The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- October 26, 1998

Division I

Commissioners, coaches air issues during basketball group meeting

Representatives from the Collegiate Commissioners Association and the coaches organizations for both men's and women's basketball appeared before the Division I Working Group to Study Basketball Issues at the group's first meeting October 13 in Chicago.

No significant decisions were reached in the initial meeting, although the group did decide to recommend expansion to include an African-American female and a member of the Division I Women's Basketball Committee.

A decision on separating discussion of issues in the sport for men and women was deferred until the group has a better sense of the differences among the issues.

Kenneth A. Shaw, chancellor at Syracuse University and chair of the working group, advised the group that he anticipates the work to extend through the next year with a total of six meetings planned at the current time.

The next meeting is scheduled for December 10 in Newark, New Jersey.

Results of a survey sent to all Division I schools seeking opinions on basketball issues are expected to be available for the December meeting.

Available for review

Each interest group appearing before the working group is invited to submit a written response to the group's invitation for input. The papers from the CCA, National Association of Basketball Coaches and Women's Basketball Coaches Association can be viewed online at NCAA Online (www. ncaa.org) under the "news release" menu.

Theresa Grentz, president of the WBCA and basketball coach at the University of Illinois, Champaign, told the working group that inconsistency in officiating is the most pressing issue facing the women's game, followed by recruiting and the need for greater marketing of the women's game.

Grentz also noted that contrary to opinion of some in the men's game, exempted contests are important to the women because they showcase the women's game.

"We need the exposure," she said. "We are in a different place in the popularity of our game than the men, and there are more and more corporate sponsors that want to promote our games."

The influence of nonscholastic coaches in the recruiting process and the effect of summer leagues also was discussed by Grentz. She said that while young men will go to the playground during the summer, young girls need a more organized environment that the leagues and camps provide.

Burden on coaches

She also noted, however, that the growth in summer camps has put an increased burden on coaches to attend. Like the men's game, she said, the summer camps are more important to the mid- and lower-major programs that need to see players not otherwise identified as potential standouts.

Mike Krzyzewski, president of the NABC and basketball coach at Duke University, and Mike Jarvis, past president of the NABC and basketball coach at St. John's University (New York), presented the men's coaching perspective to the working group.

The two discussed three points of greatest importance to the coaches. They said that some level of summer recruiting is needed, especially for the mid- and lower-tier programs; the November early signing date is important because it takes pressure off recruiting for the top majors and releases prospects for the other programs; and high-school coaches need to be brought back into the recruiting process.

More interaction

Krzyzewski also pushed for more interaction between coaches and student-athletes.

"Coaches should be able to watch their student-athletes play out of season," he said. "We should be able to talk about basketball. These conversations are entrees to talking about other issues (like gambling). You need to trust us. The alternative (to have contact about basketball before practice starts) has not been good."

Recruiting model endorsed

Jarvis and Krzyzewski recommended adoption of the recruiting model put forth earlier this summer by the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet that would have reduced the number of dates for evaluation in the summer and moved them to the academic year.

Michael Tranghese, commissioner of the Big East Conference, represented the CCA and told the working group that there is considerable sentiment for a review of the exempted contests.

"We are under a lot of pressure," he said, "At some point, some time, someone has to do the right thing. Most of the money is going to the networks, not the schools."

'Do the right thing'

He also called on the working group "to do the right thing" and not try to reach decisions that will please all its constituents. He cited freshman eligibility as one of the issues that has divided support.

Tranghese said there are a number of complex issues facing the men's game about which there will be little consensus for solutions.

Invited to appear before the working group in December will be representatives of shoe and apparel companies, AAU and other nonscholastic coaches and the high-school community.