New 3-point line

won’t affect much
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

The new 3-point rule probably won’t mean much to Davidson sharpshooter Stephen Curry or Appalachian State’s 3-point shooters Donald Sims and Ryan Abraham.

For those who like to occasionally step back and launch one from downtown, they may think twice.

Next year, the 3-point line will be moved back to 20-feet, nine-inches, one foot back than what it was this year.

The distance won’t mean much to the likes of Curry, Sims and Abraham, who have made several threes from 20 feet and beyond. It might discourage some small forwards, however, from trying to make such a long shot.

“I don’t think it will have all that much,” Mountaineers coach Houston Fancher said. “Had it been moved back to the NBA range, I think it would have made much more of a difference.”

Fancher said the new distance would not matter too much on shots taken in front of the basket. The corners of the court, however, may be tough to navigate since there is less room.

“The only thing I think that would affect the corner shots a little bit, because it would affect their space. The next thing they’ll have to do is widen the court,” Fancher said. “But I don’t think it will have that much of a bearing on it, to be honest with you.”

Fancher thought that the biggest difference may come from the players inside the paint. With guards having to defend an extra foot away, it might open some room down low for forwards and centers posting up.

“What it does is it spaces the floor for some of the inside guys,” Fancher said. “I think it will have more of an effect on inside play than on the outside play.”