[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Last night was painful for anyone watching, and all of the coverage today has not helped lessening the blow of Noel’s injury. While Noel’s injury was certainly a freak play, one glaring issue several basketball minds have discussed in the hours after the injury was that this is a perfect time to debate the proximity of basketball stanchions (supporting posts) to the playing area. The 2013 season has brought two horrific injuries as a result of players colliding or attempting to dodge the support post. On Jan 12, Rotnei Clarke of Butler gruesomely collided with the bottom of the post after driving hard to the basket. He landed neck-first on the padding, and luckily only suffered a concussion instead of more extensive injury to this cervical region.
Youtube
Now, we have Nerlens Noel who shifted sideways to avoid slamming forcefully into the post, only to have his knee buckle as result of the awkward shift of his body. Two premier players have had injuries that had the chance to be career-ending as a result of these posts being too close for players to have any sort of chance to safely react to them in fast paced situations.
With this in mind, It is time for the NCAA to look at the opportunity to make a rule change for baskets to be mandatorily placed several more feet back than they are currently. Any inconveniences that this rule may cause for arenas or colleges is worth it to protect the college athletes that they make ridiculous profits off of (different topic for a different day). A few extra costs or repairs are well worth it to protect student-athletes from injuries. The current positioning just cost Nerlens Noel a serious amount of cash, the least the NCAA can do is pony up an equal amount of money to stop this type of injury from happening.
Keep praying for Nerlens @JayHochKSR
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February 13th, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Jay, frankly I’m a little dismayed that no one else, including our esteemed and much loved Matt Jones, sees this as I do. The UNC/Duke game is on. Look at the basket supports in Cameron. They come down from the ceiling. The injury to NN would never have happened if the game was being played in Cameron. It’s the right way to do things. Good gyms and arenas have them suspended from the ceiling. The ones at UF should be in someone’s driveway. Do not move them back; don’t even have them at all. I feel like I’m alone in an effing desert.
February 13th, 2013 at 11:57 pm
I wish they could make them suspended from the ceiling, but in a place like Rupp Arena, that is almost not feasible. I think the best compromise we can make is moving them back
February 14th, 2013 at 6:47 am
I watched SportsCenter this morning specifically noticing the various hoop supports in different venues. Practically all were of the type you prefer and advocate. So, I am wrong. And that’s a first. Not that I’m wrong, but that I’ve admitted it.:)
February 14th, 2013 at 9:15 am
Just a guess, but I’d say that the further away from the base the glass is extended, the greater likelihood of it coming over completely on a hard dunk. The base might]
need to be heavier, or secured in some way.
February 14th, 2013 at 9:47 am
If we can send a man to the moon, surely we can figure out how to make sure the goal wouldn’t come over on a hard dunk
February 14th, 2013 at 10:24 am
Some of the ones I saw on SC this morning were very far back. So far back that it’s hard to imagine, for me anyway, how they could be stable and withstand hard dunks. But they must have that problem solved or at least I hope they do. The physics and design of these things are pretty impressive.