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LAS VEGAS — College basketball does not like the “one-and-done” rule that sends NBA prospects to college for a year — or often less — before joining the league.
That was a message delivered by Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott during a press conference at T-Mobile Arena between quarterfinal games Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas.
The rule, which stipulates NBA prospects must be removed from high school for at least one year before turning pro, has turned many colleges into basketball-focused enterprises, often with players who have no intention of earning a college degree.
And Scott wants to do something about it.
“I’ve certainly been out there trying to make clear that the NBA change its rule — that college sports does not have young phenoms in college that are not interested in staying for long,” Scott said during a half-hour press conference with reporters prior to Southern California’s game against Oregon State.
“I think college basketball would be healthier if it were reserved for students who value the education and are at the school for three years, like football players and baseball players, making progress toward a degree.”
The NBA rule change will be one of four proposals the Pac-12 will submit for re-evaluation in light of the FBI findings regarding allegations of bribery and other scandals that have rocked the sport in recent months. At least four people could be eligible for jail time amid an ongoing investigation that could find many, many more.
The one-and-done rule was one of four “baskets” that Scott mentioned as potential changes that could help the sport. The others include amending college coaches' recruiting calendars to put less emphasis on shoe company-sponsored summer tournaments and Amateur Athletics Union enterprises and more emphasis on the high school season; liberalizing rules affecting relationships between student-athletes and agents, such as one the NCAA recently passed for college hockey players; and strengthening relationships between the NBA’s G League to help facilitate the movement of players from high school who have no intentions of earning a college degree.
“College basketball is a fantastic sport. March Madness is one of the greatest sporting events in our country,” Scott said. “Our objective is to be an important leader in these discussions, working with the NCAA and other leaders in the field.”
Sin City through 2020
In addition to his comments, Scott announced that the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament is moving to Sin City.
Long held in Seattle, the league will relocate its annual postseason women’s basketball tournament to Las Vegas on a two-year deal, beginning with the 2019 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Scott announced Thursday during the Pac-12 tournament at T-Mobile Arena.
The 2020 tournament will be played at Mandalay Bay Events Center, home court of Las Vegas’s forthcoming WNBA franchise.
“We are very excited to make Las Vegas the home of the very best of Pac-12 men’s and women’s basketball,” said Scott, whose league will keep the men’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena through 2020. “The quality of our women’s basketball programs has driven increasing fan interest over the past several years and we look forward to continuing to build upon this success in Las Vegas, and to creating a true festival of Pac-12 basketball across our men’s and women’s events in March.”
The Pac-12 has staged its women’s tournament in Seattle for six years, but multimillion-dollar renovations to Key Arena in the city’s attempt to lure an NHL franchise will send the tourney to the same city as the men’s tournament in 2019 and 2020.
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Scott doesn’t anticipate a deal between DirecTV and the league-owned Pac-12 Networks any time soon.
A constant consternation between fans and the league office since the network launched in 2012, DirecTV is one of the few national carriers that does not carry the channel. While negotiations have been ongoing for several years, Scott hinted he doesn’t see an immediate end in sight between the two sides.
“I certainly understand the frustration, and I’m sympathetic to concerns they have from their perspective with less-than-ideal game times, as well,” Scott said. “It’s something we try to be attentive to.”
The commissioner highlighted the conference’s numerous streaming options, such as Sling and Fubo TV, but he did not announce any additional avenues for streaming the Pac-12 Networks.
