re: Tom Izzo: I want college basketball to be a lot more like the NBA

I don't think it's being phased out as much as it is deemphasized. Teams now are more conscious of how to play the percentages.

If a guy makes 60% of his midrange shots and 25% of his threes - he'll probably be asked to continue shooting the midrange shot because the stats say he should.

He would average 12 ppg just shooting midrange as opposed to 7.5 points shooting only threes.

However, if he makes 48% of his midrange shots and 36% of his threes - he'll be coached to shoot more 3s because the stats say he should.

If said player shot 10 times a game and only shot midrange shots, he'd average 9.6 ppg, however, if he shot 10 times per game and only shot threes, he'd average 10.8 ppg.

It took basketball coaches a long time to see the light, statistically but it's the way most teams are run now. Trying to maximize points and possessions.

The midrange shot will always have a place, it's just that for more players, it makes a lot more sense, mathematically, to shoot a three pointer.