Time Warp: McGuire and other esteemed coaches on the 3 point line addition

[77ncaachamps]

I was looking to update the MU Scoop WIKI when I ran across a small clipping about McGuire on the 3 point line (added in 1987).

Some excerpts from The Three Point "Chippie" (1987):

"If I live to be a hundred, I'll never understand why once every three years the NCAA Rules Committee gives us a shocker two or three days after the NCAA Finals. This year they pulled out of the hat the 3-point chip shot from 19'9" out - a move that will revolutionize the style of college basketball...

The new rule will open the game up and give it more of a transition or racehorse tempo. You will see the top 15 teams in the country pull up on the fast break to hit the three pointer from the top of the key, while the wing men and the trailer hit the boards for favorable rebounding position. It should decrease the traffic and congestion down in the paint and will mean foul trouble for any opponent who tries to cover the big guy in the low post position. The game will be spread out, using more of the court offensively.

Defense is crucified. The 3-point shot gives the offense another vehicle to touch the world of the 100-point games. Without a doubt, percentages will force all teams to create shots from the three-point area. From that distance and angle the rebounds will be extending to the secondary rebound area. College basketball will always have small men 5'10" and up in the guard position, but this will create a new DS (Designated Shooter) who will be downtown-oriented and comfortable stroking from that distance. We have probably seen the beginning of the end of Mickey Mouse defenses, Box-1s, and Triangle-2s, because especially in Division 1, if a shooter can't take care of the high percentage of 3-pointers, he shouldn't even receive books on his scholarship, much less room, board and tuition.

The premium will continue to be on recruiting tall centers who will be played man-to-man and become offensive machines. On the flip side, this will make the pure perimeter shooter more desirable during recruiting season. For the basketball fan, it'll be all positives. A team can be 9 points down with a minute to go, hit three 3-pointers from the perimeter and take the game into overtime.

Like ham and eggs, the 45-second clock and the 3-point shot are truly married, but it will be a rocky honeymoon judging by the comments of the bridal party below:

Larry Brown (Kansas) - "I think it stinks. Even Al McGuire could make a three-point shot."

George Thompson (Georgetown) - "It's pathetic. I would have preferred a rule that awards three points for layups. I think it's much more difficult working the ball in for a layup."

Billy Tubbs (Oklahoma) - "I don't think it's going to change the game that much because it's still going to be decided inside. The guys who have got the good inside players are still going to win."

Jim Valvano (NC State) - "Let's see if I can be subtle...I don't like it; I hate it; I don't know why we have it."

Joey Meyer (DePaul) - "I don't like it. I voted against it. There isn't anyone from our team who can make a three-point shot."

George Raveling (USC) - "I don't like it because I think it's a gimmick. I don't think we should be messing around with the game. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) - "I try not to think about it because it's the worst thing in college basketball that we've done in a long time.""

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How true some of McGuire's predictions have been (being able to rally back a la Kansas this year, recruiting with the 3-point shot in mind)...

...and how wrong he was ("gimmicky" defenses like Box-1 and Triangle-2 are alive and well).

But I was amazed at the responses from these HOF coaches...

[MUCam]

I'd beg to differ re: the gimmick defenses. While they are still in use, their use has substantially declined over the last 20 years. They are clearly not as effective anymore, as proper spacing around "the arc," with one to two 3 point shooters, will quickly nullify a triangle or box and one defense. Who cares if the main or two main scoring threats are stopped if they can simply dish to a three point specialist.

Score one for Al.

Otherwise, great find on the article/quotes. Very interesting to see the resistance to change.

[77ncaachamps]

I'd beg to differ re: the gimmick defenses. While they are still in use, their use has substantially declined over the last 20 years. They are clearly not as effective anymore, as proper spacing around "the arc," with one to two 3 point shooters, will quickly nullify a triangle or box and one defense. Who cares if the main or two main scoring threats are stopped if they can simply dish to a three point specialist.

Score one for Al.

Their use may be diminishing, but...

Score one for Kansas (they used a Box-1 on CDR effectively).

[MUCam]

Didn't Memphis start making its second half run (with Rose) when Kansas went Box and One against Douglas-Roberts? I can't remember if they effectively went Box and One against Memphis in the first half.