Three point line change

[Da Coach]

The three point line was moved back this season from 20 feet 9 inches to 22 feet 1¾ inches. There was an expectation that the number and percentage of successful three point shots would decline this season with the change. But the opposite has happened, so far.
Here is an good article by Harry Schroeder (www.valleyhoopsinsider.com) in which he looks at some statistics-
http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/mo...e-the-results/

As he points out, it is too early to draw final conclusions, since teams have only played non-conference opponents so far, and many of those are weaker teams than teams will face in the MVC season. So it's reasonable to consider that the numbers might go down a little in the last half of the season.

[Tommy]

I personally think this change was made to make it harder for smaller schools to compete against power conference teams, but maybe it's having the opposite effect. Let's hope so.

[LongTimeFan]

Maybe the percentage of attempted shots taken by the better shooters is going up. It is further away and may limit those willing to take it on a consistent basis.

[Da Coach]

Maybe the percentage of attempted shots taken by the better shooters is going up. It is further away and may limit those willing to take it on a consistent basis.

That is a good thought. Maybe coaches are telling their less effective shooters to stop shooting as much.
But if that was happening, you might expect the overall number of 3-pointers should probably go down a little compared to last year, as the less effective shooters take fewer of them. But the stats in that article show that the number of 3-point attempts and shots made are increased over last season in the MVC. Last year (2018-19), according to those stats, the MVC attempted 19.9 three pointers per game and made an average of 6.99 three pointers per game (35.1%). This season, MVC teams are attempting 20.8 three pointers per game and making 7.6 per game (36.6%). That is a 5% increase in attempts and a 9% increase in made three pointers. So if there are some players who are shooting fewer 3-pointers, there are others who are compensating by taking more than just a higher percentage, but a significant more total attempts.
It would take a lot more work than I have time to do to look at game-by-game box scores to break those numbers down more, but it suggests that whoever is taking the shots, they are taking more and making more. Maybe it is because defenses don't come out the extra 17 inches or so and defend the longer 3-pointers. Or maybe the sample size just isn't large enough by looking only at the MVC. I'd like to know what the statistics nationally show, and not just the MVC. So far, I can't find that anyone has published those numbers.

[LongTimeFan]

Were the stats you quoted based on non-conference games only or did last lear's stats include the MVC games also. Like you I don't have enough time left to spend time looking at who is taking the shots.

[Da Coach]

The 2018-19 stats were based on the full season, while the 2019-20 stats of course are based only on games through December 15. As I pointed out in the top post, the comparison is not entirely reliable because the games this season so far have all been non-conference games, including some against weak teams and non-D1 teams. As we get into the MVC games, defenses get better, and those shooting numbers will go down a little.