NCAA extends three-point line.

The NCAA rules committee has decided to extend the men's three-point line from 19'9" to 20'9". The new three-point line, which is still awaiting approval from the Rules Oversight Committee, would take affect in the 2008-09 season. The Rules Oversight Committee will meet on May 25th. Although they did agree to move back the three-point line, they declined to expand the size of the lane. If passed, this could dramatically effect post play, who takes and makes a 3-point shot and at what percentage, and possibly lead to an increase in mid-range shot attempts.

"I'm not surprised, this is something that has been talked about for quite some time," said coach Billy Donovan of Florida, whose two-time defending national champion Gators were ninth in the country in 3-point field goal percentage at 40.9 percent. "I still feel that teams will continue to utilize the 3-point line as a key component of the college game. That being said, I think the next discussion needs to be about widening the lane in conjunction with moving the 3-point line back."

The women's committee decided to keep its line at 19'9", meaning there will be two distances and, possibly, two different lines on courts that men's and women's programs share. The men's college three-point line has been a joke compared to the line in the NBA, which is 22 feet. Andy Katz of ESPN, has a lengthy article about the new three-point line including more favorable quotes from coaches and players like the one above.