Three-Point Line Could Be Moved

The three-point line in men’s college basketball would be moved back nine inches to 20 feet 6 inches under a recommendation from an NCAA rules committee Monday in Indianapolis.

The current distance of 19-9 has been in place since 1986.

The panel also suggested expanding the 12-foot-wide college lane by adopting the trapezoid used in international play. At its widest point, the trapezoid lane’s width is 19-8 3/4.

The changes could take effect as early as next season, if approved by the NCAA championship committee next month.

“The face of college basketball is going to change,” said South Carolina Coach Dave Odom, a rules committee member.

Last season was the first time the NCAA required some games to be played with the three-point line at the international distance, so the committee could opt for another year of experimentation.

“The nine inches might discourage marginal shooters from taking longer shots,” said Odom, who favored the change. “It might equate to the percentage going up instead of down. That would make the shot more meaningful.”

The NCAA women’s basketball rules committee recommended that the international three-point line be used in the women’s game, as well, and that the trapezoid lane be tried experimentally in selected games during the season.

The lane hasn’t been adjusted since the 1950s, when it was widened from six feet to 12.

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Boston University gave Coach Dennis Wolff a new 10-year contract through the 2013-14 season, the school said.

Wolff has been the Terriers’ coach for the last nine seasons, compiling a 149-118 record with two appearances in the NCAA tournament.

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As expected, St. Bonaventure introduced former Notre Dame assistant Anthony Solomon as its new coach, replacing Jan van Breda Kolff, who was fired last month.

This is Solomon’s first head coaching job in college, and he becomes the first black head coach of any sport at St. Bonaventure. He is a former player at Virginia and broke into coaching in 1988 at Delaware.