WRALSportsFan
The 3-Point Shot Now Welcome in College Basketball
By Jason Jennings Jan 21, 2008
In 1982, college basketball's scoring reached a low point. The ACC Tournament title game featured North Carolina using a four-corner delay offense against Virginia. The Tar Heels won 47-45 but the game made for poor viewing to a nationally televised audience.
So before the 1983 season, with the NCAA's permission, the ACC and a few mid-major conferences tinkered with their league rules to increase scoring.
Free to set its own parameters, the ACC decided to adopt a 30-second shot clock and a 3-point line that was about two feet shorter than the one used today. The current line is 19 feet, 9 inches measured from the middle of the basket.
"I can remember it wasn't widely accepted _ or unanimously accepted," said UNC coach Roy Williams, a Tar Heel assistant at the time, said of the 3-point shot.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was not a supporter.
"I was not and I was dumb,” Krzyzewski said. ”The 3-point shot is excellent."
Suddenly, with no delay game, no lead was safe. And the 3-point line allowed perimeter-based teams like N.C. State in '83 to compete more with strong inside teams like Virginia with Ralph Sampson. The Cavaliers almost ignored the 3-point line that year.
“You’re grinding getting twos and they're knocking down threes and it's a tough battle,” said N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, the point guard on that 1983 Wolfpack team. “It's definitely a weapon."
After a brief hiatus, the NCAA mandated a nationwide 45-second shot clock in the 1985-86 season and the now standard three point line the following year. Oddly enough, Krzyzewski's Duke teams have since feasted on three-point shooting.
“It spreads the defense,” Krzyzewski said. “In the early ‘90s, [Bobby] Hurley and those kids started really shooting it. Since then, we've tried to use it as a staple in our program."
Williams said he is glad the 3-point line exists today, with current players emphasizing weightlifting and being stronger than in the past.
“If you didn't have a clock and a 3-point line - gosh, it would be an ugly game," Williams said.
Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
dukeblue- ""B-Ball is pick and roll, motion, setting and getting over picks, one on one drives to the hoop and yes kicking it out for an open shot" i'm guessing you haven't watched Duke play much this year because if you have you would've known that Duke does all of these listed."
Where in what I wrote about my opinnion of the 3-point shot di you see anything about Duke, man talk about a quick trigger hate gun, chill out.
TBK, I think you might get an argument that Lou AL Cinder (sp)(Kareem)was the best colege player.
if it wasn't for the 3pt line unc would've probably lost to clemson and Duke could still be undefeated. when it comes down to a last second decision of whether to shoot a 2 and send the game to overtime or try the longer shot and win the game...now that's basketball.
Jackadoo, was Michael Jordan the best player in the NBA? Would you whine about "at his position"?
Of course this is all opinion, but many believe what I wrote about David Thompson being the best ever college player. He had a 44" vertical (or was it 46"?), he could take four quarters off the top of the backboard and leave a dollar. Dunking was not allowed when he played. If it was, he would have had dunks more spectacular than Jordan, most likely.
TBK...Thompson was certainly the greatest college player at his position. I think Lou Alcindor and a few others might disagree at other positions. As they say, you cant really compare apples to oranges.
Rank: Towel Boy 
Rank: 
Rank: 
Rank: 
