Last year the Providence Friars were 3rd in the Big East (and 64th in the nation) in three-point field goal percentage (37.6%).
This season through 12 games, the Friars are 2nd to last (28.6%), only behind DePaul who is just terrible all around. However, PC has seen the worst decrease in 3FG% in the Big East from last season (-9%).
Here is a chart from StatSheet.com taken on December 26th, 2008. Interestingly enough, 11 of the 16 teams have a worse 3PG% than last year.
Can you attribute some of the reason to the new farther three-point line? Maybe some, but StatSheet.com has a comparison of overall three-point percentage in Division I play, and so far there has only been a -1% difference. Last year players shot 35.02%, while this season it is 33.83%. However, most of the dropoff has been due to the Freshman class shooting 31.9% (versus 33.6% last season). Providence only has one freshman (Bilal Dixon), but has not played yet this season because he will mostly likely be redshirted.
The Friars also lost their top 3 point shooter from last season (transfer), Dwain Williams, who was 48-118 (40.7%).
Throw in the fact that 5 out of the top 6 returning shooters from 2007-08 have a worse shooting percentage this season, it all adds up to a disasterous drop in 3FG%.
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