Lamont Paris gives blunt assessment of how to fix South Carolina free throw issues

The South Carolina Gamecocks stumbled in their first game of the men’s basketball season, losing to the North Florida Ospreys. Now, head coach Lamont Paris knows there’s plenty to work on.

In a game that the Gamecocks lost by three points, the team’s poor free throw shooting stood out among the issues they had. Following the game, Paris addressed those issues, sharing a bunt assessment on how to fix those problems moving forward.

“Do you want me to be real? I mean, how do you correct free throw shooting? I guess you practice free throw shooting,” Lamont Paris said. “Some guys shoot better free throws than others naturally. They probably have their whole life. Other guys can always improve by practicing.”

South Carolina finished the game making just 14 of 25 free throws, which is 56 percent. This comes a season after the Gamecocks were 219th in the country in field goal percentage, making 71.1 percent for the 2023-24 season.

“This is also a one-game sample size,” Paris said. “I didn’t even look but probably someone had a really bad percentage tonight and that’s not what they’re gonna shoot all season. So, today was the day that they did that, and maybe they’re not a great shooter but they’re not gonna shoot like they did today all the time.”

Five different Gamecocks went to the free throw line in the loss. Only Jamarii Thomas was perfect from the line, making four out of four shots. Collin Murray-Boyles, Nick Pringle, and Cam Scott all made fewer than 50 percent of their shots from the free throw line.

“We do a lot of stuff at practice. I always tell them, when your name gets called, at the free throw line, whenever that is, you’ve got to stand up. They call your name, referee gives you the ball, stand up. Make them. We didn’t do that and I seemed to be contagious. That’s where in lies the problem is that there’s no connection between my ability or propensity to make a free throw and yours. So, I may look at you and say, ‘He’s struggling today. I’m gonna pick him up. I’m going to inspire him. I’m gonna say something real encouraging to him.’ But when I get up there, I’m gonna make mine. That’s for sure. Then I’ll continue to help him. Then, your number ends up being a better number. In a game like this, those all matter,” Paris said.

“We just had some lack of discipline plays also defensively. Fouled a three point shooter, which my guys know that it’s my dream to go a whole season without fouling a three-point shooter and we made it to game number one.”

South Carolina will next be in action on Friday against South Carolina State. The hope for Lamont Paris is that the Gamecocks manage to shoot better and have a bounce-back performance.