The rules of college basketball have changed dramatically over the years. In many ways the game we play today is very different from the game Dr. James Naismith invented in 1892. The game did not suddenly change, but rather slowly evolved over time.
These were some of the rules differing from today for college basketball in the 1919-1920 season:
- Any player on the court can take the free throw, not just the player who was fouled
- There was no charging foul
- There was a jump ball after every made basket
- There is no shot clock, nor no 10 second mid-court violation
- There is no three second lane violation
- A player may not re-enter the game
- Coaches are not permitted to speak to players during the game
- A jump ball exists after every held ball
- There is no three point basket
- Traveling is a foul, not just a violation
- Players are disqualified after 4 fouls
- No Euro-step is permitted
Given these are the rules, what would be your all-time Syracuse squad to play in those conditions? Who are your starting five, and who are on your bench (we'll stick to 13 man roster if you want to have the complete roster).
I am definitely going to want some free throw shooters, and one needs to be on the court at all times. Fortunately poor shooting big men won’t matter, so guys like Rony Seikaly, Arinze Onuaku, and Stephen Thompson suddenly become more valuable.
I’m definitely have Gerry McNamara on my starting five, and Jimmy Lee and Greg Kohls off my bench in the event GMac ever fouls out or gets hurt.
Derrick Coleman is my starting center. He can camp out in the paint, and his low post moves and size would be tremendous. Plus he is a solid shot blocker, and with no goal tending restriction that would be amazing. And he is going to help a lot with the frequent jump balls. Rony Seikaly, Etan Thomas, and Roosevelt Bouie come off my bench. I’m going deep with centers off the bench because of possible foul problems.
You aren’t going to need three point shooters, but you are going to need mid range and perimeter shooters as the paint is going to be very crowded.
Carmelo Anthony is a no brainer, and I’ll add Billy Owens to the other wing. With Coleman, Anthony and Owens on the court, I’m going to have no problem bringing the ball up the court.
The impeccable Dave Bing is going to run the point for my team. I do want guys who can get the ball to the low post, so on the bench I'll have Sherman Douglas. I think his alley oop passes are a way to get around the openness on goaltending. With goal tending not being a rule, guys like the Pearl may have a bit tougher time.
I also think guys who have a strong low post game with a lot of dunking ability will thrive. So I’ve got to put Hakim Warrick on the squad, coming off the bench. His drop step dunk, especially with no charge calls, would be incredibly tough to stop.
And I want to fill out my roster with a great perimeter shooter who can pass the ball well. So Andy Rautins, welcome aboard.
So my squad is:
G: Dave Bing
G: Gerry McNamara
F: Carmelo Anthony
F: Billy Owens
C: Derrick Coleman
Bench
G: Greg Kohls
G: Jimmy Lee
G: Sherman Douglas
F/G: Andy Rautins
F: Hakim Warrick
C: Rony Seikaly
C: Etan Thomas
C: Roosevelt Bouie
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