NCAA may tinker with goaltending rule

By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — An NCAA committee has recommended changing the goaltending rule so that a ball that is completely above the rim and has already hit the backboard could not be touched, regardless of whether it is on an upward or downward flight.

“This change better defines and discerns the act of goaltending,” Brad Jackson, chairman of the NCAA basketball rules committee and coach at Western Washington, said Monday.

Previously, only a ball on a downward flight after touching the backboard was subject to a goaltending call.

The proposal was one of about 50 by a joint subcommittee of the men’s and women’s rules committee. Only a handful of minor changes were approved, and those must be approved next month by the NCAA’s playing rules oversight panel before they would go into effect.

Among the proposals that were approved was one requiring home teams to wear light uniforms and visiting teams to wear dark uniforms, unless both schools agree to a switch. Previously, the light-home, dark-visitor uniforms were recommended, but not required.

The men’s committee took no action on proposed changes to the width of the free throw lane.

“The restricted area arc and the widening of the lane were dimensional changes that were considered and discussed,” Jackson said. “However, our committee decided to continue to observe and study the effects these dimensional changes may have on our game.”

Agency representing Mayo denies illegal activity. The head of the sports agency representing O.J. Mayo denied any illegal activity involving the Southern California star, a day after ESPN reported Bill Duffy Associates gave cash to an event promoter who provided gifts.

Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo’s, told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that BDA Sports provided Rodney Guillory with about $200,000 before Mayo arrived at USC. Johnson said a portion of that money was given to Mayo.

Mayo has declared for the NBA draft and hired BDA Sports’ Calvin Andrews as his agent. ESPN reported Sunday that Mayo received about $30,000 and other benefits while in high school and during his lone season at USC, then entered into a verbal agreement that allowed the agency to represent him when he turned pro.

But Duffy said he only recently met Mayo, and only knew Guillory through the player.

NCAA rules prohibit giving college athletes money or other gifts. Johnson, who claims he didn’t get paid, also gave ESPN receipts and invoices for many of the purchases.