April 2, 1986: The NCAA Adopts The 3-Point Rule

     On April 2, 1986, the NCAA adopted the 3-point shot in basketball. The decision came after 5 years of experimenting with the three-pointer among the 20 different conferences. During the experimentation period the different leagues tested the rule from different distances. When the 12 member rules committee met in April of '86 they settled on 19 feet 9 inches as the one most desirable for college coaches. In 2007 the distance was pushed back to 20 feet 9 inches. While the rule was not well received by some coaches, and fans alike, it was a rule that was here to stay.