By Briana Gorman

bgorman@heraldsun.com; 419-6668

GREESNBORO -- Expanding the use of video replay, excessive celebrations and 3-second violations were just some of the new rules and points of emphasis the ACC discussed for the upcoming season at Operation ACC Basketball on Sunday.

But the new change that got the most attention with coaches and players is an imaginary box that will be located underneath the basket.

The 24-inch by 18-inch space underneath the basket will be an area that players won't be allowed to defend in, or else they'll be whistled for a foul under all circumstances. The new rule is designed to prevent players from standing beneath the basket and taking charges.

"I don't think it's going to affect us at all," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "I've talked for 22 years as a head coach to try to get all the way across the lane to take a charge. I've taught my guys that I never want them to stop underneath there because whether it was a rule or not, some officials didn't agree that was a defensive position so they would be less likely to call a charge."

Williams' only concern about the new rule is how it's be to officiated. The box is imaginary, extending from the front of the rim to the front of the backboard, and will not be marked off on the court, leaving it open to interpretation. Williams said he wished a dotted line could have been put on the court, while Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski also expressed similar wishes. NCAA red tape won't allow any markings on the court until the 2011-2012 season at the earliest.

"It probably hasn't been taken to the step that it should be taken to," Krzyzewski said. "If we can imagine something, we should do it. I know there will be a lot of messing around about and laughing about it because it isn't where it should be."

Duke guard Jon Scheyer laughed off the suggestions Sunday that it's the "Duke rule" since some have accussed the Blue Devils of flopping in the past.

"With the way we play, if we're taking charges in the right position, they would be outside the box anyway," Scheyer said. "That cracks me up though."

Some of the other changes included:

n An expanded use of replays to determine if a foul is a contact technical, intentional or flagrant.

n If a player is injured on a foul and has to the leave the game, the opposing coach picks one of the four players on the floor to shoot the free throw. If the foul is intentional or flagrant, then that team's coach can pick any player on their team to shoot the foul shot.

The ACC also said it would be more strict on calling excessive swinging of elbows, 3-second violations, players intentionally trying to break a foul shooter's focus and will have zero tolerance on unsporting behavior. Unsporting behavior includes taunting, obscene gestures and pointing fingers at opponents.

For Maryland's Greivis Vasquez, one of the more emotional players in the league, he said toning down some of his feelings will be a tough adjustment.

"What if you dunk on somebody? Are you supposed to keep your emotions inside of you?" Vasquez said. "I think that's what they want you to do. We've just got to follow the rules. It'll be tough but that's why we have rules."

The ACC said the excessive celebration crackdown is to prevent opposing teams from being embarrassed and that celebrations should take place among teammates.

Wake Forest's Ishmael Smith said it will be tough to control emotions in tight games, but celebrations shouldn't be too long in those situations anyways.

"If you're playing Carolina you can't celebrate too much because they're going to run it back at you and score," Smith said. "And we're the same way."

Peachy plan

The ACC has found a way to again create a hot ticket in "Hot-lanta."

The conference announced Sunday that when the ACC Tournament returns to Atlanta in 2012, the event will move to Philips Arena and seat about 20,000. The last two tournaments in Atlanta were contested in the Georgia Dome, which had the capability of seating more than 40,000 for basketball.

Last year's event, however, didn't live up to its capability: While the average attendance of 26,352 was the second-most in NCAA history, it trailed the record average of 36,505 the ACC generated in 2001.

"While the people at the Dome did just a marvelous job to make it as special as it can be, the feedback that we were getting and that our athletic directors made a decision on was that having our tournament in a traditional-sized arena was the best thing for us in terms of protecting our brand and in terms of having the kind of atmosphere and environment that we wanted to have," ACC commissioner John Swofford said.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called Philips Arena, the home of the NBA's Hawks and the NHL's Thrashers, "a beautiful arena," but he would have an obvious reason to favor the Georgia Dome: Duke has won both tournaments played there.

"I do think you shouldn't judge the Dome just based on last season because it hit at a time where the economy wasn't great," Krzyzewski said. "In 2001, I think there were like 40,000 people in there, and it was a great venue.

"But I'll leave that up to the administrators; if they think that's good, let's try it out."

Beginning this season and running through 2015, the tournament will be played in Greensboro each year except 2012.

Staff writer Bryan Strickland contributed to this report