Year after rule changes, men’s basketball back to old form

CINCINNATI (AP) — One year after the NCAA changed how rules were enforced to open up the game, men’s basketball looks a lot like it once did.

Fouls, free throws and scoring increased at the start of last season with a new emphasis on eliminating some of the physical play, especially around the basket. Those statistics leveled off as the season went along — and they are now back to near where they were two years ago.

Coaches and players say officials went back to calling the game the old way for the most part, and they’re glad to see it. One of the athletic directors involved in the changes says players adjusted as well, and the game is better because of it.

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