Expert: Jamie Selko - 8/17/2007

Question
Why foul line is 15 feet away from the hoop ?

Answer
Howdy- originally, the foul line was 20 feet from the hoop, or, farther than today's college 3-point line.  In 1894-95, the foul line was moved to 15 feet (incidentally, the same year that free-throws became one point).  Just as with baseball's changing mound distance, the foul-line distance was arbitrarily placed.  Apparently (again, as with baseball's 60'6" mound), the new distance met with general approval and the rules regarding it's being 15' were never challenged.