A Closer Look At 3-Point Evolution For Virginia Basketball

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1. 

   Proudduck June 10, 2020 at 7:24 AM ET

   Two major steps were taken back in the early '80s to reduce the domination of centers like Olajuhon, Ewing, and, of course, Ralph Sampson. We've been fine-tuning both over the years. One, the shot clock, was critical, as it stopped the travesty of stall-ball. Freezing the ball for ten minutes until a hypnotized defense gave up a backdoor cut and keeping the ball out of the hands of star opponents was horrid for the game and had to go. The second step, the three-point shot, I have never liked. Name another sport where attempting to score a goal from a greater distance counts for more points. Four points for a field goal from beyond 50 yards. No way. Two runs for a homer hit over 450 feet? Ridiculous. If the idea is to reward more points for more risk, why not award only one point for a dunk shot? Not likely. So college basketball plays its whole game inside-out now. Drive toward the goal but pass up anything but the closest shot to kick the ball back outside for a three-point launch. Seven-footers who used to lurk under the basket play outside where they can get their shot off safely. Low percentage shooting, clanging rebounds. If we can't drop the three-point line altogether, can we at least to move it back to, say, 75 feet? And while I am at it, name another sport where deliberately fouling your opponent in a close game can work to your advantage. This should not be allowed. In the last three minutes of the game a foul by either team could result in three foul shots and the ball out-of-bounds under its own basket with an uncontested first pass.. OK, I'm done. .