maybe it does.
There’s no rule that can be passed to control this, but I’m really tired of six on six basketball. If you’re scratching your head about that comment, here’s the explanation. Each team has five players on the court as per the rules, but it now seems as if every single team has a sixth guy who’s either literally on the court, or is close enough so that he’s almost part of the action. That would be the head coach.
I can’t pinpoint when this began happening, but it appears as though most coaches no longer require a seat on the sidelines, as they never use it anyway. They’re prowling the sidelines, yelling instructions, waving arms, and doing everything other than actually handling the basketball themselves.
If I were to address the body of college coaches as a whole, I’d issue one simple request, and that would be to sit the blank down. I have to tell you, I think the “overcoaching” that is now commonplace has reached epidemic proportions and I’m also becoming convinced that it’s more counterproductive than anything else. Here’s an idea. Let the players play on occasion.
Maybe there’s no connection between the coaches trying to dominate all 40 minutes of every game and what seems to be me to be tight play on the part of the athletes. Maybe it’s a just a coincidence. Or perhaps it isn’t. If I’m trying to do my job and I’ve got my boss in my ear the entire time I’m working, I’m probably going to either start pressing or I’ll just tune the boss out completely. I think it’s entirely conceivable we’re seeing the unfortunate byproduct of “overreaching” right now in college basketball.