NCAA to fix discrepancy 3-point lines before UConn-USC

In a statement on Sunday, the NCAA said it will correct the 3-point lines on the Moda Center court in Portland ahead of UConn’s Elite Eight matchup with USC on Monday night after a discrepancy was discovered between the two. Following the final practices, all court lines and markings at the arena will be re-measured.

The problem was first discovered before NC State and Texas tip-off in the Elite Eight. The distance from the baseline to the top of the 3-point line was measured, which confirmed the issue.

According to NC State head coach Wes Moore, the 3-point line on the right side of the court (from the vantage of broadcast) was correct while the one on the left side was shorter.

Both head coaches were informed pregame and elected to play on the court as is instead of delaying the contest to fix it. According to both coaches, it would’ve taken at least an hour to correct the lines.

“I don't know that it was an advantage or disadvantage either way,” Moore said, whose team came out on top. “We both played a half on each end.”

Neither side’s players knew that there was a difference between the two 3-point lines.

All four Sweet Sixteen games — including UConn’s win over Duke — were played with the different 3-point lines. The NCAA blamed a “vendor” for the error and regretted not discovering it sooner.

Both UConn and USC met with the media prior before the problems with the court were discovered, so neither side has commented on it.

“I have a lot of colleagues that would say, ‘Only in women's basketball,’” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “It's a shame, really, that it even happened. But it is what it is.”