In an effort to boost offense in men's college basketball, the NCAA officially adopted a series of rule changes, a shorter shot clock chiefly among them.

After another season of reduced average scoring, ESPN reported, the NCAA shortened the shot clock for the men's game from 35 seconds to 30. Such a change has not been made since the 1993-1994 season when the NCAA cut the shot clock down from 45 seconds.

"The areas of concern in our game have been about pace of play, about scoring, about increased physicality defensively," NCAA rules committee chairman and Belmont coach Rick Byrd told ESPN last month, when the 30-second shot clock was proposed. "There are concerns about how long it takes to play our games sometimes, particularly as we've introduced review in the last two minutes. I think we've addressed all these areas as best we can."

The NCAA said in its announcement the goal of the rule changes is to "reducing inaction" and "improve the pace of play." For example, coaches are no longer allowed to call timeout while the ball is live and the restricted area beyond the three-point arc was extended from three feet to four.

Other changes include emphasizing what referees look for in officiating games. Referees are expected to be penalize more physical plays like charging and moving screens, while also keeping a more critical eye on embellishments that may be considered "flopping." Referees will also be more attentive to perimeter defense and players moving around the court without the ball.

The new changes will go into effect for the upcoming season, but the NCAA also announced an experimental rule as well. In any postseason tournament outside the National Championship, players will be allowed six personal fouls before earning a mandatory ejection, rather than five.