NC State has a Free Throw Problem

NC State has a Free Throw problem.

This was evident heading out of non-conference play, and has been exposed to be even more troubling through 4 conference games.

NC State ranks 309th in Defensive Free Throw Rate (FTA/FGA) and 259th in Offensive Free Throw Rate. That’s out of 353 schools.

It’s really THE glaring weakness on the Wolfpack’s offense and defense.

Offensive Four Factors

Effective FG% – 56.4% (13th)
Off Rebound% – 35.8% (8th)
FTA/FGA – 30.2 (259th)
Turnover% – 15.5% (134th)

Defensive Four Factors

Effective FG% – 47.9% (75th)
Off Rebound% – 26.6% (93rd)
FTA/FGA – 40.6 (309th)
Turnover% – 24.2% (8th)

Keatts aggressive pressure defense is exciting. Wolfpack fans love to see the effort they’ve been wanting to see for decades, but pressure defense doesn’t have to be undisciplined defense that puts the other team on the line for free points.

Also, Keatts’ teams are going to shoot three-pointers. That’s a given, but this team is too athletic not to attack the basket and get to the line more.

Frequently visiting the charity stripe is an essential component of winning in basketball games. It’s an opportunity for free points, while getting the other teams players in foul trouble.

The first four games of ACC play haven’t been an improvement.

NC State ranks 14th in the ACC in conference play in Offensive Free Throw Rate, and dead last in Defensive Free Throw Rate.

Failing to get to the line is actually cheating the Wolfpack of one of their strengths. NC State is shooting 75.4% from the free-throw line in conference play, which ranks 3rd in the ACC.

In 2 of Wolfpack’s 3 losses, they shot less than 10 free throws. That’s not a recipe for victory.

NC State’s Offensive Free Throw Rate in three losses: 15.1.

That’s half of their already bad season average.

Their Defensive Free Throw Rate in three losses: 42.7.

That’s worse than their season rating that is a handful of teams away from the worst in the country.

You don’t have to excel at all Four Factors to be a “good” team, but it’s hard to be “good” when you are abysmal at one of them. Fortunately, this is the easiest to improve upon in my opinion. You don’t have to magically become better shooters and get bigger to grab more boards. You just have to be a little bit less aggressive on defense, and more aggressive on offense.

It will make the difference in a handful of losses as the rest of the season plays out. It already has 2 or 3 times thus far.