How will new 3-point line affect shooters?

[Admin]

www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2008/11/15/ddn111508spthrees.html

How will new 3-point line affect shooters?
By Doug Harris and Marc Katz

Staff Writers

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Men's college basketball players will have to use a little more effort from the 3-point line this season. The arc has been moved back one foot to 20 feet, 9 inches.

How will that affect the game? We asked some players and coaches at UD and Wright State. Here's what they said:

UD freshman Luke Fabrizius, who made four 3-pointers in the Flyers' last exhibition game: "I really haven't noticed too much of a difference. You just have to get your legs under you a little bit more. It's probably helped because you can spread your offense out and get a little more spacing on the floor."

WSU junior Todd Brown, who made 60 3's last season, connecting on 42 percent: "The defense is a little more spread. I worked on the new line all summer. I'm used to it by now."

WSU coach Brad Brownell: "I don't know if it makes it any more difficult. For a little smaller team, the 3-point shot was the great equalizer. This could be a little far for them. If a guy's a really good 3-point shooter, it won't affect him."

UD sophomore Stephen Thomas: "Guys at this level, they've been brought here because they can play and make shots, so they definitely can adjust. I don't see it being too much of a distance."

WSU junior Vaughn Duggins: "It's going to spread out the defenses more. I don't think there's that much difference."

UD coach Brian Gregory: "I think the marginal shooter will be the most affected. The 31-30 percent shooter will probably drop down to a 25-percent shooter. The thing you'll see is either he won't be allowed to shoot it, or defenses will adjust to those guys a little differently."


Long Range

How UD and Wright State fared from the 3-point line last season:

UD: 203-542 (.375 percent); Brian Roberts 100-220 (.455); Jimmy Binnie 40-114 (.351).

WSU: 209-539 (.388 percent); Todd Brown 60-142 (.423); Vaughn Duggins 58-146 (.397).

[Raider Country]

I don't see this changing the way WSU plays at all.

[Raider Fanatic]

If anything, I thinks it helps us. Defenders have to go out farther to defend our guards and that will open up lanes underneath for our forwards.

[Sixth Man]

Only time will tell, but I don't think it will affect us much.

[bballraider]

I have watched a number of games so far this year, and I haven't really noticed any difference at all in the way teams are playing. If I hadn't already known the line had been changed prior to this year, watching the games would not have clued me in on the change. You may see a slight drop in 3 pt percentage at the beginning of the year, but I think all the players will adapt and by mid season the averages will be back up again to normal numbers.

[Glory Days]

So far the new 3 point line is kicking our ass. Against Illinois St, we went 10-27. Against Central Michigan, we went 3-20.

[Raider Grad]

3-17 vs Miami.