Speaking of sports
Is the 30-second clock a reality
By BRUCE CARNAHAN Kansan Sports Writer
Remember the Atlantic Coast Conference game in which North Carolina State came back from a 4-2 half time disadvantage to squeak by with a 12-10 victory over a strong and highly regarded Duke team?
Don't think back too far because this historical event didn't take place in 1930, '40 or even '50 as most of you would probably assume. No it was only a scant two years ago, March 8, 1968 to be exact, that this basketball game, if you so wish to call it, took place in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The contest, supposedly a battle of wits between two excellent coaches (we won't embarrass them by mentioning their names), was the lowest point total in college basketball since Oklahoma State trounced Oklahoma 14-11 in 1944. But far more important, it was the game that made a mockery of all modern day concepts of basketball and caused college coaches, players and basketball authorities across the nation to shout, "What about a 30-second clock?"
And why not? After all, the United States, the birthplace of the game, is the only basketball-playing country in the world that doesn't comply with the International Rules which call for a 30-second clock. The results are obvious. The 1968 Olympics was the first time that the United States' basketball supremacy was seriously challenged. Even Hank Iba, the king of possession basketball and the United States' basketball coach in the '68 Olympics has stated, "I'm convinced the International Rules are the best."
Other sports have at least toyed with the notion of a timing device that will speed up play and create the fast paced action
that is necessary to draw good attendance. Pro basketball has the 24-second clock, and even baseball has experimented with the idea of limiting the time between a pitcher's deliveries.
This all brings up one very important aspect of basketball. True, basketball is a sport, but it is also an entertainment. Often up to 20,000 people jam, pack, and crowd their way into an arena to watch an important game. And let's not forget about the games that are regionally or even nationally televised. The teams owe these faithful followers and the televised audience an entertaining evening and have no right to deal out a monstrosity such as the Duke-North Carolina State affair.
Such games are not typical of college basketball, but they do point to a general theory used by most coaches-control the game by using a possession offense and you can beat the stronger and taller opponents. This is no doubt a good theory, but it often leads to excessive fouling and nothing is worse than a long and boring game that is drawn out at the foul lines. A 30-second clock can, and would, cut the amount of fouling because teams wouldn't have to bite, scratch and beg for re-possession of the ball.
Many coaches argue that they should have the authority to stall and preserve a lead in the late
stages of a game. They argue that a 30-second clock would be good—but it should not be used in the last five minutes of the game. Sure, they should have some right to protect their leads but if these coaches are going to sit on their leads without looking for the bucket then why should it be necessary to even play the last five minutes. They might as well end the game at the five minute mark and disperse with the lack of action that causes crowds to boo, hiss and shower the court with popcorn.
Those who are still not convinced of the immediate importance of a time limit for the offense should take a look at an incident that involved KU and Boston College in the National Invitational Tournament in New York only last March. Terry Driscoll, 6-7 center and the leading scorer for Boston College, fouled out of the contest with 11:36 still remaining on the clock. Bob Cousy, then the head coach at Boston College, decided that he did not have the height or the bench power to contest KU without the services of Driscoll so he elected to sit on his lead and go into a slow down game (actually it was a deep freeze). Thus, in the last 11 minutes and 36 seconds (of what up to then was a good game) resulted in a prolonged period of idle bodies that
Jan. 9
1970
had no intention of shooting unless they got an easy layup.
8 KANSAN
like the Olympic rules which have a 30-second clock. I'm going to propose they be adopted."
During the final ten minutes each team managed to somehow score ten points apiece, but the game was already decided when Driscoll walked off the court and plopped himself on the Eagles' bench.
This incident prompted KU coach Ted Owens, a long time advocate of the effectiveness of the possession offense, to remark, "I thought it was a disgrace. I not faulting Cousy, I not faulting the rules. I'm not saying there should be a 24-second clock, but maybe a 30-second time limit."
Owens continued saying, "I
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