Fueled by the thought that college basketball is a great game that has potential to be even better, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) have appointed a subcommittee composed of representatives from each group to study ways in which to improve the product.

At its May 6-7 meeting in Atlanta, the men's basketball committee met with the 22-member board of directors of the NABC. The groups reviewed various issues concerning the current state of college basketball. Included in the discussion were possible rules changes, officiating procedures, and game production and promotion.

The NABC board expressed concern about the length of time required to play televised games and the late starting times of some of the contests in this year's Division I men's tournament. In addition, the groups discussed the effects of such rules changes as widening the free-throw lane and moving back the three-point line.

The NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee recently changed rules regarding number and length of timeouts during games with the intent of decreasing the actual time it takes to finish the last four minutes of a game. The rules committee, however, has taken no action with regard to widening the lane or moving the three-point line.

The subcommittee has no specific timetable but is expected to meet during the summer to discuss these and other related topics.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Division I Men's Basketball Committee
May 6-7/Atlanta

* Reviewed administration of the 1996 tournament at each of the 13 sites.

* Agreed to send private letters of reprimand to several schools for violations of tournament policies.

* Denied an appeal from the Big West Conference that would have allowed it to designate a team other than its conference champion as its automatic qualifier to the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

* Reviewed potential automatic-qualifying conferences for the 1997 tournament.

* Received a report from the corporate-sponsorship subcommittee of the NCAA Special Committee on Marketing, Licensing and Promotional Activities.