Big Ten Considering Rule To Make Athletes Sit Out Freshman Year

The Big Ten Conference is considering a rule that would make athletes ineligible for play during their freshman year.

The University of Maryland’s student newspaper uncovered an internal document last week discussing the possibility of redshirting all men’s football and basketball players during their freshman year.

The concept appears to be the Big Ten’s latest attempt to combat the NCAA’S “one-and-done” phenomenon, in which players, prevented from being drafted into the NBA directly out of high school, attend college for a single year before dropping out and moving to the big leagues.

IU mens’ basketball coach Tom Crean, speaking during a Big Ten Network conference call Monday, said the rule would be pointless unless adapted by all NCAA teams.

“That is would potentially be for selected conferences, I don’t think that makes a lot of sense,” Crean said.

Purdue coach Matt Painter was more open to the idea, if only as a means to put more emphasis back on classroom values.

“Whether it actually happens or not, maybe it gets people thinking along the lines of actually making some improvements," Painter said.

Two of the Hoosiers' top five scorers this year are freshman. The Boilermakers have one in their top five.

See the Big Ten announcement