Colleges Favor 3-Pointer; Preps Adopt It, Too

The nation’s college basketball coaches, game officials, administrators and sportswriters have overwhelmingly decided that they want the three-point shot to stay in the college game.

“The support has been beyond my wildest expectations,” said Dr. Edward S. Steitz, the Springfield College athletic director who serves as secretary and editor of the college basketball rules committee. “It’s such a clear mandate that there’s no question it’s here to stay.”

Results of a poll of 2,000 coaches, officials and others were released Thursday by Steitz, who said 83% of the participants support the three-pointer.

The biggest surprise was the change of heart on the part of the coaches, 66% of whom told Steitz last spring that they didn’t want the three-pointer.

The respondents were nearly evenly split, 36% to 35%, on whether the three-point line should remain at its present distance of 19 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket or be moved back 9 inches to the line used in Olympic and international play.

Steitz said the current distance likely will be retained by the rules committee during its meetings this week in New Orleans.