Indiana Basketball: How will the potential of the three-point line extending affect the Hoosiers?
With many rule changes proposed this offseason, Indiana basketball may feel it most with the potential increased three-point line.
The NCAA has been considering many new changes for this upcoming season, changes ranging from rules about player interactions and shot clock rule changes. However, the biggest possible change they are considering is the potential to push the three-point line to meet international regulation length, which could affect the Indiana basketball program in a few ways.
The traditional three-point line has measured out at 20 feet and 9 inches in recent years, but the NCAA’s new proposal would push the three-point arc out to 22 feet and 1 and 3/4 inches, extending it nearly 17 inches farther than the current distance.
Pushing the three-point line farther back comes with a multitude of benefits.
First off, NBA and professional scouts would have a much easier time evaluating players on their shooting abilities, but also their defensive skills as players will be required to cover larger areas of the court.
In a time where the NBA’s offensive play styles and schemes have become reliant on volume scoring and the three-point shot, this new proposition would help determine an distinguish legitimate shooters from ordinary shot makers in the NCAA for these pro scouts.
How does that affect the Hoosiers? Look no further than their 31 percent shooting from deep over the last two seasons.
After experimenting with the international three-point line in this past year’s NIT, a tournament in which Indiana shot just 29.7 percent and made 18 threes in their three games, the Hoosiers did find success in the paint and mid-range.
Another potential benefit from the offensive side of the game is how extending the three-point line would improve team spacing. By implementing the new proposal, it would open up the lanes and allow for more driving/interior penetration and scoring.
The lengthened three-point line would make for more room in the paint, something Indiana needs, with the lack of spacing they get from De’Ron Davis and Trayce Jackson-Davis, two forwards who are restricted to the lane.
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If the proposal receives the NCAA’s approval, not only will there be improved interior scoring, but it would also help mitigate the issue of team’s heavily relying on the three-point shot to win games.
In fact, by adding an additional degree of difficulty to the three-point shot, it will make it that much more valuable for the team when the shot is made.
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