A rule-change by the NCAA has forced Lipscomb to move the three-point lines around the goals at Allen Arena back to the international distance, forcing cosmetic changes to the striping on the floor.
The international distance is 22 feet, 1-3/4 inches, quite a bit farther than the old NCAA distance of 20-feet, nine inches from the basket.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel “also approved resetting the shot clock at 20 seconds after a field goal attempt hits the rim and the offensive team rebounds the ball in the front-court,” according to the NCAA.
This new shot-clock rule, as well as an international distance three-point line, were experimental rules in the 2019 NIT, in which Lipscomb’s men made it to the championship game.
The NCAA decided a full 30-second shot clock is not needed, since the offensive team has already secured the rebound and is in the front-court.
The new three-point striping will mean necessary change to the relatively new Lipscomb court. The court in Allen Arena had to be redone after Liberty University in 2013 claimed sole use of the “LU” logo, eventually forcing Lipscomb to replace the initials on the court with the university’s name.
Currently, the only visible change being made to the court is the moving back of the three-point line.
Photos by Co-Managing Editor, Erika Plunkett.
