Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Deeper 3-point line not worrying Blue Raiders
10/31/2019 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The NCAA experimented during the men's basketball National Invitation Tournament (NIT) last season with several different rule changes.
One of those rules has stuck heading into 2019-20, and it could change the way teams operate both offensively and defensively.
The NCAA tried out a new 3-point line during the NIT, moving it back from its previous 20 feet, 9 inches to the international distance of 22 feet, 1 ¾ inches. It must have had the desired effect, because this season the NCAA voted to move it permanently.
Moving the line may have a profound influence on the way teams treat both offensive sets and defensive pressure, according to second-year MT head coach Nick McDevitt.
"It will certainly effect some players to the point of now they have to make a tough decision, and you have to change your game a little, because your percentages drop to where you're no longer an efficient outside shooter," he said. "Also, it'll be interesting to see how teams start guarding out towards the 3-point line. Do ball screen coverages and other things start to come into play now that it's further back?"
The last time the line moved prior to the 2008-09 season, it went exactly a foot back, from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches.
This year's move is a little more drastic, going back a total of 1 foot, 4 ¾ inches.
"To my knowledge, [2008-09] was the first move of the 3-point line since implementing it," McDevitt said. "I'm anxious to see what this move does being a little more drastic."
In the first season after the last move, according to the NCAA, the percentage of 3-point shots made compared with the previous season declined from 35.2% to 34.4%. However, that percentage steadily increased back to 35.2% in Division I by the 2017-18 season.
The biggest impact was felt by some of the game's more average-to-below-average shooters, guys who came in below the 30% mark before the move.
McDevitt, a great shooter in his own right while a point guard at his alma mater UNC Asheville, sees the same thing happening this go-round. He believes the more average-to-below-average shooters will find it more difficult to adjust, while the above-average or great shooters will still have little issue hitting from as deep as they want.
"It'll be interesting to see how it really affects marginal or average shooters," he said. "I would think it'll affect them a little bit more than the above average to really great shooters. The guys who really shoot it effortlessly, I don't think it'll affect their percentages too drastically."
In McDevitt's first season at Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raiders stroked it at a 32.6% clip from downtown. Redshirt senior Antonio Green, possibly one of the program's all-time best deep threats, led the way, sinking 105 of his 304 attempted treys last year, a 34.5% mark, smashing the all-time Blue Raider single-season record for made threes by 20.
Don't expect to see Green and fellow guards Donovan Sims (55 made 3-pointers in 2018, 36.2%) and CJ Jones (43 makes, 37% his last year at Arkansas) shy away from the deeper line this year. They'll still be threats as soon as they step into the gym.
For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (MT_MBB).
One of those rules has stuck heading into 2019-20, and it could change the way teams operate both offensively and defensively.
The NCAA tried out a new 3-point line during the NIT, moving it back from its previous 20 feet, 9 inches to the international distance of 22 feet, 1 ¾ inches. It must have had the desired effect, because this season the NCAA voted to move it permanently.
Moving the line may have a profound influence on the way teams treat both offensive sets and defensive pressure, according to second-year MT head coach Nick McDevitt.
"It will certainly effect some players to the point of now they have to make a tough decision, and you have to change your game a little, because your percentages drop to where you're no longer an efficient outside shooter," he said. "Also, it'll be interesting to see how teams start guarding out towards the 3-point line. Do ball screen coverages and other things start to come into play now that it's further back?"
The last time the line moved prior to the 2008-09 season, it went exactly a foot back, from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches.
This year's move is a little more drastic, going back a total of 1 foot, 4 ¾ inches.
"To my knowledge, [2008-09] was the first move of the 3-point line since implementing it," McDevitt said. "I'm anxious to see what this move does being a little more drastic."
In the first season after the last move, according to the NCAA, the percentage of 3-point shots made compared with the previous season declined from 35.2% to 34.4%. However, that percentage steadily increased back to 35.2% in Division I by the 2017-18 season.
The biggest impact was felt by some of the game's more average-to-below-average shooters, guys who came in below the 30% mark before the move.
McDevitt, a great shooter in his own right while a point guard at his alma mater UNC Asheville, sees the same thing happening this go-round. He believes the more average-to-below-average shooters will find it more difficult to adjust, while the above-average or great shooters will still have little issue hitting from as deep as they want.
"It'll be interesting to see how it really affects marginal or average shooters," he said. "I would think it'll affect them a little bit more than the above average to really great shooters. The guys who really shoot it effortlessly, I don't think it'll affect their percentages too drastically."
In McDevitt's first season at Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raiders stroked it at a 32.6% clip from downtown. Redshirt senior Antonio Green, possibly one of the program's all-time best deep threats, led the way, sinking 105 of his 304 attempted treys last year, a 34.5% mark, smashing the all-time Blue Raider single-season record for made threes by 20.
Don't expect to see Green and fellow guards Donovan Sims (55 made 3-pointers in 2018, 36.2%) and CJ Jones (43 makes, 37% his last year at Arkansas) shy away from the deeper line this year. They'll still be threats as soon as they step into the gym.
For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (MT_MBB).
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