So based on our recent threads, the other day I started thinking back to rules changes, and the original Big East, and especially as I watched PC struggle against the Syracuse zone last Wednesday, and I started thinking (which is dangerous)... and had a stream of consciousness.

From what I remember, Jim Boeheim didn't introduce his strict Syracuse zone defense I think until 1996, the year John Wallace led the Orangemen to the National Final. Before '96, Syracuse was considered a m2m type team. In fact, Boeheim was able to recruit Pearl Washington for the 84 season in large part because Washington was promised that Syracuse would play man-to-man. M2M was considered important back then because the NBA didn't allow zone. So going to Syracuse would prep a player to be ready for the NBA. Also, it made Big East action exciting and provided a smooth game flow.

This led me to remember that for a short time in the late 80s I think, the Big East experimented with 6 fouls per player. This, again, was a way to prep Big East players for the NBA style [also, it allowed fans to watch their favorite players instead of having them foul-out or spend more time on the bench]. The problem that this led to was tougher defensive play, way more stoppages, many more fouls and free throws, and hurting the flow of the game. Basically, it allowed Alonzo Mourning to commit an additional punishing foul against other terrified Big East big men. Yikes.

Also, regarding fouls... the 6-Foul Big East didn't work because the NBA allows 6 fouls in a 48 minute game, or 1 foul every 8 minutes... which is the same as college's 5 fouls per 40 minutes... so the Big East adopting 6 fouls allowed a foul every 6:40 of play... again, this messed up the game flow.

(02-25-2013 02:34 PM)billyjack Wrote:  So based on our recent threads, the other day I started thinking back to rules changes, and the original Big East, and especially as I watched PC struggle against the Syracuse zone last Wednesday, and I started thinking (which is dangerous)... and had a stream of consciousness.

From what I remember, Jim Boeheim didn't introduce his strict Syracuse zone defense I think until 1996, the year John Wallace led the Orangemen to the National Final. Before '96, Syracuse was considered a m2m type team. In fact, Boeheim was able to recruit Pearl Washington for the 84 season in large part because Washington was promised that Syracuse would play man-to-man. M2M was considered important back then because the NBA didn't allow zone. So going to Syracuse would prep a player to be ready for the NBA. Also, it made Big East action exciting and provided a smooth game flow.

This led me to remember that for a short time in the late 80s I think, the Big East experimented with 6 fouls per player. This, again, was a way to prep Big East players for the NBA style [also, it allowed fans to watch their favorite players instead of having them foul-out or spend more time on the bench]. The problem that this led to was tougher defensive play, way more stoppages, many more fouls and free throws, and hurting the flow of the game. Basically, it allowed Alonzo Mourning to commit an additional punishing foul against other terrified Big East big men. Yikes.

Also, regarding fouls... the 6-Foul Big East didn't work because the NBA allows 6 fouls in a 48 minute game, or 1 foul every 8 minutes... which is the same as college's 5 fouls per 40 minutes... so the Big East adopting 6 fouls allowed a foul every 6:40 of play... again, this messed up the game flow.

I remember it exactly the same way. Syracuse always wanted to run, ant man to man, combined with various presses and traps is the best way to create turnovers so a team can get out and run for high percentage shots, i.e. layups.

Frankly, I was surprised that Boeheim stuck with the zone once he introduced it. However, he always liked to go with a short bench, usually a 7 man rotation. So, maybe he saw the zone as a way of protecting his starters + the 6th & 7th men. Once John Thompson II changed college basketball with Georgetown's physical style of play, it became easier to get into foul trouble. So, something different was needed if a team didn't go 9 or 10 deep the way that Georgetown did. Now that everyone has adjusted to the more physical game - including the refs - foul trouble isn't the problem that it was back in the '90's.

As for the 6 foul experiment, I think you're exactly right that the 3 year trial pretty much coincided with Alonzo Mourning's career.