Here’s one you don’t see every day.
The No. 1 seed Texas Longhorns are ‘hosting’ the No. 3 seed NC State Wolfpack Sundar in the women’s bracket of the NCAA Tournament as March Madness reaches the Elite 8 stage.
Tip-off was scheduled for 3 PM ET at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, but there was some controversy before the game began thanks to both sides of the court reportedly featuring different measurements for the 3-point line.
This is not a joke.
NCAA officials did measure the 3-point distances on each side of the court before the game tipped off, and they were able to confirm that each side featured a different 3-point distance than the other. However, both NC State and Texas agreed to simply play the game without the obvious error being corrected anyway.
The three-point lines are different on each side of the court in Portland for the Elite Eight. The NCAA measured pregame and confirmed one side is a different three-point length than the other. 🤦
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 31, 2024
NC State and Texas agreed to play through it. 🏀 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UnBo13kBUi
Of course, both teams will be at a natural advantage at some point throughout the game once teams switch baskets after halftime. Still, the team with the shorter distance 3-point shot may want to try taking advantage of their slight benefit while it’s available, yet their opponent will already know what’s coming.
Whether either side uses the odd quirk to their advantage remains to be seen, but then again, the difference isn’t that great, even if it is noticeable by the human eye.
The typical NCAA women’s basketball 3-point distance is 22 feet and 1 3/4″; it is not known how far apart the two sides are from one another.
NCAA releases statement on NC State-Texas 3-point discrepancy
Now the NCAA has released an official statement on the 3-point line discrepancy.
“The NCAA was notified today that the three-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland are not the same distance. The two head coaches were made aware of the discrepancy and elected to play a complete game on the court as is, rather than correcting the court and delaying the game. The court will be corrected before tomorrow’s game.”
Official NCAA statement on incorrect 3-point distances in Elite 8
Related: College basketball games today: Sunday’s Elite 8 schedule, early Final Four brackets