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Posted on Fri, May 6, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein thinks a restricted area arc will help clarify charges

By Michael Rothstein

Michigan guard Zack Novak fouled out a game against Iowa last February in which all five fouls he was assessed came trying to draw a charge underneath the Hawkeyes’ basket.

With the speed college basketball and bodies flying under the hoop, the charge/block call underneath the basket is one of the hardest for officials to see clearly.

Now, the NCAA rules committee is looking to better define things by adding a “restricted area arc” three feet from the basket. It would tell defenders coming over from help side defense where they can and can not stand to draw a charge.

It’s possible this could affect no one in college basketball more than Novak.

“I think it defines things,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “It’s always been confusing and while I haven’t studied it greatly ... I don’t think there is anything more punishing than somebody getting knocked over and it not being a charge, or being a block with him being too far underneath the basket.

“This may make it very clear as to where you need to be in order to make the proper play.”

KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY Beilein, who no longer chairs but is still a member of the ethics coalition attempting to clean up college basketball, said one thing that needs to change is how the NCAA adapts to technology.

He noted that at certain stages of the recruiting process, it's acceptable for a coach to email a player but it is illegal to text message them.

"It’s virtually the same thing. We need to continue to evolve with technology," Beilein said.

Michael Rothstein covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.