Tennessee basketball: Moving the 3-point line back would’ve helped Vols

On Friday afternoon the NCAA proposed new rules changes for the 2019-20 college basketball season. Extending the three-point line would have helped the Vols last season.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee is being sneaky and quiet about proposed rule changes and I’m not sure why. On Friday afternoon one of the proposed rule changes was extending the men’s three-point line to the international basketball distance of slightly over 22 feet.

If the rule passes in early June, it would go into effect for the 2019-20 season. The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) has played the guinea pig the last two seasons, and as it turns out most coaches loved the change.

In an article posted by NCAA.com, coaches cited a couple of reasons why the rule change would greatly benefit the game. The surveys were anonymous but one coach thought extending the three-point line would open up dribble/drive plays. Another coach believed the rule change would require the defense to cover more space, in turn helping movement of freedom for the offensive players.

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My initial thought of the rule change was it would greatly benefit the college game. Then, I pulled down my orange colored glasses and realized that Tennessee would have been even better last season. Despite wearing my orange glasses, I think any reasonable college hoops fan would agree.

Think about where the Vols were best on the offensive end last season, Jordan Bone dribble-drive to the basket and Grant Williams one-on-one from free throw extend or the block. One coach spoke about how the floor would open up with extending the three-point line and that only would have helped Tennessee.

Take Williams getting the ball free throw line extended on the elbow. He would be able to face up and work his guy knowing that it would be harder for the double team to come. Now I suppose you could make the argument that Williams was one of the best players passing out of the double team. But, if you are giving me the choice of Williams going one-on-one or a three-point shot, give me Williams all day.

The same applies if Williams gets the ball on the block. An extended three-point line means more space which requires the defense to cover more of the court to double team. Was there anyone better than Williams 10 feet and in last season? He averaged 18.8 points per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor.

Furthermore, think about how good Jordan Bone would have been attacking the basket. He was hard enough to stop last season, just ask Ashton Hagans. He probably would have been more dynamic giving him a better chance at being drafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.

And, to spin it with an area where Tennessee was awful, guarding the three-point line might have been easier. One could certainly point out that it is more space for the Volunteer defense to cover, but it’s also a longer shot for the offense. Odds are they wouldn’t make as many.

From earlier on in the season I pinned at least an Elite Eight appearance on Tennessee. I believed they were a good team, in fact, one of the best in the nation. If this simple rule change was in effect last season, we could have had a different National Champion. It could have been Tennessee.