Barry Jacobs On Duke And The Three Point Shot

Whether or not you root for Duke you have to admit it's mesmerizing to watch the Blue Devils rain down threes with almost insolent ease. You know it can't last - there's a law of averages, isn't there? - but sometimes, as in consecutive games earlier this month against Florida State and N.C. State, the barrage certainly seems unending.

Especially, one imagines, if you're on the other team.

In those two games at Tallahassee and Durham, Duke combined to make 21 of 42 from 3-point range. Those were followed by a more pedestrian 6-17 effort in a 62-61 victory at Boston College on Feb. 10.

This predilection for long-distance dialing isn't new to the current Duke squad.

From 1987 and the advent of the modern three, through 1994, no group of Blue Devils attempted more than an average of 14.5 long-range shots per game. None made more than 5.8 per outing.

Starting in 1995, a season bifurcated by Mike Krzyzewski's loss to injury and exhaustion, Duke significantly increased its reliance on the 3-pointer. Since 1996 the Devils upped their output to a shade under 21 threes per contest. This year's group averages 18.8, and is among the most accurate from beyond the arc of the 27 Krzyzewski teams since the shot was instituted.

Tellingly, three of Coach K's four NCAA titles came in seasons when the Blue Devils led the ACC in 3-point accuracy. They lead again so far this year.