Oregon Basketball: Key takeaways from the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis

3. Free-throw shooting needs to improve.

Oregon boasts physicality this season, especially in the frontcourt. As a result, they fight for offensive rebounds and often come up with second-chance opportunities. Due to their drive in the paint, the Ducks are able to get to the free-throw line with relative consistency. Once at the charity stripe, though, they have really struggled through the opening weeks of the season. Heading into the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, they had been shooting just 67.7% from the free-throw line on nearly 20 attempts per game.

At the event, though, that number dipped even further. It started with an abysmal 16-for-28 (57.1%) performance in the first round against Seton Hall. And while the team recovered a bit to shoot 10-for-14 (71.4%) against Gonzaga, they didn’t get to the line at a great rate. The Ducks then returned to poor shooting versus North Carolina as tired legs might have played in a role in a 12-for-20 (60.0%) effort that might have been the team’s undoing in the game.

Oregon finished the Battle 4 Atlantis shooting just 61.3% from the free-throw line, dragging their season total down to 65.2%. That mark currently ranks 283rd in the entire nation.

As already alluded to, Oregon might have actually beaten North Carolina if they connected on a higher percentage of their free-throw attempts. Thankfully, though, that rationale might lead the team to understand the importance of capitalizing on the “free shots”.

This is especially true with regard to the Ducks’ frontcourt, as Patterson, Walker, Okoro, and Juiston are combining to shoot just 27-for-53 (50.9%) to begin this season. And while N’Faly Dante will help in many facets of the game, he shot just 46-for-76 (60.5%) in 19 EYBL contests this summer.