Free throws

[RUich]

At the beginning of the season, it was great to see a team that could shoot them at a high percentage. Now we are starting to look like the usual Rutgers team at the line. Most disturbing is that our two stars were clanging them too! Ace's last chance to put the game on ice was brutal.
Since we are putting so much hope on Dylan and Ace to carry this team, we need those points.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

At the beginning of the season, it was great to see a team that could shoot them at a high percentage. Now we are starting to look like the usual Rutgers team at the line. Most disturbing is that our two stars were clanging them too! Ace's last chance to put the game on ice was brutal.
Since we are putting so much hope on Dylan and Ace to carry this team, we need those points.

Expensive throws

 

[scarletpumpernickl]

Would it be better for Ace to stand at the line with his back to the basket, take a couple of dribbles, then do his signature turn around jumper? Would that be a legal FT as long as his feet don't cross the line?

 

[wheezer]

Flashback to a game
RU 66 Indiana 63 at Indiana, 2022

Intense crowd...
Cliff gets fouled late, twice, while getting rebounds
He calmly hits all 4 attempts

Paul M gets fouled with 19 seconds left but gets ejected
Indiana gets to choose who on the RU team to shoot fouls, they choose Hyatt
Hyatt, smiling, almost laughing at the ruckus, calmly hits two more
I never forgot how cool they were

I only mention because it looks like today's team is not at this point

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Flashback to a game
RU 66 Indiana 63 at Indiana, 2022

Intense crowd...
Cliff gets fouled late, twice, while getting rebounds
He calmly hits all 4 attempts

Paul M gets fouled with 19 seconds left but gets ejected
Indiana gets to choose who on the RU team to shoot fouls, they choose Hyatt
Hyatt, smiling, almost laughing at the ruckus, calmly hits two more
I never forgot how cool they were

I only mention because it looks like today's team is not at this point

That was a nice game

 

[DC8690]

Flashback to a game
RU 66 Indiana 63 at Indiana, 2022

Intense crowd...
Cliff gets fouled late, twice, while getting rebounds
He calmly hits all 4 attempts

Paul M gets fouled with 19 seconds left but gets ejected
Indiana gets to choose who on the RU team to shoot fouls, they choose Hyatt
Hyatt, smiling, almost laughing at the ruckus, calmly hits two more
I never forgot how cool they were

I only mention because it looks like today's team is not at this point

That season our FT % was 70% even with the last 2 horrible FT performances our % this year is 71%.

 

[wheezer]

That season our FT % was 70% even with the last 2 horrible FT performances our % this year is 71%.

I remember that game because we held it together under immense crowd pressure

Just an observation

Pressure situations might be a better barometer than a season

 

[SirPerceval]

It’s the inconsistency that is maddening - we saw all of these guys hit FTs in the early part of the year - I guess it’s the pressure

 

[zappaa]

It’s odd we go from very good to awful.
in sports the middle ground usually wins out.
But we are RU where normal is not normal😊

 

[fluoxetine]

I remember that game because we held it together under immense crowd pressure

Just an observation

Pressure situations might be a better barometer than a season

No, 2 pressure shots is not a better barometer than a season lmao

——-

The opponent is Alabama…
Dylan Harper has to leave the game…
Ogbole is at the line, chosen specifically for his ability at missing free throws
DRILLS THEM BOTH
Rutgers is a good free throw shooting team, QED

 

[RU-ROCS]

At the beginning of the season, it was great to see a team that could shoot them at a high percentage. Now we are starting to look like the usual Rutgers team at the line. Most disturbing is that our two stars were clanging them too! Ace's last chance to put the game on ice was brutal.
Since we are putting so much hope on Dylan and Ace to carry this team, we need those points.

Have you noticed that the FT percentage has gone down as our defensive effort has gone up considerably? Perhaps tired legs are at least a factor?

 

[Mr_Twister]

When NJ native Rick Barry retired from the NBA his 90% free throw percentage was the league’s best ever. Bring him in to coach free throw shooting. Lots of comparisons can be made between the Barry clan and Harper clan.

 

[Unionst]

When NJ native Rick Barry retired from the NBA his 90% free throw percentage was the league’s best ever. Bring him in to coach free throw shooting. Lots of comparisons can be made between the Barry clan and Harper clan.

You know he shot underhanded, right?

 

[rubaseball78]

When NJ native Rick Barry retired from the NBA his 90% free throw percentage was the league’s best ever. Bring him in to coach free throw shooting. Lots of comparisons can be made between the Barry clan and Harper clan.

Barry shot underhanded.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

You know he shot underhanded, right?

I don't care if we shoot blindfolded as long as the ball goes in the basket.

 

[Unionst]

I don't care if we shoot blindfolded as long as the ball goes in the basket.

Ok I’ll bite. You’re seriously suggesting that an entirely new shooting technique be introduced mid-season?

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Ok I’ll bite. You’re seriously suggesting that an entirely new shooting technique be introduced mid-season?

No, I'm seriously suggesting our current (and recent past) approach to shooting foul shots doesn't work and that we should try almost anything to improve it. This is a decade-long problem, not a two game-old problem. It should be fixed; things should be done differently to fix it.

 

[Unionst]

No, I'm seriously suggesting our current (and recent past) approach to shooting foul shots doesn't work and that we should try almost anything to improve it. This is a decade-long problem, not a two game-old problem. It should be fixed; things should be done differently to fix it.

Recruiting would die on the vine if we were known as the school that shot its foul shots underhanded.

 

[fatsam98]

I think part of it is the RAC is so intense/emotional that they feel the pressure... and then as soon as someone misses it just snowballs.

We should look into a sports psychologist

 

[DHajekRC84]

That season our FT % was 70% even with the last 2 horrible FT performances our % this year is 71%.

Cept I've never seen a final score using season averages.

 

[DHajekRC84]

I think part of it is the RAC is so intense/emotional that they feel the pressure... and then as soon as someone misses it just snowballs.

We should look into a sports psychologist

IMHO.. they look too casual and too confident. I don't think they value the ball or possession or free points .. nothing new.
Being so good and young it's like..oh well , I just make a last second 3 pointer.
Great for them. Not my heart.

 

[scarletpumpernickl]

Have the team participate in a contest of strip free throws. Loser has to run a lap naked.
Oh wait, former coach Kevin Bannon tried that already and I don't think it worked.

 

[High Quality H2O]

Have you noticed that the FT percentage has gone down as our defensive effort has gone up considerably? Perhaps tired legs are at least a factor?

I mean this is where my head has kind of been.

Also when we talk of being historically bad at FT and high defensive intensity, there may be some causation there.

 

[High Quality H2O]

I think part of it is the RAC is so intense/emotional that they feel the pressure... and then as soon as someone misses it just snowballs.

We should look into a sports psychologist

Also interesting thought.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

I mean this is where my head has kind of been.

Also when we talk of being historically bad at FT and high defensive intensity, there may be some causation there.

Make them shoot free throws in practice when they are exhausted.

 

[Mr_Twister]

You know he shot underhanded, right?

Of course!
The great Calvin Murphy was an amazing foul shooter, too. Saw Murphy play college hoops at the Jersey City Armory.

 

[RUich]

When I was watching the WNBA with Clark, I was surprised how well they all pretty much seemed to shoot foul shots. Maybe we need the womens coach to work on them.

 

[BillyC80]

It’s odd we go from very good to awful.
in sports the middle ground usually wins out.
But we are RU where normal is not normal😊

It’s like we have the yips all of a sudden. What’s the cure?

 

[Mr_Twister]

When I was watching the WNBA with Clark, I was surprised how well they all pretty much seemed to shoot foul shots. Maybe we need the womens coach to work on them.

Don’t the women play with a smaller basketball?

 

[BigRnj]

Not likely to see this at the college level, but a drill I did near the end of every practice when legs were tired gave everyone the incentive to make shots via peer pressure. Shooter on the FT line. Rest of the team lined up along the sideline. Each player took turns attempting 3 FTs. Each missed shot required the rest of the team to complete 5 sideline to sideline sprints (if you came in last you did 2 more with the team watching).

With 12 shooters the guys really pushed for their teammates to make their shots and give them a rest.. conversely they got pretty pissed if you missed more than one. I also had each player finish practice by hitting 5+ consecutive FTs … some stayed pretty late (I’m sure some also cheated since it was the honor system), but the point is to have something at stake and do it when they’re tired. Once again this isn’t likely a college level drill but if players were doing this for years leading up to college, they would already be better FT shooters.

 

[G- RUnit]

When I was watching the WNBA with Clark, I was surprised how well they all pretty much seemed to shoot foul shots. Maybe we need the womens coach to work on them.

Smaller ball. That’s why threes seem effortless.

 

[scarletpumpernickl]

The team shot over 70% from the line for 7 of the first 9 games. The last 2 games had very poor FT shooting. I see no reason why RU foul shooting can't return to decent or good.

 

[rudad02]

Smaller ball. That’s why threes seem effortless.

Probably smaller hands as well.

 

[Kbee3]

Of course!
The great Calvin Murphy was an amazing foul shooter, too. Saw Murphy play college hoops at the Jersey City Armory.

Rutgers own Bob Lloyd was just about automatic from the free throw line back in the day.

 

[RUJMM78]

I think part of it is the RAC is so intense/emotional that they feel the pressure... and then as soon as someone misses it just snowballs.

We should look into a sports psychologist

Its hard to accept poor foul shooting at the RAC versus playing in front of a hostile crowd on the road. Practice should include scrimmage and shooting fouls at unexpected times when they might be tired.Missing so many foul shots will come back to haunt Rutgers in future games.

 

[NickRU714]

Allegedly Nick Nolte was supposed to shoot after Bob Cousy missed.
He just couldn't miss and Nolte's reaction was real.

 

[RU MAN]

At the beginning of the season, it was great to see a team that could shoot them at a high percentage. Now we are starting to look like the usual Rutgers team at the line. Most disturbing is that our two stars were clanging them too! Ace's last chance to put the game on ice was brutal.
Since we are putting so much hope on Dylan and Ace to carry this team, we need those points.

Both of them were terrible especially Ace. He was 1-8 from the charity stripe. Maybe the day before a game at the RAC, Pike should make them run wind sprints inside the RAC and shoot their FT’s there.

 

[seansherm]

Both of them were terrible especially Ace. He was 1-8 from the charity stripe. Maybe the day before a game at the RAC, Pike should make them run wind sprints inside the RAC and shoot their FT’s there.

You want the tired before the game even starts?

 

[Kbee3]

Both of them were terrible especially Ace. He was 1-8 from the charity stripe. Maybe the day before a game at the RAC, Pike should make them run wind sprints inside the RAC and shoot their FT’s there.

Both Dylan and Ace missed two free throws near the end of the game that would have provided a safer lead and calmed everyone down as the game was entering its final phase. I couldn't believe it.

 

[mikeyo]

Flashback to a game
RU 66 Indiana 63 at Indiana, 2022

Intense crowd...
Cliff gets fouled late, twice, while getting rebounds
He calmly hits all 4 attempts

Paul M gets fouled with 19 seconds left but gets ejected
Indiana gets to choose who on the RU team to shoot fouls, they choose Hyatt
Hyatt, smiling, almost laughing at the ruckus, calmly hits two more
I never forgot how cool they were

I only mention because it looks like today's team is ue, Big West or the NEC anymore

No, I'm seriously suggesting our current (and recent past) approach to shooting foul shots doesn't work and that we should try almost anything to improve it. This is a decade-long problem, not a two game-old problem. It should be fixed; things should be done differently to fix it.

Flashback to a game
RU 66 Indiana 63 at Indiana, 2022

Intense crowd...
Cliff gets fouled late, twice, while getting rebounds
He calmly hits all 4 attempts

Paul M gets fouled with 19 seconds left but gets ejected
Indiana gets to choose who on the RU team to shoot fouls, they choose Hyatt
Hyatt, smiling, almost laughing at the ruckus, calmly hits two more
I never forgot how cool they were

I only mention because it looks like today's team is not at this point

Yep. They're not in high school, Ivy League, Big West or the NEC anymore