The NCAA approved a rule change that would allow freshmen to play varsity basketball and football. The rule was set to take effect for the 1972-1973 season. Pepperdine men's basketball coach (and athletic director) Gary Colson said he was in favor of the change. UCLA coach John Wooden opposed the new rule, saying, "It takes a boy a year to get adjusted or oriented to college life."¹

The rule change came too late to benefit William "Bird" Averitt, who was in the middle of a tremendous 1971-1972 season as a sophomore after sitting out as a freshman. The Waves would benefit from the rule change in the 1972-1973 season with contributions from two freshman bigs.²