The Pac-12 is continuing to try to stay on the forefront of collegiate athletics reform, proposing to contain the basketball season to one semester.
Larry Scott, the conference's commissioner, addressed the proposal at the Pac-12 Media Day event Thursday, ESPN reported.
"I think that's an intriguing concept that we absolutely ought to explore," he said during his public comments. "As part of that consideration, we have to realize that March Madness is something very unique.
"I do love the idea of making college basketball a one-semester sport, a little bit more compact. That all makes sense on a lot of levels. I think the balance of that is what would it do to the way the college basketball season ends?"
With their heightened level of autonomy from the NCAA, the Power Five conferences have been more vocal about what changes they would like to see in collegiate athletics. About a month ago, Scott detailed a proposal to allow student-athletes to profit off their names, images, and likenesses, The Associated Press noted.
The one-semester basketball schedule could be part of a larger initiative to expand the game's viewership, as the NCAA has already passed a set rule changes aimed at enhancing the viewing experience. Scott reasoned a shift in the schedule would avoid a television overlap with the three major professional sports leagues, as well as college football.
Jim Delany, commissioner of the Big Ten conference, told ESPN there are preliminary conversations about a college basketball season shift taking place, though he expressed a certain degree of skepticism.
"Can we move it into a middle of December start time?" he said. "If you pick up a month there, you're talking about a month on the back end. You're talking about competition with NBA playoffs. You're talking about the start of the baseball season. You're talking about conflicts with [The Masters]... I don't think it's an easy answer at all."
