WSSU's Wilhelmi is ready for rule changes

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The NCAA rule changes for the 2015-16 basketball season will barely affect Winston-Salem State.

The biggest change is the reduction of the shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds. The NCAA hopes it boosts scoring in Division I, where the average of 67.7 points per team per game was the third lowest since 1952. But the rule changes are also for Division II schools.

According to Coach James Wilhelmi of the Rams, who billed themselves as “shock and awe” last season, they never had to worry about too many shot-clock violations while averaging 81 points a game.

“I really think that the 30-second shot clock won’t lead to more scoring,” Wilhelmi said when talking about Division II. “I do believe it will lead to more possessions because the shot clock will run out sooner. The shots that end up being taken might not be quality shots, so the possessions might not add up to more points.”

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