The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is known for their rule experiments. Each year, the NCAA tries different rules that they are thinking about changing for the next season.
Just because these rules are experimented does not mean that the NCAA will change them—they are simply to see how it works.
According to the NCAA, the 2019 rule experiments are as followed:
• The 3-point line will be extended by approximately 1 foot, 8 inches to the same distance used by FIBA for international competition (22 feet, 1.75 inches).
• The free throw lane will be widened from 12 feet to 16 feet, consistent with the width used by the NBA.
• The shot clock will reset to 20 seconds after an offensive rebound instead of the full 30 seconds.
• Team fouls will reset at the 10-minute mark of each half for the purpose of determining free throws and one-and-one free throws will be eliminated. Teams will shoot two bonus free throws after the fifth team foul of each 10-minute segment.
Additionally, teams will be awarded two bonus free throws after the second team foul committed under two minutes remaining in each half if that foul occurs before the fifth team foul of the segment. In each overtime period, team fouls will reset, and teams will shoot two free throws beginning with the fourth team foul or the second team foul committed under two minutes remaining if that comes before the fourth team foul of the overtime period.
These rule changes will be overseen by the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee, the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee and the Division I Men’s Basketball Competition Committee. They will collect feedback and data to help make decisions on the rule changes.
The NCAA playing rules process operates on a two-year cycle, with the next approval of rules changes coming this May, effective potentially for the 2019-20 season.
Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball stated:
“The style of play in men’s college basketball is healthy and appealing, but the leadership governing the game is interested in keeping the playing rules contemporary and trending favorably.
Experimenting with two significant court dimension rules, a shot-clock reset rule and a game-format rule all have some level of support in the membership, so the NIT will provide the opportunity to gather invaluable data and measure the experience of the participants.
The NIT is an exciting event with a rich tradition and history, yet it also provides us a platform to consider how the game might look in the future. We’ve seen the adoption of recent experimental rules and how they have had a positive impact. This track record of the game evolving is a result of us having the flexibility to see if the rules work and are met with satisfaction.”
The NIT will begin Tuesday, March 19. The semifinals and championship games will be on April 2 and 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Official 2019 NIT bracket below.
All rule change information can be found on ncaa.com.
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