One of the biggest critiques of Gophers basketball in recent days is the team's inability to make free throws, especially in clutch moments. Understandably so: Minnesota is shooting just 69.8 percent from the stripe, 66.1 in conference play. Without the stellar yearlong free-throw shooting of Joey King, the Gophers' overall percentage would fall to 67.1 percent, last in the league by a mile.
What makes this fact more interesting – or maddening, depending on your perspective – is that Minnesota actually LEADS the Big Ten in free-throw attempts.
So essentially, the Gophers are taking what should be a major strength and turning it into a weakness. If Minnesota increased its efficiency at the stripe by ten percent, for example, in conference play – from 66 percent to 76 percent, the Gophers would have an extra 19 points to account for. Given that they've lost the last four by a total of 20 points, that's a hefty chunk of scoring left on the table.
What's to be done? Well, there isn't much. Typically, when you see a team that shoots badly from the free-throw line, it's a yearlong trend. Free-throw shooting isn't like many other elements of the game – it can't always be tweaked and improved through practice and technique or even repetition. Free-throw shooting is more about mental focus and confidence than anything.
The players have said that they shoot free throws before and after practice and coach Richard Pitino said last night on his radio show on 1500-a.m. that if the players don't hit at least 70 percent, they're assigned extras. But he also hesitates to put a huge spotlight on the issues, given the uniqueness of the problem.
"It's tough because if you put too much on it, then it becomes mental with certain guys," he said. "So you just want them to be comfortable, stick to their routine. But we need to start making them because it's too crucial to what we do offensively, it's very important to put pressure on the [defense]."
Morris back.
Pitino told 1500's Mike Grimm on his radio show that Carlos Morris was back in Minneapolis on Monday after missing the team's trip to Indiana (a 74-68 loss) over the weekend due to the funeral of a family friend in his home state of Florida.