College hoops will implement new rules in 2011-12

~ Two changes will be clearly visible to players, officials and fans

Two significant rule changes are in store for college basketball in the upcoming season.

Women will now shoot from the same 3-point line as men after the women's line was moved back a foot to 20 feet, 9 inches.

The other major rule change will affect both men and women: a new 3-foot circle under the center of the basket, inside which a defender cannot take a charge.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently approved the changes, including pushing the women's 3-point line back to the distance the men have used since 2008-09.

That means there will be only one 3-point line on college basketball courts, instead of the confusing double line that resulted in many women shooting beyond the men's arc anyway.

"I think it's a good thing. I'm for it," first-year Southeast women's coach Ty Margenthaler said. "I'm glad they're just going with one line. I think there was some confusion because the lines were so close together.

"I think now there will be less indecision for the players. The shot might be a little more challenging, but I think that's a good thing."

The other notable rule change, modeled after the NBA, will help officials determine charge/block calls.

Any defender outside the 3-foot circle will be eligible to take a charge, while any defender with one or both feet inside the circle will be called for a block.

"I was OK either way, but I would have to lean toward liking it," Southeast men's coach Dickey Nutt said. "When you get in so close to the basket there are so many questionable calls in there.

"It's a really tough call to begin with, and this makes it easier on the referees. It takes the decision making out of the referee's hands. You know as a player how far you have to go out there."

Said Margenthaler: "I think it's a great rule. It's a tough call for officials in the heat of action, and this takes some of the pressure off them."

Women's teams also will test a 10-second half-court rule during exhibition games and closed scrimmages this season.

Women's squads currently can take more than 10 seconds to advance the ball past half-court, unlike men's teams and even high school boys and girls squads.

Margenthaler said he hasn't formed an opinion on the potential change but he is looking forward to seeing it in action.

"We haven't had it, but I'm anxious to go through that," Margenthaler said. "I'm excited about experimenting with it."

Staff adjustment

Nutt made an adjustment to his coaching staff when he named Luke Scheidecker operations assistant. The position usually is filled by a graduate student, although Scheidecker is an undergraduate.

Scheidecker replaced Matt Williams, who returned to his home town of Jonesboro, Ark., to pursue a high school coaching job after handling the position during Nutt's first two seasons. Scheidecker was a student manager the past two years.

While operations assistant is not a full-time position as far as compensation goes, Nutt emphasized that it is a vital one.

The hours are long, much like those of any other coach. Among Scheidecker's duties are directing the Redhawks' summer camps, handling all of their travel arrangements during the season and acting as something of a personal assistant to Nutt.

"We certainly enjoyed Matt for two years. He did a super job and did exactly what he wanted to do, move into a full-time high school job," Nutt said. "We're excited about Luke. He's doing a super job.

"These positions are very important. He's a personal assistant to the head coach. He handles everything from A to Z. It's the road to being a basketball coach, the thing you have to do. I did it at Oklahoma State. It's a terrific opportunity for him."