SAC Sports Policy - Men's Basketball
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
MEN’S BASKETBALL COMMITTEE
Mike Jones, Brevard College
Dale Clayton, Carson-Newman College
Jim Baker, Catawba College
John Lentz, Lenior-Rhyne College, Chair, 2008-09, 2009-10
Josh Schertz, Lincoln Memorial
Thomas Nash, Mars Hill College
Jeremy Luther, Newberry College
Jim Boone, Tusculum College
Brian Good, Wingate University
Neill McGeachy, Lenoir-Rhyne, Men’s Basketball Committee Athletic Director Liaison
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SPORTS PROGRAMS
MEN'S BASKETBALL
SECTION 1. TITLE
1.1. South Atlantic Men's Basketball Committee
SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
2.1. The head basketball coach from each member institution shall serve on the committee and have one vote.
2.2. The basketball coaches committee shall be recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding basketball matters.
2.3. The committee shall meet officially once a year and submit a report of recommendations for the following year of operations to the men's basketball Athletic Director Liaison and the South Atlantic Conference office by March 1.
SECTION 3. OFFICERS
3.A. Status and Term of Office
3.A.1. The committee shall be chaired in rotation by institutional alphabetical order. The term shall be for a period of two years.
3.B. Duties
3.B.1. The chair shall call and preside over meetings of the committee. The chair shall make all necessary arrangements and report in the proper format all recommendations to the Athletic Directors Council through the AD liaison for the basketball committee.
3.B.2. A copy shall be sent to the South Atlantic Conference office.
SECTION 4. MEETING AND QUORUM
4.A. Date and Site
4.A.1. Committee may meet twice each academic year. Final recommendations should be made at the meeting closest to March. One meeting shall be held on the campus of the committee chair and one meeting shall be held at the conference tournament site.
4.A.2. The coaches committee may also meet prior to the beginning of practice each year.
4.B. Reporting
4.B.1. The annual report of the basketball committee shall be filed with the AD Liaison and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than March 1.
4.C. Quorum
4.C.1. A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum, but five (5) votes are necessary to recommend a change in policies and procedures.
SECTION 5. CONFERENCE PLAY
5.A. General Policies and Procedures
5.A.1. Each school will be required and responsible for uploading digitgal game video to Game Tape Exchange (July, 2008)
5.A.2. No South Atlantic Conference member institution shall provide scouting reports of any kind (verbal, written, or videotaped) to opponents outside the SAC.
5.A.3. The host school will provide five (5) practice balls, water coolers, ice and towels to the visiting team.
5.A.4. All students to be admitted at student prices upon presentation of valid I.D.
5.A.5. The first place team at the end of the regular season shall be the Conference Champion.
5.B. Regular Season Format
5.B.1. Each team will play all other conference member teams twice a season on a home and away basis.
5.C. Playing Rules
5.C.1. NCAA rules.
5.D. Game Officials
5.D.1. Under the direction of the Commissioner officials will be assigned by the South Atlantic Conference supervisor of officials.
5.E. Protest of Officials Decision
5.E.1. Public comments about game officials by coaches or institutional representatives is prohibited.
5.E.2. Protests must be in writing and have the signatures of the head coach and athletic director. Protests should be submitted to the supervisor with a copy to the Commissioner.
5.F. Sportsmanship
5.F.1. When the game is over, teams are to shake hands and go to their dressing room, and not to center court. Before games, teams should huddle only on their side (in front of their benches) foul line and not to center court. During introductions, players will not go to opposing coach or officials to shake hands. After the game, all teams, both home and away, will not go to the center court, but should leave the court to the dressing rooms. (March, 2005)
SECTION 6. CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
6.A. Tournament Format
6.A.1. Nine teams shall qualify for the South Atlantic Conference Championship tournament and shall be seeded according to regular season finish. The top eight teams advance to the tournament. The quarterfinal pairings are 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5. First round and quarterfinal games will be played at the home court of the higher-seeded team. Semifinals and finals will play at one pre-determined tournament site. (Revised, June, 2008)
Semifinals: Game 1: Winner of 1 vs. 8 and winner of 4 vs. 5
Game 2: Winner of 2 vs. 7 and winner of 3 vs. 6
Finals: Winners of the two semifinal games
6.A.2 The semifinals and finals of the conference tournament will take place at a site approved by the Conference Athletic Directors. (Revised, July 2002)
6.A.3. If there is a tie in the regular season finish, see section 16 for tie-breaking procedure to determine seeding.
6.A.4. The winner of the South Atlantic Conference tournament has an automatic qualification berth to the NCAA Division II championships.
6.B. Coaches Meeting at the Conference Tournament
6.B.1. A meeting of all head coaches or his/her designee participating in the Conference tournament, the host Athletic Director, and a representative of the conference office will be held the day before the beginning of the SAC tournament. All tournament details shall be reviewed.
6.B.2. Attendance is mandatory for all participating schools.
SECTION 7. AWARDS
7.A. Player of Year
7.A.1. The top vote-getter from the All-Conference votes shall be the Player of the Year (revised, March 2003)
7.A.2. Plaque awarded.
7.B. Freshman of the Year
7.B.1. The top vote-getter from the All-Freshman Team votes shall be the Freshman of the Year (revised, March 2003)
7.B.2. Plaque awarded.
7.C. Coach of the Year
7.C.1. Selected by a vote of the coaches committee at the end of the regular season.
7.C.2. Plaque awarded.
7.D. Regular Season Champion
7.D.1. Team that wins the Conference regular season.
7.D.2. Trophy Awarded.
7.D.3. Personalized certificates will be awarded to each team member.
7.E. All-Conference Team
7.E.1. Selected by a vote of the coaches committee at the end of the regular season. Twelve players awarded, six on first team, six on second team regardless of position.
7.E.2. Certificate awarded.
7.F. Tournament Winner
7.F.1. Team that wins the conference tournament.
7.F.2. The tournament winning team will receive a tournament trophy. A personalized certificate will be awarded to each team member. (revised March, 2003)
7.G. All-Tournament Team
7.G.1. An all-tournament team will be selected immediately following the conclusion of the tournament championship. The host SID staff will tabulate the results for presentation at the All-Tournament/Tournament Champion ceremony, and release to all media the same day.
7.G.2. Personalized certificate awarded.
7.H. Tournament Most Valuable Player
7.H.1. A tournament MVP will be selected by the same committee that selects the All-Tournament team.
7.H.2. Plaque awarded.
7.I. SAC Honor Roll
7.I.1. All SAC basketball players who have a cumulative 3.20 GPA or better at the conclusion of the spring semester and complete the season of play shall be a member of the Academic Honor Roll.
7.I.2. Composite certificates awarded.
7.J. SAC Presidents Award
7.J.1. Nominees for the SAC Presidents Award will be the top male and female SAC Scholar-Athlete as selected by each institution (if applicable). The nominee shall represent the best of both academic and athletic qualities.
7.J.2. Plaque awarded.
7.K. SAC Athlete of the Year Award
7.K.1. Nominees for the SAC Athlete of the Year Award shall be the top male and female selected as the Player of the Year from their respected sport (1999).
7.K.2. Plaque awarded.
7.L. South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete Award
7.L.1. Nominees for the South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete Award shall have a minimum of 3.3 cumulative GPA, at least sophomore status, excel in academics, athletics and community/leadership activities.
7.L.2. Plaque awarded.
7.M. South Atlantic Conference Senior Participation Award
7.M.1. Awarded to each athlete who is completing his or her eligibility.
7.M.2. Certificate awarded.
7.N. Player of the Week
7.N.1 A Player of the Week will be named and released along with the weekly report. Conference Sports Information Directors will nominate and vote on the award and submit the winner to the SAC office (Revised 2002)
7.O. Preseason All-Conference Teams
7.O.1. A first and second preseason all-conference team shall be selected by a vote of all Sports Information Directors. The teams will be released in conjunction with the SAC Basketball Press Conference.
SECTION 8. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES
8.1. All recommended amendments must be in the annual report of the basketball committee and submitted no later than March 1. The Athletic Director's Council will act on all recommendations during their Spring meeting. Amendments shall be for the next academic year's basketball season.
SECTION 9. PUBLICITY
9.1. Game results shall be reported to the Conference office by 11:00 a.m. on Monday. Weekly press releases provide conference results, standings and statistics.
SECTION 10. PROTOCOL
10.1. All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests and in the manner they would want to be treated.
10.2. Tobacco ban.
10.2.A. The use of tobacco products by any individual on the court of play or sideline - as well as during Conference activities such as banquets, autograph sessions, press conferences and post game interviews to prohibited. Violations of this policy shall be dealt with by the tournament officials with a warning that is applicable to all team members and then ejection.
SECTION 11. PRACTICE SCHEDULE
11.A. In season
11.A.1. Determined by institutional rules and the rules of our Conference and National Association.
11.B. Out of season
11.B.1. Determined by institutional rules and the rules of our Conference and National Association.
SECTION 12. UNIFORMS
12.1. Home teams wear light colored uniforms and visiting teams wear dark colored uniforms.
SECTION 13. BALLS
13.1. The official game ball will be Wilson for all home games, conference games, and tournament games (2002)
SECTION 14. INCLEMENT WEATHER
14.1. If a conference game is postponed or discontinued for any reason, that game will be made up on the first open date common to both teams.
SECTION 15. ELIGIBILITY
15.1. All South Atlantic Conference rules and regulations, as well as the rules of our National Association are applicable for all participants.
15.2. Transfers: Conference requires 1 year in residence at the certifying institution for student-athletes transferring from another South Atlantic Conference member institution. Appeals are handled on a case-by-case basis through the institution the student-athlete desires to leave. (July, 2006)
SECTION 16. METHOD FOR BREAKING TIES FOR TOURNAMENT SEEDING
16.1. Method of determining regular season champion and seeds in case of tie: (1) head to head competition, (2) head to head against all seeds beginning with the highest seed, and (3) flip of the coin by the Conference Commissioner.
SECTION 17. MISCELLANEOUS
17.1. The regular season winner shall be the Conference men's basketball champion and earn points toward the SAC Athletic Excellence Award.
17.2. Wherever applicable, polices and procedures governing the administration and conduct of the NCAA Division II men's basketball championship shall be utilized.
17.3. SAC Crowd Control Statement
The following statement shall be read prior to all SAC matches: “The NCAA encourages and promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or ethnic comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition. Also, consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.”
Revised November 20, 2008













