The biggest rule change in men's college basketball this season could have a greater impact on the women's game.

For the first time since the 3-point shot was implemented in 1986, the NCAA rules committee has moved the line back from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20-9.

However, the women's distance remained the same, meaning every college arena in the country has two 3-point stripes painted in different colors.

"Our coaches tell us the worst shot in basketball is when we have a toe on the line," Iowa State senior Amanda Nisleit said. "So we find ourselves shooting behind both lines."

The 3-point shot has been a critical part of Iowa State's offense during Bill Fennelly's tenure. While he doesn't anticipate that to change, he does think it will create confusion for players and officials.

"We film and chart everything, and we found out that 85 percent of the 3-pointers were taken behind the men's line," Fennelly said. "You can see our players looking down, trying to figure out which line is which.

"I'm sure there's going to be instances when officials will make a mistake with it, too. It's bound to happen with two lines."

Fennelly believes eventually the women's line will be pushed back. Oklahoma State women's coach Kurt Budke said it should already have happened.

"It's ridiculous having two lines down there," he said.

Most players and coaches haven't noticed a signifcant difference.

"I think for good shooters, it doesn't have any impact whatsoever," Iowa State men's coach Greg McDermott said.

Drake netted 38.5 percent of its points from the 3-point arc last season. It wasn't uncommon for sharpshooter Josh Young to launch shoots from 25 to 30 feet.

"Josh Young will have no problem with the new line," Drake coach Mark Phelps quipped.

The line is still three feet in front of the NBA stripe.

"It's not a big difference at all," University of Northern Iowa forward Adam Koch said. "I wouldn't even say you even really think about it."

With the rules committee passing the change in May, teams had an entire offseason to prepare for the change.

"We really didn't get the lines on the court over in our (practice facility) for a while so you had to guess," Cyclone guard Bryan Petersen said. "It's just more getting used to it these first few weeks.

"It's not a huge difference, but it's more you gotta be conscious of it right now so then it becomes muscle memory afterwards."

UNI head coach Ben Jacobson doesn't expect the change to slow his guards, but it could affect mediocre shooters like Koch and Lucas O'Rear, who were a collective 7 of 42 from 3-point range last season.

"It will mostly impact the marginal shooters," Jacobson said. "Guys like Adam and Lucas, who don't shoot as many, they are really going to have to work at it."

Last year, Division I teams shot 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. The average number of makes (6.7 per game) and attempts per contest (19.1) were at all-time highs.

The NCAA believes moving the line back will unclog the lane and create more room for offenses to roam in the halfcourt. Iowa coach Todd Lickliter believes it will benefit his motion offense.

"There's going to be more room available being able to cut, being able to play inside the 3-point line," he said. "The spacing is going to be teriffic because now defensively you're not going to be able to leave them."

Some don't agree.

"Teams are going to be more likely to trap the post and play zone defenses now," McDermott said.

In the early going, attempts haven't declined. In fact, they have gone up for UNI. The Panthers shot 57 3-pointers in their two exhibition games.

Because of that, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo believes the line is still too close.

"The 3-point shot should be risk and reward," he said. "Instead, what we have now is little risk and reward. I'm not convinced yet this is going to have the impact that is intended."

Contact Matt Coss at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com