Free throw shooting

I know it doesn't bother coach but 56% from the free throw line does concern me. It could cost us a game this year, maybe when it matters most. KU/Syracuse comes to mind as a ghost of losses past. Azubike and Jackson were a combined 4-12.

Yep . . .

Those 2 have got to get better at the line. I do think coach is doing it right not making a big deal out of it. Free throws are so much more mental than physical. Dwelling on it could make it worse and make it harder for them to relax.

It's mental if you are a good free throw shooter, but if you've never been a good free throw shooter it comes from practice and muscle memory. They should have to make 20 in practice for every one they miss in a game.

Self finally took PUBLIC notice of the FT shooting after the game (I'm sure he's mentioned it privately to the guys involved). As we can see, it's mostly confined to JJ and Azubuike, and it's officially a "trend" at this point. If those guys even got into the high 60's percentage wise, we'd be MUCH better.

This WILL bite us at some point. If I'm an opposing coach having to come up with a gameplan, I'm sure that putting those two guys on the line would be part of my strategy.

Self did make specific mention of it and even called out the guys for having a court in their new dorm where they can practice. He also called for 100 practice FTs for every one they missed in the game (if that's 100 "makes" per miss, Dok could be spending a considerable amount of time working on this). That tells me that this will be something they'll all be working on.

In terms of expectations, I think Jackson is likely to improve, but his shot isn't as pure as the rest of his game. Nevertheless there's some hope there. As for Azubuike, I'm less hopeful for a couple of reasons: first, I've got stuff in my fridge that's been there longer than he's been playing basketball. He started in 9th grade and he's only 17 now. He doesn't have years and years of experience under his belt, and we can add FT shooting to the many areas where he's still very green. Second, lots of 7 footers have struggled from he line in the history of the game. Supposedly this has to do with shooting a much "flatter" trajectory due to their higher release position. If that's the case, there may already be a limiting factor built in for him.

Anyway, I can already feel the gurgling sensation in my stomach that I'm sure will escalate when (not if) we're in a tight one and one of these two guys is standing on the line in a "must make" situation. It's gonna happen, and I'm not looking forward to it.