“We should play the game like the NBA”: Bill Self brainstorm with Coach K on bringing new changes in college basketball rules

Kansas Jayhawks’ Bill Self and Duke legend Coach K have been at the forefront of change in college basketball. The two sat together for an episode of "Basketball & Beyond with Coach K" on SiriusXM on Thursday. They talked about the potential changes that can surface in the Division I world.

Bill Self's Kansas played their preseason opener against John Calipari’s Arkansas on Oct. 25 and showcased four 10-minute quarters instead of the usual 20-minute halves in college basketball. Even though his team lost, Self agreed with Mike Krzyzewski's sentiments of making four quarters a regular rendezvous in college ball, alongside other changes.

"I think we should play the game like the NBA," Krzyzewski said. "A 24-second, most of the same rules and officiating. Probably not defensive three seconds, but four quarters, advance the ball, because these kids want to play in the NBA, I don’t understand why we’re not playing it."

Bill Self added his admiration for international rules while citing the problems around foul penalties in college basketball.

"I actually like the international rules," Self said. "I like the quarters for one big reason: fouls reset every quarter. I think in our game, the foul situation puts teams in situations and players where they’re defensive playing defense for half of the half, or whatever it would be. So I do like that."

The Jayhawks coach also agreed with Coach K's notion of advancing the ball. However, he claimed that he needed to dwell more on the 24-second shot clock bit.

Nevertheless, the two coaches were on the same page throughout the conversation, suggesting that Division I basketball will benefit from a few rule changes. Moreover, these changes will prepare young players for bigger stages earlier than ever.

Bill Self and Coach K also point out a flaw in the NCAA rulebook

Currently, the NCAA has derived a mandatory guideline around players and their CARA (countable athletically related activities) that every school must follow. Every player is restricted to up to four hours of CARA per day, limited to 20 hours in a week. Moreover, teams have to provide them with one off day every week.

With that, Coach K pointed out that having limited time with their roster is counter-productive since the rise of international players in Division I.

"With the international players coming in too, Bill, they’re accustomed to access to coaching anytime, at any time in the year," Coach K said.

"They’re going to get it from somebody," Bill Self agreed. "Regardless of what’s going on with NIL and the perception of a lot of different things out there, kids still want to be coached. They still want to get better. They still yearn for the discipline of a routine."

Additionally, conditioning, strength training, board talk, films, sports lectures and workshops also amount towards a player’s CARA. Match days are recorded as 3 hours.