Three-point shooting has changed tournament
By By Stan Torgerson / sports writer
March 25, 2003
Basketball changed while we were looking the other way. The big man is no longer the difference between winning and losing. The dominant force in the college game. is the three-point shooter.
Mario Austin scored 18 points in Mississippi State's game against Butler. Ho hum. One Butler player in their win over Louisville hit seven-of -10 three point shots and unless my math is bad, that's 21 points If he doesn't score once on the inside nor make a single free throw what difference does it make if he can hit that little hole consistently from 20-feet or more.
There has never been a display of 3-point shooting to equal what we're seeing in this year's NCAA. Amazing doesn't describe it. Kids are throwing the ball in from the corners or behind the free throw circle or left of it or to the right of it with or without a hand in their face. Talk about refining an aspect of the game to a fine art. No lead is safe.
I've always said the secret of John Stroud's success when he was starring for Ole Miss in the late 1970s was his quick release. The ball would hit his hands and almost instantly was on its way to the basket. The players I've watched this week have improved that skill to an extent that would make Stroud look almost indecisive.
The little man is back in the game as long as he can shoot the three. Don't confuse the term "the little man." It helps if that "runt" is actually 6-6, 6-7 or even 6-8. How do you stop a kid of that size who can jump and shoot the three over the defender's head?
But the true little man, the 6- footer, give or take two or three inches either way is money in the bank if he can score from the outside. Bring the ball down, get just behind the line, fire away, shrug and go in the other direction.
My argument has always been basketball is a shooter's game. They've proved it last week.
The three point basket has become the great equalizer. Any player who gets hot can change the outcome of the game. Short or tall, fast or slow, left handed or right handed, if he can shoot the three pointer his team can win. And they proved it last week in game after game. This has been the most fascinating tournament in memory. And the best played.
Another point brought into focus by the NCAA action. All season long the SEC has been a one team league. Fans of LSU, Mississippi State, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Auburn might not care to believe it, but it's been true. The SEC has been Kentucky and virtually no one else, although Florida made a strong run at respectability.
It, therefore, came as no surprise when LSU, Mississippi State, and Alabama lost in the NCAA's first round although it was unexpected to see Florida dropped in the second. An equal surprise was Auburn making it into the Sweet 16 but they have a chance to take another step because Syracuse is beatable.
But it has been no surprise to see Kentucky sail through two easy wins and you have to believe they have the necessary tools to keep it going. And if they win it all SEC members will be overjoyed.
What I'm taking so long to say is that the claim of being the best basketball league in the country is no longer valid, not for the SEC, the ACC, the Big East, the Big Ten, the Pac 10 or any other conference. There is no one best league. When you consider the Butlers, the Xaviers, the Weber States and many others the basketball world has long considered to be second class citizens, they have proven they can compete at the highest level and they still are proving it.
Sure there are basketball dynasties, Kentucky, Arizona, Duke and others. There always will be teams that year in and year out are equal to or better than others because of tradition, talent level in their state, coaching and fan support. But the wonderful thing about this game of basketball is its great truism, on any given night any team can beat any other. They proved it last week. They will prove it again next week and the week after.
Now if we can only get the cheaters out of it.
