The coach's challenge rule will make its debut in men's college basketball in the 2025-26 season. Fans have had varied reactions to the update on social media, with some appreciating the change and others arguing about the restrictions of the challenge. However, fans had a united reaction to referees being able to use video replays any time they want,
Video reviews, during the final minutes of matchups, have garnered a reputation for impacting the momentum of games and eventually affecting their outcomes. CBS analyst Matt Norlander highlighted that while the coach's challenge could help maintain the flow of games, it will hardly alter the use of video reviews.
"Sitting in the studio and sometimes waiting to go live on television, sometimes at 01:07 in the morning, so you (Gary Parrish) are as sensitive and aware to this issue as any diehard fan that is watching the games," he said (23:28).
"Quite clearly, it has become a plague on the sport. This shouldn’t prove it, but the bottom line is - if you think this headline is going to lead to a massive reduction in monitor reviews - I would love to be wrong.
Matt Norlander shared that he's yet to fully agree with the video reviews. He believes that college basketball rules and approaches to video monitors need to be significantly thought out, improved and reorganized.
"I'm just not there yet. I think there actually needs to be more work done with specific intention when it comes to officials’ monitor reviews, under what circumstances, what needs to be reviewed, what can be simply put off to media timeouts when they can get that done when there already is a stoppage in play."
What is the coach's challenge rule coming to college basketball?
The coach's challenge, just like the NBA, will allow teams to request for reviews. However, unlike the big league, there are restrictions on how the rule could be used in CBB.
Coaches can ask for review only in certain scenarios - out of bounds, goaltending, basket interference, blocking charge and defenders in restricted areas.
According to the rule book, each team will start the game with a coach's review. A successful review will award a second challenge to the involved team, while an unsuccessful review will strip them of the option and a timeout.
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