The issue facing USC basketball that has the Gamecocks on a historically bad pace
As of Thanksgiving, South Carolina had a better free throw percentage than 26 Division I college basketball teams. Problem is, there are 350 Division I college basketball teams.
There are more than a few ways to dissect the issues plaguing the Gamecocks’ uneven start to this season, but you can begin with a simple one: That straight-on, uncontested shot from 15 feet, yeah, USC is struggling to hit it.
South Carolina, loser of two in a row and three of four, is shooting 59.3% from the free throw line. If the season ended Friday, that would be the worst recorded effort in program history, worse than the 1994-95 team that finished 60.4% from the line.
Making matters more maddening? The Gamecocks missed nine FTs (12 of 21) in an eight-point loss to Boston University on Nov. 19. They missed six in Wednesday’s six-point loss to Northern Iowa in Cancun, Mexico.
Frank Martin said the struggles are more mental than physical, using freshman forward Jalyn McCreary (three of 16, 19%) as an example.
“With him it’s just a mental wreck,” the USC coach said Friday. “That’s what happens when you have guys who are just OK free throw shooters and they start missing in games early in their career. Then they kind of just don’t want to go to the line.
“I don’t know if you remember PJ Dozier, his freshman year, he did not want to shoot free throws because it got to a place mentally where he was not comfortable at the line. And he’d shoot them at practice, but when the game started, he’d get to a place and it happens. It’s part of their growth as players.”
Dozier was a 54.4% free throw shooter as a freshman in 2015-16. That would rank eighth on this team, but ahead of starters/rotation players Alanzo Frink (50), Maik Kotsar (44.4), T.J. Moss (33.3) and McCreary.
“There’s other guys missing free throws that need to be making them,” Martin said.
Missing is one thing, not getting enough attempts is another. Opponents have taken more free throws in five of seven games this season. That happened just 14 times in 32 games last season when the Gamecocks could dump inside to Chris Silva.
“We have to shoot more,” Martin said. “You can’t win high level games and you’re getting out-shot 24-11 at the foul line (see Northern Iowa game). You have to get to the foul line. And we have to do a better job of getting our guards to get free throws and they have to do a better job when they’re in the game of being more aggressive as far as attacking the paint.”
South Carolina (4-3) next hosts George Washington (3-4) on Sunday.
When is Keyshawn Bryant coming back?
It won’t be Sunday, but Keyshawn Bryant could be make his 2019-20 season debut some point soon. The Gamecocks play at UMass on Wednesday.
“I’m optimistic that he’s going to do some stuff (Saturday) and then we’re going to start revving him up pretty good on Monday and Tuesday and see where we go from there.,” Martin said.
Bryant, the fourth-leading scorer on last year’s team, had knee surgery in early November.
NEXT
Who: George Washington at South Carolina
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network Plus
