The NCAA enforced a strict ban on dunking during pre-game and half-time warmups primarily to prevent damage to the basketball standards, backboards, and rims, and to ensure player safety. Historically, excessive hanging on the rim and aggressive pre-game dunking frequently resulted in shattered glass backboards or broken equipment, which caused massive game delays while maintenance crews scrambled to replace the heavy apparatuses. To maintain game schedules, protect the integrity of the facility, and prevent accidental injuries from crowded or overly hyped warmups, referees were instructed to assess an immediate technical foul for any unauthorized warm-up dunk.