Kentucky's free throw shooting is trending the right way going into postseason play

Grumblings around Kentucky’s free-throw shooting never boiled to a roar this season, but there was a stint during the first half of SEC play when it maintained a steady rumble. That frustration has all but vanished as the ‘Cats have greatly improved from the charity stripe throughout their last 10 games.

In the first eight games in the SEC, Kentucky converted on just 117 of their 168 attempts from the free-throw line, good for a paltry 69.8 percent. The finale of this stretch was the woeful 9-18 performance against Arkansas in Rupp Arena.

However, they have turned that around in the back half of the SEC schedule, making 171 of their 218 attempts from the line, a much-improved 78.4 percent.

One of the primary catalysts to the Wildcats’ surge in free throw efficiency has been none other than Amari Williams, who gets to the line more often than anyone on the team not named Otega Oweh. Kentucky’s point center might have an awkward-looking stroke, but it has been falling as of late. Williams is 34 out of his last 44 attempts, good for 77.3 percent, and a great boost to his 63.9 percent he had on the season going into the Missouri game.

Oweh, too, has gotten better from the line. Otegatron has knocked down 41 out of his last 49 free throws for an average of 83.7 percent. Compare that to just 68 percent on 34 of 50 during the first eight games of SEC play.

Most importantly, good free throw shooting has translated to wins. When Kentucky shoots at least 75 percent as a team, the Wildcats are 12-3 overall and 7-2 in conference play.

Being clutch from the free throw line wins teams games in March. Let’s hope this steady shooting trend continues for the ‘Cats.