I believe the NCAA and others need to take a different perspective with respect to WCBB, because with the advent of the increased numbers of overseas basketball opportunities available it has become a viable vocation. For a greater number of players, it has become a means to play professional sports and not just a means for a college degree. In fact, the value of a college degree is becoming more and more diminished. A lot of young people with degrees that have little value in the job market.
They might think about seeing college basketball as a curriculum rather than extracurricular activities. When they deny a student the right to play their maximum eligible games, they are keeping them from learning skills that will impact their earning power and long term success at their jobs. I understand that they also have a responsibility to make sure that players do not make a career out of playing in college, but they should get at least 4 years or the number of games that are the equivalent.
If a player goes over their allotted number of games to get an extra year due to injury, then if that injury keeps them out of the early part of next season that should be considered as a trade-off. That way going over by one game would not disqualify them for an injury waiver because if it is an ACL that player would not be able to play the early part of the next season. Not being able to play effectively for two consecutive seasons would definitely impact those players' earnings at least for the first few years of professional ball.
