Indianapolis ? The NCAA on Friday approved moving the men’s three-point line back one foot in 2008 – from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches.
The decision by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel marks the first major alteration to the three-point shot since its adoption in 1986-87.
The men’s basketball rules committee recommended the measure May 3.
“We made it a point to come up with a distance that was correct for us, and that didn’t necessarily mimic the international line (20-6),” said Kansas University senior associate athletic director Larry Keating, head of the rules committee. “The basic percentages haven’t changed. I think it’s safe to say you might see some reversal on that (percentages) for men.”
NCAA statistics show that three-point percentages since 1992 have hovered between 34.1 and 35.6 percent each year. Stats from the experimental line showed shooting percentages between 34 and 35 percent.
“They started discussing the length of the line when it passed 20 years ago,” Keating said. “It’s taken some time to get around to it. Everybody felt it was time. There’s no real serious problem with the game. It just got to the point moving it back was a good move. There have been no dimensional changes on the court in 20 years.”
The three-point line will remain unchanged in women’s basketball.
The new men’s rule is for all three college divisions.
“This is something that has been considered for quite some time now. This will help the game by keeping the floor more spread out and will leave more room inside for cutting and offensive post play,” KU coach Bill Self said.
The panel sent back to the men’s committee for study a proposal to allow a manufacturer’s logo on either the game jersey or the game pants. The current rule, which allows a single manufacturer’s logo on the game pants, will be maintained for the 2007-08 season.
