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Once upon a time, the college basketball powers that be decided that since the NBA had added a three-point field goal, they might as well do the same thing. This seemed like a great idea at the time, but it’s safe to say no one thought the “longer” field goal would have as much of an impact on the game as it has. It didn’t take long for sharp coaches to realize that launching these “bombs” on a regular basis was actually the best way to score aside from a layup or a dunk. Getting three points from 19’9” is a better percentage opportunity than a standard deuce from inside the arc. The result really hasn’t been what was envisioned. The basics of the game were demolished and I’m of the belief that the quality of play has diminished ever since this extra-point opportunity was introduced.

Apparently I wasn’t alone in this opinion, as those who make the rules for college basketball decided to try and make getting three points more difficult by moving the arc back 12 inches. My initial take was that this wasn’t enough. My view is that the college three-point line should be the same as in the NBA. I did not feel as though moving the shot back one foot would have much impact on the game, and it appears as though I’m pretty much on the nose with that assessment based on the early returns. The main thrust of my opinion on this shot is that the three-point line should be uniform at both the college and pro level.

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The goalposts are ten yards from the goal line in both college and pro football, and there doesn’t seem to be a problem. Maybe I’m a dope, but I simply cannot comprehend why college basketball has a different set of rules than the professional game. Moreover, I’m convinced that the college game would be better if they operated under the same guidelines as the NBA. This also applies to rules regarding free throws, but that’s an argument for another time.

In any case, I’ve been tracking the three-point shot this season in order to determine whether the added distance is having any impact. Through this first portion of the season, the answer is a definite no. The percentage of three-point shot attempts is about 1% less than last year when the shot was one foot closer. The conversion rate is down about 1.5%. In essence, moving the shot back a foot hasn’t changed a thing.

Therefore, since I’m rationalizing that the change was made to try and improve the game, it’s already clear that nothing has changed. My suggestion remains the same. Move the three-point shot to the same distance as the NBA and you’ll see a dramatic swing in the way the game is played and a better quality product will quickly emerge. Of course, there is zero chance of this happening.