No one wants to rain on the parade after Kentucky’s exciting victory over Louisville. The win was a classic rivalry thriller, filled with heroic performances and dramatic moments. But, let’s briefly address one minor issue that’s still lingering — the free throw shooting.
Against Louisville, Kentucky shot 18-28 (64.3%) from the free-throw line, contributing to an overall season percentage of 72.3%. This follows similar struggles against Colgate (61.5%), Clemson (61.1%), and Western Kentucky (69%). The only standout performance came against Gonzaga with an impressive 83.3%, but even that was marred by a couple of missed crucial free throws by Andrew Carr.
So, what’s going on with free throw shooting?
While it may seem like a major issue, the numbers aren’t as bad as they appear. With 167 made free throws out of 231 attempts this season, Kentucky ranks 160th nationally. However, this is slightly better than the team’s performance in most of the past 15 seasons. In fact, their 72.3% is actually better than nine of those seasons, including the 1996 National Championship team, which shot 71.3% from the line.
It’s easy to point fingers at players like Lamont Butler, who’s shooting 62.8% from the free-throw line this season. But, here’s the interesting part: Butler’s free-throw shooting has actually improved since last season, when he shot just 59.4% at San Diego State. Despite his struggles at the line, his overall contributions, especially from beyond the arc (48.1% from 3), are making him a fan favorite.
Amari Williams, who is second on the team in free-throw attempts, is shooting almost exactly at his career average of 62.5%, which isn’t ideal, but not disastrous. Otega Oweh, who leads the team in attempts, has seen a significant improvement, shooting 75.5% this season, up from 64.5% at Oklahoma. Andrew Carr, fourth on the team in attempts, is at a solid 79.4%, marking the best free-throw shooting percentage of his career.
So, What Does This All Mean?
While free throw shooting has been a bit of a roller coaster for Kentucky this season, it’s not as critical as it may seem. Yes, there’s room for improvement, and the Wildcats would benefit from making crucial free throws in tight games. But overall, this team is doing just fine from the charity stripe, and fans can rest easy knowing the issues aren’t as dire as they might appear.
