Are We The Worst Free-Throw-Shooting Team Ever?

[Uscg1984]

I'm not talking about this particular 2021-2022 Gamecock team. I'm talking about the Gamecock teams in the Martin era collectively. It seems like we struggle mightily at the foul line every single year. I know you can't devote a ton of precious practice time to foul-shooting, but, dang, doesn't anybody stress to these guys that they need to be practicing free throws on their own, just as they would do weight-training or conditioning on their own? It seems like a pretty fundamental skill.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

It seems like a pretty fundamental skill.

It should be muscle memory, from the same spot on the line. Should practice enough to make them with your eyes closed. But I've felt this way about the Gamecocks way before Martin was here. Games are won and lost at the ft line.

 

[CockofEarle]

I'm not talking about this particular 2021-2022 Gamecock team. I'm talking about the Gamecock teams in the Martin era collectively. It seems like we struggle mightily at the foul line every single year. I know you can't devote a ton of precious practice time to foul-shooting, but, dang, doesn't anybody stress to these guys that they need to be practicing free throws on their own, just as they would do weight-training or conditioning on their own? It seems like a pretty fundamental skill.

It became a lost art sometime ago……hell, it was the only thing I could do.

 

[King Ward]

Seems to me it deteriorated when it was deemphasized, i.e. when common fouls no longer sent players to the foul line. I used to attend McGuire's practices. It was emphasized.

 

[Gravitystinks]

We are last in the league in FT%. Missing FT puts additional pressure on your team that we have a hard time overcoming. Don’t see much effort to address it. Some of these guys look like they have never shot one before.

 

[Prestonite]

Got to be a mental/concentration thing which our team does not emphasis. It's free points for God's sake - take advantage! Help the team win and raise your scoring average at the same time. It should matter to each player and be something to take pride in - not dunking the dang ball!

 

[Crutcher]

South Carolina guard Erik Stevenson leads the nation in free throw shooting percentage at 97.8% Has hit 45 of 46 free throws this season. The team is shooting 65%, and the team's opponents are shooting 69%.
The NCAA average is 72%. The worst team is Sam Houston State at 58%.

 

[Viennacock]

South Carolina guard Erik Stevenson leads the nation in free throw shooting percentage at 97.8% Has hit 45 of 46 free throws this season. The team is shooting 65%, and the team's opponents are shooting 69%.
The NCAA average is 72%. The worst team is Sam Houston State at 58%.

Curious what the % looks like if you remove Stevenson's stats. Under 60%?

 

[Uscg1984]

South Carolina guard Erik Stevenson leads the nation in free throw shooting percentage at 97.8% Has hit 45 of 46 free throws this season. The team is shooting 65%, and the team's opponents are shooting 69%.
The NCAA average is 72%. The worst team is Sam Houston State at 58%.

Wow. We have the best free throw shooter in the country and he's only getting 1.9 attempts per game? That's painful.

 

[King Ward]

Curious what the % looks like if you remove Stevenson's stats. Under 60%?

I was about to say, we have the top free throw shooter in the country, yet our team FT percentage is 7% below the national average. There has to be a big drop-off somewhere. It should be noted that Stevenson's 46 free throw attempts late in the regular season really isn't all that many.

 

[GooCocks]

This shouldn’t be a surprise. Our FG% isn’t great either. Bad shooters can’t seem to make shots from anywhere…